Notsonormal Norman,New

From Booklistgr. 35. Norman Is A Tarantula, And He'S The First Client To Arrive When Fourthgrader Anthony Puts Up Ads For A Petsitting Service. Anthony Is Eager To Earn Money Because Finances Are Stretched At Home: His Father, A Carpenter, Has Injured Himself And Is Out Of Work. The Foreground Of The Book Concerns The Problems Anthony And His Friend James Have When They Try To Take Care Of Norman (Why Won'T He Eat?) And Some Old Cats. The Background Is The Tensionfilled Household In Which Money Seems Less A Problem Than The Father'S Depression At Being Out Of Work. Although Stowe Demonstrates A Good Grasp Of The Way Children Sense Household Trouble Even When They'Re Told It'S Not There, This Is Largely A Cheerful Chapter Book, With Norman Finally Eating And Dad Perking Up. Chapters Are Short, The Typeface Is Slightly Enlarged, And The Reading Level Is Easy. Mary Harris Veederproduct Descriptionwhile His Father Is Out Of Work Because Of A Back Injury, Anthony Decides To Try To Earn Money And His First Job Is Watching A Huge Tarantula Named Normanfrom Publishers Weeklythere Is Very Little Laughter In Anthony'S House Since His Father, A Carpenter, Hurt His Back And Has Had To Stop Working. His Mother Holds A Fulltime Job And Takes In Mending, And The Fourth Grader Determines To Do His Share, Too. He Decides To Start A Petsitting Service ('No Animal Refused'), Setting The Stage For Some Generically Offbeatbut Ultimately Touchingscenes. First, An Eccentric, Frizzyhaired Woman Brings Anthony Her Pet Tarantula, Norman, For A Twoweek Stay. Then Norman Stops Eating And Starts Losing His Shine, And A Worried Anthony Whisks The Spider To The Vet. The Whole Episodeincluding The Vet'S Diagnosis That Norman Is Simply Moltinglifts Anthony'S Father'S Spirits. All The Inaugural Customers Are Satisfied, Making For A Cheerful If Predictable Ending. In Addition To A Plot That Skips Along Quickly And A Generous Selection Of Smith'S Engaging Blackandwhite Illustrations, This Paperoverboard Volume Features Large Type And Short Chaptersall Of Which Are Likely To Encourage Hesitant Readers. Ages 811.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.From School Library Journalgrade 34?A Back Problem Keeps Anthony'S Dad Depressed And Out Of Work And, Knowing His Parents Are Anxious About Money, The Fourth Grader Decides To Start A Petcare Business To Help Out. Two Neighbors Hire Him Immediately, But Miss Everring'S Tarantula, Norman, And Mr. Abelson'S Elderly Cats Prove To Be A Challenge. In Spite Of A Few Mishaps, The Venture Succeeds Beautifully?Until Norman Seems To Get Sick, And Anthony Decides To Take Him To The Vet In Spite Of His Dad'S Unreasonable Anger Over The Expense. A Climactic Scene Clears The Air And Helps His Father Take The Initial Step Toward Recovery. Stowe Tells The Story In Simple, Flowing Language And Dialogue That Effectively Reveals The Characters' Personalities. Anthony Is A Regular Kid Who Cares About Living Things, And His Efforts To Help Others Are Heartwarming. Readers Will Appreciate The Large Print, Wide Margins, And Short Chapters. Smith'S Frequent, Humorous Blackandwhite Drawings Delightfully Illustrate The Action And Match The Tone Of The Text. Her Brightly Colored Cover Is Certain To Attract Eager Readers. Children Who Often Feel Powerless To Help With Family Problems Should Find This A Reassuring Read.?Maggie Mcewen, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, Mecopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.