The Loudest, Fastest, Best Drum,Used

From School Library Journal KindergartenGrade 3From the moment of her birth, Maggie cares about little but drummingloud, incessant, exuberant drumming that makes her mother exclaim, "Oh, my aching ears!" The other citizens of Serena are just as unhappy with Maggie's ambition to be the "loudest, fastest, best drummer in the State of Kansas," although they relent temporarily when her drumming saves them from an attack of killer wasps. Mayor Plogg, however, continues to complain and passes a law forbidding drumming. He doesn't relent until the day a gigantic tornado roars into town. Maggie breaks the storm into pieces with her throbbing drumbeat, the townspeople cheer proudly, and from then on Maggie is allowed to drum up and down Main Street every afternoon. Smith's actionpacked, gouache cartoons are well suited to the lively mood of the humorous text with its talltale style exaggeration.Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Product Description Since the day she was born, Maggie knew she would be the loudest, fastest, best drummer in the state of Kansas, and when a disaster threatens Selena, Kansas, it's Maggie's drumming that saves the day. By the illustrator of Boom Town. From Publishers Weekly Davol (The Paper Dragon) finds a happy beat with this boisterous story of a girl driven to drum. Maggie, the pride of Serena, Kansas, was born a drummerher doctor ascribes her predetermined vocation to the Fourth of July parade, led by the Kansas Drum and Bugle Corps, that marched right past the Serena Hospital at the moment of her birth. All signs point to her calling: Maggie bangs in her crib, on her high chair and all over the house, prompting Mama's pleas: "Stop, Maggie. My aching ears!" Things get rock 'n' rolling when Maggie receives her first real drum set at age six. Her "BrummbrummbrammityBRUMM, BRUMM, BRUMM" proves loud enough to sink sidewalks, shatter windows and disgruntle the mayor, who quickly outlaws drumming. But when Maggie's "music" drives away a potentially deadly tornado, the mayor and the townspeople happily proclaim her the "loudest, fastest, best drummer in the State of Kansas." Davol delivers the good fun of a tall tale, though midbook her plot starts to meander, slowing the dramatic momentum. Smith (Nine for California) employs a creamy gouache palette for her chipper yet quaint renderings of smalltown USA from days gone by. Maggie's red hair, confident grin and sporty cowboy/marching boots suggest her true spitfire nature. Ages 59. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Maggie has been drumming on things from birth. She dismantles her crib, uses the slats as drumsticks, and bangs on anything that is handy. When she turns six, her parents buy her a set of drums, and Maggie sets off through her hometown of Serena, Kansas, leaving sonic destruction in her wake. Finally, the town council passes an ordinance making drumming against the law, but as so often happens in tall tales, the adults are soon forced to see the error of their ways. First, killer wasps attack the town, but the sound of Maggie's drum snaps their stingers. Then a tornado threatens, but Maggie bangs on her drum so loudly that the storm breaks apart. Obviously, the story has its share of goofy and implausible humor. Smith's gouache pictures have a bright, cartoony, oldfashioned look. In fact, this book, both in the plot and illustrations, will remind adults of a picture book from about 30 years ago. That gives this rather silly and thin story a certain retro appeal. Todd Morning From Kirkus Reviews Maggie was born to drum. She went pumpa, pumpa, pumpa'' on her pediatricians stethoscope and plupaplupplan'' on the bars on her crib. When she gets her first real drum and declares her intention to be the loudest and fastest drummer in the state, no one doubts her. And they are indulgent of