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When the power goes off in the school library, Miss Brooks, the school librarian, continues storytime but in an improvised way: “Let’s huddle in close and make up our own tales.”
Grade-one student Missy (who also stars in Miss Brooks Loves Books! And I Don’t) takes the librarian’s advice about plot, character, action, and problem-solving. She tells a story that not only fascinates her classmates but also allows her to scare a neighborhood bully who has been picking on her when she walks to school (she describes her interactions with him as “vexing”).
As the children listen, they interject with ideas of their own. Plum tries to include kittens in the story. Violet wants to hear about ghosts. Wilbur asks questions that prompt Missy to add detail to her story. All along, Miss Brooks encourages her (“That’s an excellent start”) and guides her to the conclusion (“Did you think more about how to end your story, Missy?”).
This story has useful advice for students struggling to begin a story, and the pencil and watercolor illustrations show lively portions of the story. They include scenes with ogres, lions, snakes, ghosts and popped-out eyeballs. Children will be thrilled!
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Miss Brooks' Story Nook (where tales are told and ogres are welcome)