 
|
Moxy has thirteen things to do before December 27. It sounds like a lot for a ten-year-old to accomplish in one day, but Moxie can cross numbers 1 to 12 off her list if she writes twelve thank-you cards for the presents she received this Christmas. She writes the first:
“Dear Nonnie, Thank you for the fabulous money. Love, Me”
Before Moxy can start a second letter, her mom suggests a small revision: maybe Moxy’s letters should be written with more meaning and more heart. Believing this style of writing will take forever, Moxy comes up with a plan of her own that is so “brilliant beyond belief” that she is guaranteed to finish all twelve thank-you cards before her deadline. With this task done, Moxy won’t have to face her mom’s dreaded “consequences”, and she’ll be able to visit her dad in Hollywood.
Unfortunately, “The Genius of Moxy” involves two things Moxy is never to touch - spray paint and the new copier. The thank-you cards do get written, but not always on the paper, and quite a few more than twelve times. Moxy’s brother, Mark, might be happy because he got to capture the whole incident on film, but her mother and step-dad won’t be feeling happy - it will become obvious to them as soon as they walk in the house that her letter-writing got a little bit out of control.
But before Moxy’s parents can comprehend what's happened in the short time they were away from home, the telephone rings. It’s Moxy’s dad, and the news isn’t good. Although what he has to say makes Moxy’s mom pale and her brother cry, it also results in Moxy writing her first heartfelt thank-you letter.
This second book starring Moxy Maxwell brings back a lot of the fun from the first book. Moxy’s six-year-old friend Sam is back, as devoted as ever to being Moxy’s best friend. The author touches on Moxy’s growing list of “218 Possible Career Paths,” revealing yet another occupation Moxie might like to try when she’s older. Pansy, Moxy’s five-year-old sister, is silly as ever (now in turtle mode), and her twin brother, Mark, is still photographing Moxy’s most troubling times. The outcomes of Moxy’s procrastinating ways appear in black and white, are given a title like California Dreamin’, and inserted into the story every few chapters. These photographs let us see what Moxy sees, what she does and, sometimes, a few of her talents.
Valorie Fisher’s candid photographs add an extra bit of humor to Peggy Gifford’s Moxy Maxwell books. Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes should be placed in the hands of teachers looking for funny read-alouds, Mother-Daughter bookclubs looking for fun books to discuss, reluctant readers who need something new to read, and young readers (especially those between ages 7 and 10) who love to laugh when they are reading.
Peggy Gifford lives in New York and South Carolina. Holding an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she has worked for the Feminist Press as an editor and for the SUNY Press as an acquisitions editor.
Valorie Fisher’s writings and illustrations appear in several children’s book including When Ruby Tried to Grow Candy and Ellsworth’s Extraordinary Electric Ears. Her photographs have been featured in museum collections around the world, and she lives in Connecticut with her family.
Moxy Maxwell just may be the most creative procrastinator around today! She does not love writing thank-you notes or reading Stuart Little (see the reason why in Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Reading Stuart Little), but she does get both finished. Chaos may ensue, but so does a greater appreciation of reading and writing. And we love that!
|
|
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-you Notes