Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now

don’t Look Now, But Lauren Child Has Outdone Herself With A Clarice Bean Novel That Is The Funniest And Most Poignant Yet.

it’s The Worry You Hadn’t Even Thought To Worry About That Should Worry You The Most. At Least That’s How It Looks To Clarice Bean, Who Has Been Writing Her Worries In A Notebook — Things Like Worry No. 1: Infinity, Or Worry No. 3: Change. And Now That Her Worst Never-imagined Worry Has Happened — Her Utterly Best Friend Is Moving Away Forever — Clarice Doesn’t Even Care About Her Tickets To The Ruby Redfort, Girl Detective, Movie Premiere. That Is, Unless Something Happens To Change Things Again. . . . Lauren Child’s Trademark Wit Combines With Spot-on Insight In This Hugely Engaging Story About Childhood Worries, Unwanted Changes, And Finding Friendships In The Most Surprising Places.

children's Literature

clarice Bean Is Besieged With Worries. She Is In The Midst Of Worrying About Infinity And The Meaning Of Life When Her Older Sister Forgets Her Running Bath Water, Causing The Ceiling Above The Living Room To Collapse. Now Clarice Can Worry About Sitting On The Toilet And Looking Into The Dining Room Below. But She Is Prepared With Her Copy Of Ruby Redfort's Survival Handbook About What Do When Worries Come Your Way. Ruby Advises That The Biggest Worry Is The One You Don't Know In Advance To Think About. Sure Enough, Clarice Is Bombarded With Unexpected Problems. Her Parents' Fighting Has Accelerated, And She Is Sure They Are Headed For Divorce. Her Best Friend Moves Away, And Clarice Refuses The Friendly Advances Of Her Classmates. She Sinks Into Depression, Becoming An Unhappy Loner At School And An Insomniac At Home. Written In A Style Reminiscent Of Barbara Pack's Junie B. Jones, Clarice Often Uses Improper Language Constructions. Combined With The Author's Australian/british Expressions, This Could Be A Bit Disconcerting For American Readers. Fans Of The Series May Be Disappointed That Clarice Remains Morose And Irritable Throughout Most Of The Book, Lacking The Verve And Humor Of The Previous Books. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.d.