Owen Foote, Super Spy - Hardcover

Martha Weston was the author and illustrator of two charming picture books about Tuck, as well as the illustrator of Clarion's successful Owen Foote books by Stephanie Greene. Martha Weston died in 2003.

Gr 2-4-Owen Foote has an active imagination. He loves playing spy, not to mention being head of a team consisting of his main sidekick Joseph; Anthony, a show-off who has a professional camouflage suit complete with boots, canteen, and binoculars; and Ben. Armed with Ben's brothers' walkie-talkies and with Morse code signals, including one for "I have to go to the bathroom," that are delivered via blinks of the eye, they spy on the school principal at his house. As a result, of course, life lessons are learned. Youngsters will love this book for the sheer fun and intrigue. Boys, especially, will appreciate the stuff they consider important and unimportant, like an annoying older sister. Chapters are fluid and just the right length, with well-developed characters, hushed moments, and cliff-hanger endings. The black-and-white illustrations are few, but always in the right spot. The detail is exceptional and the facial expressions, priceless. Enjoyable independently, this title is also an amusing read-aloud.

Wanda Meyers-Hines, Ridgecrest Elementary, Huntsville, AL

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.