Maya Makes a Mess

Gr 1–3—Maya is the epitome of a messy eater. Dinner at her house is full of admonishments and orders to correct her table manners. Her father tries cajoling her by asking what she would do if she were dining with the queen. It's a preposterous idea, except that the doorbell rings, and the child receives a summons from a royal messenger to dine with Her Majesty. Maya is a little nervous, but everyone tells her that as long as she remembers her manners, everything will be fine. She tries, but when confronted with a parade of dishes she doesn't know, she asks for a plate of pasta with ketchup and can't contain herself from digging in with her fingers. This attracts the attention of her hostess, who is flabbergasted. When asked why she eats that way, Maya simply replies with the truth: it makes the food taste better. The queen thinks for a moment and decrees that all of the diners should eat like Maya, who returns home delighted and determined to teach her parents some manners. Children who know what "good" table manners are will enjoy the absurdity of Maya's habits and will understand why all the adults are so appalled. The comic-book-style format lends itself perfectly to this quirky story, melding both the text and the pictures beautifully. Modan's detailed drawings, some in panels and some spreads, capture facial expressions particularly well.—Amy Commers, South St. Paul Public Library, MN