Muppets Meet the Classics: The Phantom of the Opera

Gr 4–6—The Muppets star in the classic musical, with Miss Piggy as the young soprano, here named Piggy Daae, with Kermit as her childhood friend and admirer, Monsieur Viscount Kermit de Chagny. The melodramatic story contrasts humorously with zany Muppet antics. The Phantom's gold wedding ring becomes a candy Ring Pop, Fozzie Bear shows up as a pun-cracking detective, and the text is full of irreverent pop culture references. The complicated plot may be confusing to readers unfamiliar with the original story. Those new to the Muppets may also have trouble keeping track of the large cast of characters. Black-and-white illustrations in the style of Victorian oil paintings occasionally break up the text. The lively language, full of wordplay and goofy banter, makes for an entertaining read-aloud, particularly if an adult reader can explain the references. The Muppets are a classic themselves, and so this book requires at least two layers of understanding that many young readers may not have.