What to Do When You're Sent to Your Room

Gr 1–3—Ben is sent to his room for feeding his dog his dinner (again!), and he certainly isn't using the time for quiet contemplation. He writes an apology letter because he knows it will help spring him. Ben unearths his stash of hidden snacks, releases his pets for his amusement, and thinks about which battle video games he'd like for his birthday. As he knowingly says, "Time alone in my room is great for this kind of tough decision-making." Eventually, he finds his slingshot and works on his "special-ops skills" by using the heads of his army men to fire at his stuffed animals. The boy revels in time away from the bossy adults in his life and waits for his brother's bad behavior to secure his release. Children will enjoy the boy's creative, matter-of-fact approach to his confinement, but adults will feel a bit queasy when confronted with the boy's thoughts and actions. Gilpin's drawings capture perfectly the child's interests and expressions—not to mention the wildly disordered state of his room. Mischievous boys with hearts of gold are a staple of childhood literature, but calculating boys are a bit harder to root for.—Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA