From: Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 11:23:40 -0700 (PDT)

I appreciate Tana and Megan's comments about "Seven Spiders Spinning" and different kinds of humor-- especially what Megan said about "emotionally fulfilling" humor. One book that Tana mentioned that surprised me in this way is "Mean Margaret" by Tor Seidler (1997). On first reading, this is a very irreverant koutrageous story in which two neat and tidy woodchucks adopt an atrocious human baby who's been literally "dumped" in the woods by her unappreciative siblings. How this foster family grows and changes is related in an hilarious, slapstick style; but the story has much to offer beyond the thoroughly enjoyable, light reading. In fact, I'd put the book aside with a chuckle and forgetten about it until I noticed that colleagues were mentioning it over and over. In short: this silly story manages to communicate the vast intricacies of and differences in families more subtley, lovingly, and effectively, than most "serious" novels. This reveals the intense and often underestimated power of humor. Humor strikes deep and quick, by circumventing many social customs (--similarly, in the vein of last month's discussion, to poetry). It must, and musn't, be taken lightly.


Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Pulbic Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us


        "Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
         than the breathing respect that you carry
         wherever you go right now?"
                                        --William Stafford
Received on Wed 06 May 1998 01:23:40 PM CDT