The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel - ADVISABLE

Stevens, Janet and Susan Stevens Crummel The Little Red Pen. Harcourt Children's Books, 2011. 56 pgs. PICTURE BOOK.

The teacher has gone home, and the Little Red Pen is worried; she must grade all of the papers overnight or she fears the world will come to an end. She tries to cajole the other office supplies into helping, but no one wants to take on the task. When the pen falls into the dreaded Place of No Return (otherwise known as the trash can), the other office supplies must work together to rescue her. They then team up to grade the remaining papers before morning comes.

The book's illustrations are engaging and vibrant, and the authors' sense of humor is hilarious, although some of the puns may be lost on young readers. The lessons - that we all have special skills, and that we must work together to accomplish great things - are wonderful. This book is more appropriate for advanced readers, as the many characters can become confusing for younger students, especially when each one chimes in so frequently. In the right hands it would make for a fun (though long) read-aloud.

EL - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Caryn.