Ebook176 pages1 hour
Mean Margaret
By Tor Seidler and Jon Agee
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
()
About this ebook
Unconditional kindness is the key in this National Book Award Finalist from the author of The Wainscott Weasel about nontraditional families, adoption, love—and a little peace and quiet.
Margaret is a mean, cranky human toddler from a family of nine. She is such a pain that her beleaguered parents chuck her out, and she’s on her own, grousing and grumping until two caring woodchucks, Phoebe and Fred, take Margaret in as their own. But despite their love, Margaret continues to wreak havoc with her loud, destructive ways, ruining the burrow and shrieking nonstop. Soon the woodchucks are as beleaguered as Margaret’s human parents were, but because love is more powerful than temper tantrums, they are determined to make it work. So they enlist a little unconventional help, and with the guidance of a snake, bats, and a skunk, their feral little human just might realize there’s more to life than being mean.
Margaret is a mean, cranky human toddler from a family of nine. She is such a pain that her beleaguered parents chuck her out, and she’s on her own, grousing and grumping until two caring woodchucks, Phoebe and Fred, take Margaret in as their own. But despite their love, Margaret continues to wreak havoc with her loud, destructive ways, ruining the burrow and shrieking nonstop. Soon the woodchucks are as beleaguered as Margaret’s human parents were, but because love is more powerful than temper tantrums, they are determined to make it work. So they enlist a little unconventional help, and with the guidance of a snake, bats, and a skunk, their feral little human just might realize there’s more to life than being mean.
Author
Tor Seidler
Tor Seidler is the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of more than a dozen children’s books, including Firstborn, The Wainscott Weasel, A Rat’s Tale, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Gully’s Travels, and most notably Mean Margaret, which was a National Book Award Finalist. He lives in New York, New York.
Read more from Tor Seidler
Firstborn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wainscott Weasel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Oh, Rats! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Mean Margaret
Related ebooks
Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sadie's Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buckle and Squash and the Monstrous Moat-Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Beekeeper Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stella Díaz Has Something to Say Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Masterpiece Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hand-Me-Down Magic #3: Perfect Patchwork Purse Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKiller Lunch Lady Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJustin Case: Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLife According to Dani Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Freddie Ramos Zooms to the Rescue Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Ghost Diamond! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Is for Elizabeth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhere Dani Goes, Happy Follows Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Secret Zoo: The Final Fight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Violet Mackerel's Personal Space Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bicycle to Treachery: A QUIX Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Animal Rescue Agency #1: Case File: Little Claws Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Behind the Bedroom Wall: A Novel of Nazi Germany Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free Educator's Guide: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Sugar Hero Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An Occasionally Happy Family Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes: Kid Normal 2 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Cat Ears on Elizabeth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Box-Car Children Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Calliope Cat Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Dog Like Daisy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Children's Family For You
Ruby Finds a Worry Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Farmer Boy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Secret Garden: The 100th Anniversary Edition with Tasha Tudor Art and Bonus Materials Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little House on the Prairie Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Crossover: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Amelia Bedelia Gets the Picture Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Classic Fantasy Adventure Series (Official Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Into the Wild: Warriors #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Number the Stars: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Wolf Called Wander Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fortunately, the Milk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coraline Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The One and Only Bob Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tikki Tikki Tembo Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Little House in the Big Woods Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Long Winter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Out of My Mind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silver Chair: The Classic Fantasy Adventure Series (Official Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Graveyard Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On the Banks of Plum Creek Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coraline 10th Anniversary Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Harriet the Spy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Way of the Warrior Kid: From Wimpy to Warrior the Navy SEAL Way: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Prince Caspian: The Classic Fantasy Adventure Series (Official Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sarah, Plain and Tall: A Newbery Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Horse and His Boy: The Classic Fantasy Adventure Series (Official Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One Crazy Summer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Presents a Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Mean Margaret
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
1 rating1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Reason for Reading: I've read one previous book by this author and since I enjoyed it was looking forward to reading another of his books.I'm not sure "Mean Margaret" is actually the best title for this book as Margaret is not the main character, nor is the story really about her, but she is indeed the antagonist. The book concerns Fred, a woodchuck, and his search for a mate. His eventual marriage to the woodchuck Phoebe brings up the talk of children, which Phoebe loves and Fred hates, putting her off with lame excuses the next day they find a human child outside their burrow. Sally, renamed Margaret by the woodchucks, is the ninth child of the Hubble's, a fat lazy couple with progressively ruder and wilder children. Toddler Sally takes the cake though and no one but a mother could love her. Sharing room with siblings 6, 7, & 8, they plot to drop her off far away in the woods one night to hopefully never have to contend with her again. Such then, is the story of how Phoebe takes in this mannerliness, self-centred child to look after and care for and love as only a mother can love. Along with Fred and Phoebe are a cast of their animal friends including Skunk, Snake, Squirrel, Mr & Mrs Bat & Phoebe's sister with her own three young children. The story mainly takes place amongst the animals in the forest but does switch to the human Hubble family a few times. This is a lovable, dear comedy where nearly everyone learns a life lesson by the end of the book. Fred and Phoebe are wonderful animal characters and anyone who enjoys this type of animal fantasy will certainly like this book. There are most definitely touches of Roald Dahl in Seidler's humour as his dark humour is laced with a witty meanness that makes this as much a fun read for adults as children. The artwork by Agee is plentiful and reminded me of William Steig in style. A funny story, touching and heartwarming at times, while giggle producing at others. Not exactly a fast-paced story but one to enjoy at its own leisurely pace. This read makes me want to re-read "A Rat's Tale" the only other Seidler book I've read, and go on to reading his other books.
Book preview
Mean Margaret - Tor Seidler
y1a book_preview_excerpt.html Y˒>
>ʌUP `wcIO_̪cF>HA7ꑕUc7nx~k }cua͛L[c1|]cn60gsѶ??938ۄun4v_/07&97pkd'+iy.ɜcL瓩5: &8ǹE>u|6ᬷaS9r278vɼclTƐ;ކÝͰtË,#v'8Bk;b^IqO=y9)wF(3!u74>e;f<.ijK&"G6RzB'fͧ{rtzӳ:19ӇC.vP.1o8-mZ-5ަ9qЗI4Ӎg7N7-vlLN?G:BR. #"xUY^<~06 | 쉆cؾ/)ۣ鑬C8wM d3uQ
%gn+%ٷ=ia\F6 @JǧUtw
c8V
Bl$L}$Cr|
i%ZpGZ{Ey@T|eB8,CRlCb1pY(ldm<ݟĹÈC lK:+ǐ^&ĕ[9NK0sݕP(XaVQD{.3̒ qީs[DMAcPR0mNܳg6p7\|mEvtwfylROc<Q̜H#ul>w`:;H ;0_iqV@.
fL.s+nxX?s
T[
}`x{D7d8_`h\GYq|R`4[h+"! ݕD&bJ}2<v1BHx4DΎR pLEZ