Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Judy Moody Saves the World
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Fiction Series
For ages 6 to 9
Candlewick Press, 2002 ISBN: 0763620874
Judy Moody really wants to win the Crazy Strips band-aid contest. Imagine having the picture you created on millions of band-aids that are on millions of elbows and knees all over America. Unfortunately, she cannot seem to come up with a good idea for her entry.
Then Judy’s third grade teacher starts a discussion about rainforests and Judy decides that she needs to do something to save rainforests. She tells her family that they have to give up coffee, chewing gum, ice cream, and lipstick. All these items are grown or have products in them that are from the rainforest. When these efforts are not well received, she goes on to saving endangered species. It is only when she protests the liberal use of pencils that Judy finally discovers that there is something that she can do the “save the world.”
Many children who have heard about the state of our planet want to do something to help, but they don’t know what to do, just like Judy Moody. Perhaps their ideas, like Judy’s, are not very practical. Or perhaps they do something that does not work for some reason. Children who have had these feelings and experiences will greatly appreciate this title. Here at last is a story about a child who, after a few false starts, finds a way to do something meaningful.
With her deliciously quirky humor and her vivid characters, Megan McDonald gives her audience a wonderful reading experience. “ROAR!” for Judy Moody!
