From School Library Journal Grades 1-3--Junie B. Jones and Ramona Quimby, meet your British soul sister, Josie Smith. Star of an English television series based on the popular 12-book series, Josie captured the Smarties Book Prize in 1991 for Josie Smith and Eileen, and was runner up for the Guardian Children's Fiction Award for her 1989 debut title, Josie Smith. Author Magdalen Nabb has created a spunky young imp who exhibits the delight and despair felt by every child deciphering the dilemmas of daily life. In Josie Smith in Spring (Trafalgar, pap. 2000), our heroine dirties the white satin her seamstress mother has cut out for a client's wedding dress, goes shopping with her best friend (and worst adversary), and receives an Easter egg (with a live chick inside) from kind Mr. Scowcroft. These three stories portray Josie, her single mother, and neighborhood friends as genuine characters, a true cross section of British village life. English actress Ann Beach voices the audiobook at a leisurely, measured pace, her clear British accent changing from a warm narrative to individual character intonation. However, this recording of the English edition (Collins, 2000) presents many stumbling blocks for the intended audience. Youngsters will be stumped by the many Briticisms. For example, Josie wears an anorak and Wellingtons, and snacks on wine gums. While shopping, she sees frocks and haberdashery, rides a moving staircase, and ladders a woman's stocking on a lift. The American publisher of the series, Margaret K. McElderry Books, replaced such terms in the titles available in the U.S. while retaining the large text and pen-and-ink illustrations to provide context clues; sadly, these editions are currently out of print. Early independent readers who depend on having both the audiotape and book version of a title to enhance their understanding of text will not be able to reconcile the cultural differences, even with the British edition in hand. Until American book and tape editions are released, better leave this cheery beginning chapter book series for the British to enjoy.Mary Burkey, Grandview Heights City Schools, OHCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From AudioFile Josie, a sweet, young English girl without siblings or a father, is full of charm, innocent good intentions, and inadvertent mischief. Through Josie, Nabb adroitly conveys the innocent confusion children have in understanding the adult world. All of her characters are well drawn, and children may find Josie's spoiled friend, Eileen, especially recognizable. Ann Beach's fine reading of this enchanting tale brings all of these characters to life; Josie's sweet innocence, her mother's love, and Eileen's snobbishness are all ably performed. Her reading of Josie's earnest search of the dictionary to find a word's meaning wonderfully captures the young girl's perplexity and amazement at the variations of language. Since this is a British work, some of the expressions ("lift," "Wellingtons," etc.) may throw off a few people this side of the Atlantic. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine--Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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Josie Smith in Spring
From School Library Journal Grades 1-3--Junie B. Jones and Ramona Quimby, meet your British soul sister, Josie Smith. Star of an English television series based on the popular 12-book series, Josie captured the Smarties Book Prize in 1991 for Josie Smith and Eileen, and was runner up for the Guardian Children's Fiction Award for her 1989 debut title, Josie Smith. Author Magdalen Nabb has created a spunky young imp who exhibits the delight and despair felt by every child deciphering the dilemmas of daily life. In Josie Smith in Spring (Trafalgar, pap. 2000), our heroine dirties the white satin her seamstress mother has cut out for a client's wedding dress, goes shopping with her best friend (and worst adversary), and receives an Easter egg (with a live chick inside) from kind Mr. Scowcroft. These three stories portray Josie, her single mother, and neighborhood friends as genuine characters, a true cross section of British village life. English actress Ann Beach voices the audiobook at a leisurely, measured pace, her clear British accent changing from a warm narrative to individual character intonation. However, this recording of the English edition (Collins, 2000) presents many stumbling blocks for the intended audience. Youngsters will be stumped by the many Briticisms. For example, Josie wears an anorak and Wellingtons, and snacks on wine gums. While shopping, she sees frocks and haberdashery, rides a moving staircase, and ladders a woman's stocking on a lift. The American publisher of the series, Margaret K. McElderry Books, replaced such terms in the titles available in the U.S. while retaining the large text and pen-and-ink illustrations to provide context clues; sadly, these editions are currently out of print. Early independent readers who depend on having both the audiotape and book version of a title to enhance their understanding of text will not be able to reconcile the cultural differences, even with the British edition in hand. Until American book and tape editions are released, better leave this cheery beginning chapter book series for the British to enjoy.Mary Burkey, Grandview Heights City Schools, OHCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From AudioFile Josie, a sweet, young English girl without siblings or a father, is full of charm, innocent good intentions, and inadvertent mischief. Through Josie, Nabb adroitly conveys the innocent confusion children have in understanding the adult world. All of her characters are well drawn, and children may find Josie's spoiled friend, Eileen, especially recognizable. Ann Beach's fine reading of this enchanting tale brings all of these characters to life; Josie's sweet innocence, her mother's love, and Eileen's snobbishness are all ably performed. Her reading of Josie's earnest search of the dictionary to find a word's meaning wonderfully captures the young girl's perplexity and amazement at the variations of language. Since this is a British work, some of the expressions ("lift," "Wellingtons," etc.) may throw off a few people this side of the Atlantic. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine--Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
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