MAYBELLE GOES TO TEA

Maybelle the Cockroach and Henry the Flea are still alive and bugging the very perfect Peabodys. The rule of their house might be “ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO BUGS,” but rules are made to be broken. Whether it’s a hidden cache of raspberry jam or a pile of sandwiches for the Ladies’ Spring Tea, Maybelle’s life is full of surprises. One is the arrival of Maurice, one Noticeable and Unwelcome fly who puts all the insects in danger of an Extermination Event but who also adds some excitement to the household. While Maybelle tries to follow The Rules that keep a cockroach safe, Maurice’s watchword is “Go for it!” When Maybelle decides to do so, she goes through one terrifying and hilarious adventure after another. Rátz de Taygos’s detailed, kinetic illustrations dot most pages, making the text accessible to new readers. Maybelle’s oversized hair bow and Maurice’s over-the-top antics, along with varied perspectives, keep readers at the heart of the adventure. Short sentences, laugh-out-loud situations and likable characters make this second series entry a winner. (Fiction. 6-9)