THE GREAT WHITE MAN-EATING SHARK

Norvin. . .a good actor but rather plain. . .looked very like a shark." This thick-necked, pointy-toothed boy discovers that, with the help of a strapped-on dorsal fin, he can frighten the other swimmers and have Caramel Cove to himself. All goes well until Norvin is spotted by a female shark who takes a fancy to him, giving Norvin such a fright that he blows his cover and eschews swimming for quite a long time. Mahy tells this "Cautionary Tale" in a quietly comic, deceptively simple style inspired by her usual marvelous dry wit. Allen's appropriately cartoon-like illustrations wonderfully extend the humor, making Norvin truly shark-like—both mischievous and menacing—and depicting the other swimmers with satirical glee. Just right to share with a bunch of Cub Scouts.