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Summary
Summary
Pearl and Wagner are back, and they are full of secrets- Wagner tells Pearl an embarrassing secret, Pearl tells Wagner a surprising secret, and Lulu tells Wagner a secret that turns out not to be a secret at all. On a school field trip and at a birthday party, Pearl and Wagner learn that some secrets can bring friends closer together, while others can cause all sorts of trouble. In the end, no secret will ever come between Pearl and Wagner!
Beginning readers will laugh and recognize a little of themselves on every page of this charming, warm, and funny book about friendship.
Author Notes
Kate McMullan was born in 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri. She received a Bachelor's degree in elementary education at the University of Tulsa and a Master's degree in early childhood education from Ohio State University. She taught elementary school in inner-city Los Angeles and on an American Air Force base in Germany. In 1976, she moved to New York City and became an editor of language arts and audiovisual materials for a publishing house.
She has written over 50 children's books under the names Kate McMullan, Katy Hall, and K. H. McMullan. The book, I Stink!, won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Nutcracker Noel and Hey, Pipsqueak, which were illustrated by her husband Jim McMullan, were voted among the New York Times Ten Best Picture Books of the Year. She writes the Dragon Slayers' Academy series and the Fluffy, the Classroom Guinea Pig series.
She also teaches at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies and is a member of the faculty of the New School's MFA Writing Program.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-The appealing rabbit-and-mouse duo are back. When Wagner tries very hard to keep a classmate's confidence from Pearl, they both learn that secrets can strain a relationship. However, in the next two chapters, the friends discover that by sharing their private concerns they can solidify the bond between them; when Wagner reveals his fear of roller coasters to Pearl, she later admits that she is also terrified of them. McMullan uses short sentences and simple dialogue while successfully bringing forth a plot with complex emotions that youngsters can relate to. Done in pen and ink, watercolor, and colored pencils, the vibrant illustrations complement the text-the animal characters have unique personalities that are clearly conveyed through their expressions. A humorous story that addresses common concerns for children who are progressing through the stages of early reading.-Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
(Primary) Best friends Pearl (a rabbit) and Wagner (a mouse) are back in a second easy reader, with three chapters about secrets. In the first, Pearl is so busy trying to guess Wagner's secret, and Wagner is so busy trying not to tell, that they miss all the fun on their field trip to the ice-cream factory -- and the secret (that classmate Lulu is having a birthday party) turns out to be not-so-secret after all. Then Pearl helps Wagner overcome his secret fear of roller coasters in preparation for the party, which is to be held at an amusement park. Finally, at Lulu's party, Wagner is ready, but Pearl needs help conquering her unexpected jitters. The dialogue is lively, funny, and quite real -- as in this exchange after a coaster-phobic Wagner announces he's not going: ""'I have to get my teeth cleaned,' said Wagner. 'You did that last week,' said Pearl. 'I have to buy new socks,' said Wagner. 'Tell me the real reason,' said Pearl."" Alley's energetic ink-and-wash illustrations directly telegraph the characters' emotions through facial expressions (a boon for beginning readers); the pictures also manage the larger sweep of the roller-coaster ride with dexterity. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Pearl the rabbit and Wagner the mouse continue to develop the friendship introduced in the first volume in this easy-reader series, Pearl and Wagner: Two Good Friends (2003). In this funny entry, three short chapters highlight the sort of secrets important to first graders, focusing on the fear of riding on a roller coaster. Pearl skillfully helps Wagner prepare for their roller coaster ride, conquering his fear of the unknown, but the reality of the enormous roller coaster gives Pearl her own set of worries. Her fears are counteracted by Wagner's comforting presence as they ride the huge "Zoomer" side-by-side, along with their class of assorted animal friends. McMullan's subtle humor infuses the clever plot, which includes a field trip to an ice-cream factory as well as a birthday party at the amusement park. Alley's delightful watercolor-and-ink illustrations show a wide range of emotions, including the animals all screaming their heads off as the roller coaster cars careen downhill. Pearl and Wagner are a winsome pair of pals who will surely share more easy-reader adventures, perhaps next time over four seasons like another famous animal duo. (Easy reader. 5-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
K-Gr. 2. Rabbit and mouse buddies from Pearl and Wagner: Two Good Friends (2003) return in this short chapter book. In the first section, Wagner struggles to keep a secret about Lulu's party, only to discover that Pearl knew all along. In the next, Wagner dreads the party. He confides to Pearl that he's afraid of roller coasters, but she bolsters his confidence. Then, at the amusement park, Pearl reveals her own trepidation to Wagner, who helps her enjoy the roller coaster ride. Many children will recognize their own struggles and fears in this episodic story, told with simple words and plenty of realistic dialogue. Alley captures the animal characters' all-too-human foibles and feelings in his skillful, spirited ink drawings, brightened with watercolors and colored pencils. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2004 Booklist
