Lawn Mower Magic (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Lawn Mower Magic Hope Morrison Jonell, Lynne . Lawn Mower Magic; illus. by Brandon Dorman. Random House, 2012. [112p]. (Stepping Stone Books) Library ed. ISBN 978-0-375-96661-3 $15.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-375-86661-6 $12.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-375-89673-6 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 2-3. Just weeks after their encounter with a magical hamster (Hamster Magic, BCCB 1/11), the Willow children—Abner, Tate, Derek, and Celia—find magic in a wholly different manifestation. When the family lawn mower breaks down, the kids dig out an old manual push mower from a forgotten shed and put it to use. Luckily for the Willow kids, that lawn mower seems to have a bit of magic left over from the previous book, and as soon as it touches grass, it takes off on its own. Unlucky for the Willow children, it doesn't have an off switch, and the kids are unable to stop it from raging through the vegetable garden, over a hedge, and into the river dragging three kids behind it. The story has the madcap feel of a cartoon rather than the quiet charm of the first series entry, and it's more a single humorous episode than a fully developed novel; in fact, the thin plot is stretched beyond capacity here. As in Hamster Magic, there is a lot of appeal in the kids' deep-rooted commitment to each other and to working as a team, however, and young readers will cheer for their final cooperative victory even if they find themselves fairly unengaged with the notion of a magical lawnmower along the way. Final illustrations not seen. [End Page 357] Copyright © 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois