Starring Miss Darlene by Amy Schwartz.

Darlene, a hippopotamus, wanted to be famous, so she signed up for theater classes.  SheUn auditioned and got the part of the Flood in the Noah’s Ark performance.  Her part was so simple, she didn’t need to be part of the rehearsals.  Unfortunately, it turns out it wasn’t so easy after all.  But Darlene got rave reviews in spite of her mistake on stage.  In the next performance, Darlene got thirteen lines!  But she also got stage fright.  Messing up again in front of the audience, she again got rave reviews.  And finally, Darlene got the part of Sleeping Beauty.  She was a sleeping beauty who really slept.  Snored even.  And guess what, rave reviews.

This is a great book for all sorts of children.  Children interested in plays and acting will love it.  Children afraid of making mistakes will also relate happily to the story.  And also children who just love twists and turns in their books will appreciate this one.  Schwartz’s writing is simple, clear and inviting.  Children are led up to the emotions but not told what to think, which is very refreshing in a picture book.  In fact, the children will fret much more than Miss Darlene ever does about her mistakes.   Expect a lot of laughter with the Sleeping Beauty ending.

Recommended reading for children ages 5-7.  This will work well as classroom reading before a school performance or concert.