Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little (by Peggy Gifford)

Full of offbeat, creative ideas, 9-year-old Moxy Maxwell has put off her summer reading assignment until the very last minute. Even on the final afternoon before school starts up again, she finds a million things to keep her from the task at hand. One thing leads to another and the situation gets way out of hand before Moxy finally makes friends with Stuart Little ... and amazes even herself.

When her parents named her Moxy, they may not have known what they were asking for. This is one kid who is definitely living up to her name. She is dramatic, energetic, and impulsive. However, she also exaggerates, and procrastinates, which can lead her into trouble. It's not so much that Moxy doesn't love Stuart Little, it's just that she doesn't find enough "in-between time" to get the book read. Even when her mother threatens her with consequences, she can't find the discipline to sit down and get started. But who can really blame her? Her entire household seems rather free, undisciplined ... and creative.

Though the story itself is a little far-fetched, the premise is believable enough, and the format is entertaining. Written in short one- or two-page chapters that are headed in a manner reminiscent of Winnie-the-Pooh stories, events are illustrated with photographs supposedly taken by Moxy's twin brother Mark. Spotted here and there with narrator comments that may be hard for a 7-year-old to appreciate, the story, with all its silly shenanigans, is easy to read, and especially fun for the reader just starting out with chapter books.