Testing Miss Malarkey

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-This picture book about the current standardized-testing culture will either touch a funny bone or a nerve. A school community is obsessed with students' preparation and performance on the Instructional Performance Through Understanding test (IPTU). The title gives away the actual joke: it is the teachers whose futures are on the line. As Miss Malarkey prepares her class, she becomes increasingly frazzled as test time approaches. Although she tries to reassure students that "THE TEST" is not important, the atmosphere tells a different story. Children play Multiplication Mambo at recess, eat brain food in the cafeteria, and learn to meditate in gym. While they seem immune to the adult panic, the tension spreads to their parents who abandon bedtime stories for textbook drills and attend a PTA meeting with Dr. Scoreswell, "the Svengali of tests." It is disappointing that the final illustration shows that all the hysteria has had positive results, as the faculty celebrates the school's status as #1 IPTU County Champions. O'Malley's colorful cartoons extend the slapstick, over-the-top humor. Readers will get the joke if they have experienced our society's testing mania. The appreciation by school professionals may depend on their perception of whether the laughs are at the expense of the testing process, society, or the teachers themselves.Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CT Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 6-9. Miss Malarkey is back, this time dealing with standardized tests, but the tone of this story is surprisingly sarcastic. The Principal is literally flipping his wig over which pencils to order, students in art class learn the correct way to fill in circles, and Mr. Fitanuff is teaching yoga to help de-stress kids before the test. Even worse, children are denied recess, and parents are concerned about property values. The last illustration shows teachers celebrating under a banner proclaiming "County Champions," but it's clear the children are unaware of the honor. Listeners will enjoy the silly humor and joyful, creative illustrations, with thought balloons providing snappy asides, but the book may be most appealing to adults who have already done their share of test preparation. Marta Segal
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

Gr 1-5-Testing time is here again, and everyone is tense in Judy Finchler's story (Walker, 2000). This humorous take on the current assessment craze will have both teachers and students howling with laughter. The male narrator provides a different voice for each character. Kevin O'Malley's expressive and humorous illustrations are scanned iconographically, with some minor animation added. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices