School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Digger and Tiger are "rough-and-tumble boys, spiky-haired, hole-at-the-knee boys" who spend all their time in the Yard. When Meggie Moon enters their turf, the boys sneer, "We don't play with girls." Undeterred, she rifles through the broken broom handles, garbage-can lids, and light bulbs and creates a magnificent race car. Her clever ideas and spunky nature win the boys over and she leads them on imaginary journeys through haunted castles and snake pits. Digger and Tiger realize that before they met Meggie, "the rubble was just rubble." When their new friend leaves, they build a spaceship in tribute to their "lost captain." Mabire's watercolor cartoon illustrations invite a closer look. The fantastic creations are chock-full of cast-offs and broken bits, and show two rats enjoying their own adventures. A good choice to discuss gender stereotypes as well as the powers of imagination.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.