The Magic Backpack. (Flying Foxes). Julia Jarman. Illustrated by Adriano Gon. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2004. 48 pp., pbk. & cl., $7.16 (pbk.), $18.36 (RLB). ISBN 0-7787-1533-7 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-1487-X (RLB). Subject Headings: Food-Juvenile fiction. Agriculture-Juvenile fiction. Grades 1-3 / Ages 6-8. Review by Catherine Hoyt. *** /4

excerpt:

Mrs. Crumble said, "Sit down quickly, Josh. We are looking at this recipe and this map of the world. Today we will find out where the ingredients - the things we will need to make our cake - come from."

"Tomorrow we'll make a delicious chocolate cake."

Josh is very forgetful. This week Josh forgets his gym shoes; and then he is almost late because he forgets it's a school day and ends up wearing his pajamas to school. Josh only arrives at school on time because of his magic flying backpack. Josh's class is learning about different foods and where they come from. As part of the lesson, the children agree to bring ingredients from home so the class can make a Super-Duper Round the World Chocolate Cake. The next day Josh disappoints his class when he forgets the cocoa and the chocolate needed for the chocolate topping. But the magic backpack saves the day when it flies Josh and his friend Tracy all the way to Africa to visit his Uncle William's cocoa plantation. Josh and Tracy see the cocoa trees and the cocoa beans in big red and yellow pods drying in the sun. Josh's uncle takes them to the cocoa factory where he gives the children enough cocoa and chocolate for their cake. The magic backpack returns Josh and Tracy to school just as recess is ending. Then the whole class happily helps make and eat a delicious chocolate cake.

     Author Julia Jarman has successfully created an amusing story that will allow young readers to learn about food and where it comes from. The target audience will also enjoy the idea of a magic backpack, and most will be able to relate to Josh's forgetfulness. The author includes a step-by-step recipe for the Super-Duper Round the World Chocolate Cake.

     Illustrator Adriano Gon did a great job on these vibrant cartoon-like illustrations. In his brief interview, Gon mentions how he used wall paint on film to create these colourful pictures. Gon drew black outlines on the film first and then added colour on the backside of the film. The cover art is bright and layout is very attractive. This format will appeal to newly independent readers.

     “Flying Foxes” is a new series by Crabtree Publishing for newly independent readers. Plots are based on various curriculum topics. Speech bubbles with characters' brief comments add to the readability of the stories. Each book includes an activity suggestion to encourage further exploration of the topic. The brief interviews with the author and illustrator also include a photograph of each.

     The Magic Backpack is a recommended purchase for school and public libraries. The publisher recommends the reading level as ages 6-8, but I think the vocabulary of this book is too advanced for a beginning reader. Words like ingredients, delicious, Mauritius and Mediterranean will surely present stumbling blocks for most newly independent grade one readers. Teachers should keep this point in mind when choosing these books for their classrooms.

Recommended.

Catherine Hoyt is the Public Services Librarian for the York Library Region in Fredericton, NB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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