Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire [School & Library Binding]

The third-grade narrator lies to make herself seem special?which only leads to more fibs. Ages 7-9.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Grade 2-4?In Korman's latest offering, the title's familiar childhood taunt is directed at Zoe Bent, the biggest liar in Mrs. Moore's third-grade class. Zoe feels as though she needs to invent a fantastic explanation for being late to school and claims to have an eagle's nest in her backyard to impress her classmates. Her lies inevitably lead to telling more lies to cover up earlier ones. As a result, no one believes her when she is telling the truth. With the help of a friend, Zoe eventually realizes that she has a special gift?a great imagination. The message that everyone is special in their own way is a bit heavy-handed, but it is, nonetheless, a message that children cannot hear too often. Korman's language is colloquial and humorous. Zoe often makes exaggerated statements, such as "Principal's letters were automatic bad news. It was a law." Adinolfi's illustrations feature flat, often skewed perspectives and expressive, stylized figures that enhance the quality of the book.?Robin L. Gibson, Muskingum County Library System, Zanesville, OH
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Zoe, worried that she is not special, has the bad habit of making up outrageous stories and trying to pass them off as the truth in order to make herself appear more interesting. Her constant lying has made her classmates, teacher, and parents suspicious of anything she says. Even when Zoe tells the truth, no one believes her except her devoted younger brother, Joey, and her kind friend, Michael, and even they are getting fed up. The didactic intent is hammered home with such force by Korman (Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road, 1994, etc.) that even readers who aren't paying attention will know they are being lectured. The messages--lying is bad, imagination is good, everyone is special--are both cloying and obvious. In her odd and childlike black-and-white illustrations, Adinolfi is behind the most imaginative aspects of the book; Korman displays little affection for his main character and even less for the readers for whom this story is intended. (Fiction. 7-9) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Zoe is always making up wild stories. When something exciting really does happen to her--like an eagle nesting in her backyard--no one wants to believe her!. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Award-winning Gordon Korman is one of the most popular contemporary authors today, with more than forty novels for middle grade and young adults to his credit, including the best-selling Macdonald Hall series, and the critically acclaimed Everest, Island and Dive trilogies. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.