Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #173279 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

Customer Reviews

The Marion Trilogy

I. First the Fairy Tale

Once upon a time there was a young hedgehog who began her career as an exotic pet for a fourth-grade boy. When she and the boy failed to bond, she was given to the boy's teacher. After a couple of years the boy's teacher moved on but the little hedgehog remained behind as a fourth-grade classroom pet. At some point she went home to live with a teacher's aide and eventually she moved to a seventh grade science classroom. Over the years, she acquired several names including Velcro and Zipper but no one really took the time to get to know her or to learn how to care for her properly. Finally, after developing internal parasites and severe foot problems (her toenails had grown around her toes and back up into her feet), the hedgehog found a forever home with school librarian, Brook Berg.

Suddenly the lonely hedgehog was transformed from a down-and-out neglected pet to Marion, pampered hedgie princess! She quickly acquired a plastic ferret ball and a custom-made, hedgehog-approved, exercise wheel. Not only that, she moved to a luxurious palace consisting of four spacious four-foot long translucent covered plastic boxes connected with 3" PVC piping! She had a room for her wheel, a room with a patio stone (to manicure her toenails), a dining room and a bathroom! Each room had a pipe, a box or a hat to provide plenty of places for privacy or napping!

Marion's palace was installed on top of a library shelf where she could watch the students as they selected their books. Every afternoon the ferret ball was placed in one of her rooms. Her slaves would tap on the ball to signal Marion and she would eagerly jump into it to tour of the library or the school hallways! Marion's weekends were spent at Brook Berg's home. Her box house, wheel and ball always traveled with her and she also had week-end access to a five-foot swimming pool and many toys.

After nearly four years as a pampered library celebrity, Marion died of old age.

2. Then the Books

Brook Berg has written three picture books about using the library. All three feature Marion in a starring role as a little girl hedgehog who aspires to be a librarian when she grows up.

In the first story, What Happened to Marion's Book?, Marion spills jam on her library book while reading at the breakfast table. Her frantic efforts to clean the book are very entertaining and effectively teach students how to--and how not to--take care of their library books. What Happened to Marion's Book? is a particular favorite with the younger students at the two schools where I work. They really sympathize with Marion as she tries to salvage her ruined library book.

The next book, What Marion Taught Willis, bravely tackles a notoriously dry library subject--the Dewey Decimal System. During "Career Day" at school Willis teases Marion when she says she wants to be a librarian when she grows up. Marion dares Willis to meet her at the Media Center so she can show him the interesting books he can find there. Willis can't turn away from a dare so Marion is able to convince him that the Dewey System will make it easy for him to find books on interesting topics. The story really engages students who enjoy discovering where books on their favorite topics can be found.

The third book, When Marion Copied, offers a clear, child-friendly explanation of plagiarism and how to avoid it. Marion is pleased when the teacher begins reading her report in class. But when he goes on to read the reports of a second student and a third, Marion realizes that the reports are identical because the students have copied the same Internet page on the topic! Her teacher explains what plagiarism is, describes its consequences and presents techniques to avoid it.

The books feature large, colorful illustrations by Nathan Alberg and a photograph of Marion the hedgehog. They were published by Upstart Books of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, a publisher which specializes in creative ideas for library and classroom learning. A small plush version of Marion is also available.

Marion the hedgehog loves to read
Marion the hedgehog loves to read and she relishes her borrowed books - until she accidentally spills on one at the breakfast table. Her clean-up efforts only result in further disaster in this wonderfully engaging picturebook story which is especially recommended for children preschool and kindergarten through second grade.

What Happened to Marion's Book?
This is the best book I have ever seen to show children what NOT to do with their books! The illustrations are engaging and my kindergartner loves it. This is the favorite at our house!