Harvey Moon, Museum Boy

Cummings, Pat. 2008. Harvey Moon, Museum Boy. Harper Collins.

A co-worker suggested this new picture book for storytime, so I checked it out. It is a rhyming account of a boy's night spent in a museum (sound familiar?) after he is separated from his class field trip.

The verse is sometimes amusing,

'"Pay close attention to Ms. Tasumi.
Don't fuss. Don't fight. Don't run.
Don't yell. Don't point. Don't dare tease the girls.
Harvey groaned as she added, "Have fun."'

and sometimes forced,

"He came upon statues raiding pictures of food,
Swiping cheeses and bread. Then, as one,
Marble cheeks creaked as their marble heads turned.
They spied Harvey. He started to run."

The surprise ending is funny and it might work for storytime, but I would not recommend Harvey Moon, Museum Boy. On an unrelated note, this is the first time that I've noticed "Manufactured in China" on the copyright page. I wonder if this is the new norm. I'm going to have to take more notice.