Liar liar

Gr 4--6--Ten-year-old Abby and her little brother, Jonah, have been adventuring through classic stories and fairy tales for over a decade in Mlynowski's "Whatever After" series. This latest book finds them drawn into the world of Pinocchio after the blue fairy appears and convinces them that all of the tragic parts of the story could be avoided if only Pinocchio had just gone to school. Accompanied by Jonah and their dog, Prince, Abby embarks on a mission to help Pinocchio make the right choices. However, he turns out to be much more cunning than they anticipated, and a lighthearted adventure unfolds when the siblings must twist the original narrative and help everyone find their happily ever after in a fresh way. Abby and her brother are Jewish. VERDICT Though decidedly formulaic, these stories remain charming and entertaining, and will appeal to readers who appreciate whimsical tales and reimagined fairy stories.