Regarding The Fountain

The school in Dry Creek needs a new drinking fountain, but a simple request for a catalog turns the town upside down when the Auntie Mame of fountain designers, Florence Waters, begins corresponding with the fifth-grade class. The humor is right on target, and the entire story is told through letters, memos, newspaper articles, and other narrative devices. There are also a number of faxes exchanged between the nefarious Sally Mander and Dee Eel, who mysteriously want to prevent the old, leaky fountain from being removed. It's a trifle gimmicky, but Kate Klise and her sister, M. Sarah Klise, who contributed the artwork, carry it off extraordinarily well, and the lively presentation, with copious drawings, sketches, postcards, and handwritten notes, will keep even reluctant readers turning the pages to reach the satisfying conclusion. (Gr. 4-6).