Mrs. Armitage on Wheels — Quentin Blake

PreS-Gr 2 A gaunt, mature woman ``improves'' her simple bicycle with amusing and unlikely additions that eventually cause the demise of the resulting contraption. What makes Mrs. Armitage so likable is her resourcefulness; her independence; and her downright silly desires to embellish her wheels with horns, umbrellas, and other unusual items. Her faithful and equally amicable dog, Breakspear, accompanies her on her playful outings and even assists with her repairs. This story lends itself to reading aloud even with its odd assortment of details: ``a transistor radio-cassette player and a lot of cassettes of cheerful music and a mouth organ. . . .'' Blake's characteristic shakey-lined, light-hearted, elongated portraits reinforce this humorous tale as they fill the pages with mirth. Marianne Pilla, Allard K. Lowenstein Library of Long Beach, N.Y.