Mr. Tanen's Ties

When grouchy school administrator Mr. Apple tells Lynnhurst Elementary's beloved principal Mr. Tanen to get serious about teaching and stop wearing those crazy ties, not only is Mr. Tanen crestfallen, but the whole school gets the blues. Now how will the students know what kind of day it is? Mr. Tanen's famous ties made every day a holiday. On rainy days, he wore a tie with umbrellas on it, and when it was someone's birthday, he sported one that played "Happy Birthday." And the one he wore on Frankfurter Friday, well, you can imagine what that tie was like.

School becomes even less fun when a discouraged Mr. Tanen calls in sick and Mr. Apple, wearing a rather uninspiring blue tie, arrives to substitute. Not willing to let school become so boring, one clever student conspires to give Mr. Apple, a passionate bird watcher, a tie with bright red cardinals on it. ("'Thank you... But that's not quite my style,' says Mr. Apple." Or is it?) Mr. Apple just can't resist wearing his gorgeous new tie to the supermarket where his dandy appearance charms a certain pretty lady. Before you know it, romance blooms, and a happy Mr. Tanen is returned to his grateful students. Visually delightful, each page of this boldly illustrated book is bordered by a brilliant flow of wacky tie designs. Better yet, it's just the kind of tale about getting the best of adults that kids relish. Anybody got a wedding-bell tie? (Ages 5 and older) --Marianne Painter