Volume 5 of the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series focuses on second grader Stella Endicott. Tasked with creating a poem for class that includes a metaphor, Stella composes a verse about Mercy Watson, which classmate Horace Bloom criticizes. After a vociferous argument (Stella: "Some pigs DO sit on couches!"), the two are sent to the principal's office. Along the way, they encounter chatty maintenance engineer Mr. Murphy (who babbles enigmatically about chickens), a bullying upperclassman, and the principal's intimidating secretary, Mrs. Shirley, before becoming accidentally locked inside a janitorial closet. Throughout, Stella remains curious, courageous, and on the lookout for the perfect poetic metaphor. Surprisingly, she also comes to appreciate her annoyingly literal classmate. As always, DiCamillo offers readers sophisticated, hilarious fare, while Van Dusen's pleasing comic-style artwork captures everyone's eccentricities.

This fifth entry in the series (Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, rev. 9/14, and sequels) stars young Stella Endicott. Stella is enchanted with her new second-grade teacher, Miss Liliana (whom she likens to a good fairy); annoyed by smug know-it-all classmate Horace Broom; and excited about the homework assignment: to write a poem containing a metaphor. Then she and Horace argue loudly in class (a Miss Liliana no-no) and are sent to the principal's office, resulting in an unlooked-for adventure, new understandings, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Several fellow residents of Deckawoo Drive (including pig Mercy Watson) make guest appearances, but DiCamillo keeps the focus tightly on Stella; and the familiar and successful DiCamillo recipe of humor mixed with wisdom is much in evidence here. As Stella and Horace are making their trepidatious way to see the principal, the school maintenance engineer shows them his neatly organized supply closet to illustrate a point about life: "'Are you speaking metaphorically, Mr. Murphy?' said Stella. 'I'm speaking janitorially,' said Mr. Murphy." And: "There's always surprises...There's patterns, and there's surprises, and that's good. It makes things interesting." As ever, Van Dusen's frequent illustrations add so much, capturing with apt exaggeration all the drama, humor, and emotions of Stella's adventure- and metaphor-filled day.

On the first day of second grade, Stella Endicott meets her new teacher, Ms. Tamar Calliope Liliana, whom she wants very much to impress-and so does the annoying boy at the desk next to hers.During the second week of school, Stella's class is assigned to write a poem that includes a metaphor. After school, Stella visits her friend Mercy Watson the pig. She cuddles up close to Mercy on the couch and begins to write. Stella eagerly writes about Mercy, the sound of the neighbor's accordion, and leaves that fall balletically from the tree outside. She is so excited about her poem that when know-it-all Horace Broom asks if he can read it, Stella doesn't hesitate to share. Horace immediately begins to pick it apart, scornfully informing her, "Pigs don't sit on couches, they live on farms." Angry, Stella loudly defends her poem. The two argue, and Ms. Liliana sends them to see Mr. Tinwiddie, the principal. It is this sentence that forces Stella to act using "courage" and "curiosity," resources she draws on to encourage Horace, who is so afraid by the expected dressing-down that he runs out of the office and into more trouble than either of them thought possible. The academic setting, imaginative Stella, and brown-noser Horace combine for an ideal opportunity for DiCamillo to exercise her characteristic wordplay. Stella is biracial (black/white), Ms. Liliana appears black, and Horace presents white.An adorable story that teaches readers that things-and people-are not always what they seem. (Fiction. 6-9 )