Thanks to Moxy Maxwell’s extraordinary gift for procrastination (and a companion arsenal of excuses), she hasn’t even begun Stuart Little , the book assigned at the end of third grade by her new fourth grade teacher. Peggy Gifford’s whirlwind story takes place over the course of a single afternoon and evening on the last day of summer vacation. Moxy’s mom has delivered an ultimatum: finish the book by 6 p.m. or else. Moxy’s intent to avoid the consequences by finally reading the book is quickly sidetracked by a string of ideas too good to be ignored. Gifford’s narrative moves with great humor and lightning speed. Funny, long-winded chapter titles (“Chapter 7 In Which Moxie’s Mother Says 'No.’ ”) offer glimpses of what’s to come in the smart, pithy, perfectly-paced prose (the text of Chapter 7 in its entirety: “No.”). Black-and-white photographs, presented as the work of Moxy’s twin brother Mark, document an afternoon gone awry in this breezy, entertaining story. (Ages 8–11)