Date: Fri 30-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Degen-Cole-Magic-School-Bus

Full Text:

Magic School Bus Creators Provided A Sense Of Excitement At The Book Review

(with photos)

BY SHANNON HICKS

The Book Review in Newtown, an independent book store in Sand Hill Plaza, was

turned into a temporary home for the Magic School Bus this weekend.

The creators of the immensely popular children's book series visited the store

Saturday afternoon to celebrate the release of the 11th Magic School Bus book,

The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses . Joanna Cole, the series' author and

a resident of Sandy Hook, and Bruce Degen, the illustrator of the series and a

resident of Newtown, met with fans of all ages for a few hours on April 24.

Children and their parents were welcomed into the store by one of three

people. Store co-owner Scott Bell (Mr Bell's wife, Camilla Christ, was busy

that afternoon with a store-related project) was handing out Magic School Bus

drawings and quizzes to the young visitors. Also greeting visitors was the

science teacher featured in the Magic School Bus series, the always inventive

Ms Frizzle, as well as Liz, a giant lizard who is the class pet in the School

Bus series.

Outside the store sat the Magic School Bus itself, and children were welcome

to step inside and explore. Of course, the magic of the special school bus

created by Mrs Cole and Mr Degen is that most of the time it looks like an

ordinary yellow school bus. It is only after Ms Frizzle or another licensed

adult driver pushes a special button that the bus transforms into different

shapes and sizes.

Ms Frizzle welcomed the young visitors to see the bus on Saturday afternoon,

but she wasn't able to take anyone on any trips. Something about insurance and

needing permission slips from parents ahead of time...

Inside the store, Mrs Cole and Mr Degen met with fans of all ages while

signing copies of their new book.

The Magic School Bus creators are always a popular attraction at The Book

Review. One of the store's managers, Bill Sullivan, said Saturday that people

began arriving for the 1 pm program as early as 12:40 that afternoon. There

was a steady line for the next two hours as people waited to say Hello to the

local celebrities and receive autographs from the pair.

Before they signed any books, Mrs Cole and Mr Degen offered a short program

that reviewed the five basic senses shared by humans. Children in the crowd

were also asked to help create names of dinosaurs, which Mr Degen then created

with his talented hands on large pieces of paper.