McBroom tells a lie Book

This is the 8th McBroom book (I think), originally published in 1975. The illustrations in this one are, interestingly, just in pen and ink (black and white) and done in a very deliberately childish style - or so it strikes me - by Walter Lorraine, one of a number of different artists used on this series. I have to say that these are the least-attractive pictures in any of the books I've read; it's not the lack of color, but the deliberate crudeness that's off-putting to me - all of the characters look like the crazed products of a 6-8 year old.

Well, thankfully, the story is better, though it's no great shakes either. I think the formula was perhaps getting a little old by this time; or, hopefully, Sid Fleischman's invention just flagged this once. Like several other books in the series, this one concerns neighbor Heck Jones' attempts to get hold of McBrooms' magical 1-acre farm (where ANYTHING will grow, magically fast) and patriarch Josh McBroom's comical and half-baked methods of defeating his rapacious neighbor - this time helped out significantly by his many children (WillJILLHesterCHESTERPeterPOLLYTimTOMMaryLARRYandlittleCLARINDA) and their invention of a jumping-bean-powered car. Oh, and McBroom DOES tell a lie - despite his reputation for always being truthful.

Still worth a look for fans of this series and those who'd still like to be able to believe in tall tales; just not the best of McBroom by a long shot in my opinion.