Miss Nelson Has a Field Day

Winner of this year's Andrew Carnegie Medal for best children's video, this wonderful, fully animated follow-up to Miss Nelson is Back (VL-1/00), based on the 1985 picture book written by Harry Allard and illustrated by James Marshall, takes viewers back to the Horace B. Smedley elementary school for another wacky adventure with the resourceful Miss Nelson. This time out the problem is pigskin; that is, in the gentle words of Principal Blandsworth, the school's football team--the Smedley Tornadoes--is "the worst team in the whole state." With the big Thanksgiving Day game approaching, Coach Armstrong cracks up and goes home for a rest, and it looks as if the Tornadoes will perform more like Wispy Breezes…until a substitute coach arrives, the notorious Viola Swamp (sweatshirt: "Coach, and don't you forget it!"). Those familiar with "The Swamp" can already guess that she whips the little slackers into shape and saves the gridiron day. Winsomely animated by Virginia Wilkos, with excellent narration by Diana Canova (whose slightly nasal monotone "Mr. Blandsworth" is a classic), this is sure to be quite popular and is highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)