Miss Nelson is Back

When Miss Nelson leaves to have her tonsils removed, the grade schoolers in her class are assigned to Principal Blandsworth, whose repetitive goldfish slides, lame card tricks, and boring shadow puppet shows force them to adopt a desperate plan--involving a mask, loose clothing, and good balance--to fake the early return of (a wobbling) Miss Nelson. Unfortunately, the plan backfires, triggering a visit from the "meanest substitute in the world," Miss Viola Swamp. A clever, good-natured tribute to the importance of creative thinking--on both sides of the teacher's desk--this animated adaptation of the 1982 picture book by Harry Allard and James Marshall is warmly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)