Mr. Gedrick and Me

Nine-year-old Stanley Darrow’s family is having a hard time. His father has died, his mother is overwhelmed trying to maintain her job and care for the family, and everyone is grieving. When Stanley’s mother mentions getting a nanny, he completes an online request form, and the prim Mr. Gedrick shows up soon after, hailing from a mysterious place called Swoghollow. Not a typical nanny, Mr. Gedrick focuses on helping Stanley and his siblings work through their grief and come together while chipping in with housework and building a series of projects, including a tree house. With the aid of Mr. Gedrick, the siblings also help their mother break away from a cruel boss so that she can manage her career and family more easily. Carman (the Fizzopolis series) handles Stanley and his family’s grief with sensitivity and moments of levity. With a touch of magic and a lot of heart, this journey of a family redefining itself is both heartwarming and fun. Think Gary Poppins. Ages 8–12. [em](Nov.) [/em]