title: May Belle and the Ogre (Dutton Easy Reader)
author:  Bethany Roberts 
description: Kindergarten-Grade 3-A spunky heroine, buoyant text, and irresistible illustrations make this easy-reader a real winner. In the first chapter, May Belle has big plans for a lovely summer night, as she puts on her new hat and gloves and sings a song. The unexpected appearance of an ogre at first frightens her, but she soon finds a way to put her visitor in his place. In chapter two, the youngster quickly solves the mystery of a disappearing blueberry pie with hilarious consequences. The book comes full circle in the final story, which features a wistful May Belle, who is feeling lonely until the ogre once again shows up at her house, and the two become fast friends. The child's winning personality will charm readers, who will find themselves humming along with her little ditties: "Oh, a cozy bed,/A cozy night,/Friends forever-/It feels just right!/Dee-diddle-dee-dum-dee!" Combining pastel washes with scratchy black-line details, the cozy watercolor artwork supports the mood and action of the bouncy text. An energetic, bright book that will be a hit with beginning readers.<br /><i>Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA</i><br />Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00171.jpeg)
  
  > > > _For Catherine, Paul, Fran, and Jean._
  
  CONTENTS
  
    1. Part 1: Someone New
      1. Mirabelle
      2. One week later Jem
      3. Mirabelle
      4. Jem
      5. Mirabelle
    2. Part 2: What Piglet Saw
      1. Mirabelle
      2. Jem
      3. Freddie
      4. Jem
      5. Mirabelle
      6. Jem
      7. Mirabelle
      8. Jem
      9. Freddie
    3. Part 3: Comes the Malice
      1. Mirabelle
      2. Freddie
      3. Jem
      4. Freddie
      5. Mirabelle
      6. Jem
      7. Freddie
    4. Part 4: Signs and Portents
      1. Mirabelle
      2. Freddie
      3. Jem
      4. Freddie
      5. Mirabelle
      6. Freddie
      7. Mirabelle
      8. Freddie
      9. Jem
      10. Mirabelle
      11. Freddie
      12. Mirabelle
    5. Part 5: Where and When
      1. Jem
      2. Freddie
      3. Mirabelle
    6. Author’s Note
    7. Acknowledgements
    8. About the Author
    9. About the Illustrator
  
  >
  
  ![](Images/image00124.jpeg)
  
  > > _Part 1_
  
  > >  _Someone New_
  
  ![](Images/image00146.jpeg)
  
  ![](Images/image00143.jpeg)
  
   _Mirabelle_
  
  