Primrose Squarp simply knows her parents did not perish at sea during a terrible storm, despite what the other residents of Coal Harbour believe. For all practical purposes, Primrose is an orphan, and there's no great clamoring of prospective adopters. After realizing the impracticality of continuing to pay Miss Perfidy (a mothball-scented elderly lady) an hourly wage to baby-sit her, the town council places her with Uncle Jack, who reluctantly takes her in. Primrose does warm up to him, but her true sanctuary is a local restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything--including lasagna--is served on a waffle, and where the proprietor Miss Bowzer offers a willing ear.

Through a mixture of eccentric humor and probing philosophy, author Polly Horvath makes Primrose's search for peace and understanding a most memorable one.
POLLY HORVATH is the author of many books for young people, including Library Girl, Pine Island Home and Pine Island Visitors, The Night Garden, Everything on a Waffle, The Pepins and Their Problems, The Canning Season and The Trolls. Her numerous awards include the Newbery Honor, the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor and the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature. She has also been shortlisted for The Deutscher Jugenliteraturpreis, Germany's most prestigious literature award. Horvath grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She lives in Metchosin, British Columbia. pollyhorvath.com View titles by Polly Horvath
  • WINNER | 2002
    Newbery Honor Books
  • SELECTION | 2003
    ALSC Notable Children's Recordings
  • SELECTION | 2002
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • HONOR | 2001
    Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature

About

Primrose Squarp simply knows her parents did not perish at sea during a terrible storm, despite what the other residents of Coal Harbour believe. For all practical purposes, Primrose is an orphan, and there's no great clamoring of prospective adopters. After realizing the impracticality of continuing to pay Miss Perfidy (a mothball-scented elderly lady) an hourly wage to baby-sit her, the town council places her with Uncle Jack, who reluctantly takes her in. Primrose does warm up to him, but her true sanctuary is a local restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything--including lasagna--is served on a waffle, and where the proprietor Miss Bowzer offers a willing ear.

Through a mixture of eccentric humor and probing philosophy, author Polly Horvath makes Primrose's search for peace and understanding a most memorable one.

Author

POLLY HORVATH is the author of many books for young people, including Library Girl, Pine Island Home and Pine Island Visitors, The Night Garden, Everything on a Waffle, The Pepins and Their Problems, The Canning Season and The Trolls. Her numerous awards include the Newbery Honor, the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor and the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature. She has also been shortlisted for The Deutscher Jugenliteraturpreis, Germany's most prestigious literature award. Horvath grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She lives in Metchosin, British Columbia. pollyhorvath.com View titles by Polly Horvath

Awards

  • WINNER | 2002
    Newbery Honor Books
  • SELECTION | 2003
    ALSC Notable Children's Recordings
  • SELECTION | 2002
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • HONOR | 2001
    Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature

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