Nelly May Has Her Say by Cynthia DeFelice (review)

Impoverished young Nelly May finds employment as housekeeper and cook for the wealthy Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle, who insists that Nelly call certain things by the names he has created, beginning with himself, "Most Excellent of All Masters." Nelly May finds that in Lord Pinkwinkle's house a bed is a "restful slumberific," a pair of pants are "long-legged limberjohns," and even the dog is to be referred to as a "fur-faced fluffenbarker." Nelly quickly memorizes the new names, which is lucky for her because she needs them all when the dog's "wigger-wagger" catches on "flaming pop-and-sizzle" and the "roof-topped castlelorum" nearly goes up in smoke. Nelly quits in frustration after uttering her mouthful of a warning but is soon rehired by a sheepish Lord Pinkwinkle, who humbly agrees to be called "Pinky" thereafter. This is a lively version of the English folktale "Master of All Masters," and DeFelice's storytelling is smart and snappy, with the delightfully overblown vocabulary taking center stage. Intrepid Nelly May is an engaging and likable heroine, and her dwindling patience with Lord Pinkwinkle is made entirely understandable. Cole's illustrations, line and watercolor textured with colored-pencil hatchwork, are amusing, and his petite, ginger-haired Nelly May is a spunky counterpart to the large, rotund, and rather foppish Lord Pinkwinkle. The fun here is definitely in the wordplay, and this would make a diverting introduction to an activity in which kids create their own names for objects à la Lord Pinkwinkle, as well as a rollicking readaloud or storytelling selection in its own right.