The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall

Living in the Bloggins School boiler room isn't glamorous, but that's life for Martha Snapdragon, daughter of the beleaguered janitor. Life only gets weirder when Martha realizes bizarre events are afoot at the school. There's the dastardly dealings of evil principal Dr. Klunk and school bully Rufus. There's the dozen dancing eggs and the misbehaving dragons, property of the mysterious science teacher. And then there's the strangest thing of all: a giant golden spoon that simply appears one day, stuck in the wall of the school bathroom. Although everyone tries, only Martha is able to extract the spoon from the wall--an act that leads her to a destiny far beyond her meager life in the boiler room. Tony Johnston's funny, magical story spoofs the legend of The Sword in the Stone—and conveys some poignant truths about teaching, leadership, and the responsibilities we have to one another. Can one janitor’s daughter with a knack for getting into trouble really become the king of her school? An Arthurian Legend Retelling: Instead of a sword in a stone, it’s a giant golden spoon in a bathroom wall! This hilarious spoof turns the classic legend on its head. An Unlikely Hero: Martha Snapdragon lives in a boiler room and is the favorite target of the school bully. But she might just be the only one brave enough to save everyone. Books About Bullying: Facing down the evil Principal Klunk and his favorite spy, Rufus, Martha learns that true strength comes from kindness and standing up for others. Dragons and Dancing Eggs: When the science teacher’s lessons involve hatching tiny dragons and making eggs tap-dance, you know it’s not a normal school day. A Heartwarming Father-Daughter Story: At the heart of the magic and mayhem is the sweet relationship between Martha and her devoted janitor dad, who always encourages her to “hold fast to dreams”.