Peggy Gifford again delivers a fast-paced story that takes place over the course of an afternoon in the life of irrepressible Moxy Maxwell. It’s just after Christmas, and Moxy has to write thank-you notes. Her mom wants them done today because Moxy and her twin brother Mark are leaving tomorrow to visit their actor dad in L.A. With visions of being “discovered” while in Hollywood, Moxy can’t focus. Her little sister, Pansy, has offered to dictate Moxy’s letters of gratitude, but Moxy hits on a better idea: a fill-in-the-blank form letter to express her sincere appreciation to each and every person who has gifted her. All she needs is the use of her stepdad Ajax’s new copy machine—the one that no one but Ajax is supposed to touch. The ensuing disaster, documented along with other memorable moments of the afternoon in black-and-white photos taken by Mark, is laugh-out-loud hilarious. But the disappointment and anger when the L.A. trip is canceled is anything but funny as Gifford deftly turns the story to one that looks at very real family dynamics, and the love that will sustain two kids facing a difficult truth about their dad. As in Moxy Maxwell Does NOT Love Stuart Little (Schwartz & Wade, 2007), Valorie Fisher’s photographs are a wonderful accompaniment to the short, pithy, and surprisingly poignant narrative. (Ages 8–11)