Martin has a difficult week with a substitute teacher who loves to give out homework and is very unbending when it comes to excuses.  Each day a new disaster befalls Martin’s homework, from dog to laundry to wind gusts, etc.  And each day Martin faces the consequences, all the while sure his real teacher would have been more understanding.  The cartoonish illustrations will appeal to kids, and they will all sympathize with Martin.  Part of me feels like I should give it a “Recommended” on grounds of kid appeal, but the teacher in me cringes at the way it’s never Martin’s fault that his homework isn’t done.  Really? I think the kid needs to learn some responsibility.