(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Blanche Sims. Third-grader Matt has high hopes that he and his best friend Eddie will win the science fair and a fifty-dollar gift certificate. But when Eddie humilates him and doesn't apologize, Matt jeopardizes their chances. The familiar situation is well worn, but the breezy text and drawings will draw readers into this chapter book.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Blanche Sims. This revised edition of The World's Best Street and Yard Games contains the instructions for just over half of the games in the original, but it has more and stronger illustrations. Sims draws energetic children running off the page as they play games such as "Kick the Can." The instructions are clear and contain diagrams when necessary. While the book does not replace the original, it is a solid addition to homes and libraries.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Blanche L. Sims. This well-meaning guide to all things chalk presents the history of chalk, a recipe for making sidewalk chalk, and a myriad of chalk-play ideas. Most useful are the suggested games, such as hopscotch and four square. Many suggestions are fun (drawing a city, making a maze), but some are a bit of a stretch (word search, chalk scrabble), making the whole more than enough of a good thing. Ind.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Blanche Sims. When eight-year-old Robin gets a new teacher and a new classmate in the middle of the year, she works hard--sometimes too hard--to make them like her. As her class observes caterpillars turning into butterflies, Robin discovers what it means to be friends. The story is told with humor and sympathy and includes black-and-white line drawings and an endnote about how to raise butterflies.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Blanche Sims. The opening sentence of this trio of stories--"George took Diggety to dog school"--sounds innocent enough. But readers familiar with the series know that this indomitable pair will somehow turn obedience training into a lesson in noncompliance. As usual, Sims's delicate black line barely contains the characters' enthusiasm and reinforces the light tone of the text.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Blanche Sims. Marvin jumps to hurtful conclusions about Lucy Tinker, a new girl in his class, leading him to believe that she's stealing things from other students. He tries to teach her a lesson--only later to learn that she's mourning the recent death of her grandmother. Once the insults stop, the two become friends. Kline's writing lacks subtlety, but this school story, accompanied by lighthearted black-and-white drawings, is fast paced and easy to read.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Blanche Sims. In this sequel to George, George gives Diggety a doggy intelligence test, takes the pooch sledding, and bakes dog biscuits for Diggety's birthday. Or that's what he intends to do, as each chapter ends with comic irony. The tone is light and the language natural, and Sims's illustrations depict George as a happy-go-lucky boy reveling in whatever the day brings.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2000

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Blanche Sims. In three easy-to-read chapters, a high-spirited youngster named George energetically tracks down the missing classroom rabbit, learns to bake bread, and buys raffle tickets at the school fair for a chance to win box seats at a baseball game. The fast-moving plot in each chapter will keep readers' attention, while the colorful, sketchy illustrations show George's lively character as he learns about patience.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley