(4) K-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. Jack is afraid to ride the roller coaster with Grandpa, but after Grandma dies, Jack faces his fear--then gets angry when even this doesn't lift Grandpa's spirits. Catharsis comes when Jack (wisely) shirks his parents' advice: he talks about Grandma with Grandpa. This poignant tale suffers only from a too-tidy conclusion. The generally realistic art has occasional touches of caricature.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Hayashi. Roxie is excited about camp but worried the other pups will discover her security blankie. Most of her fellow campers are friendly, but poodle Lacy ruins everything with her bullying and mean-spirited remarks. However, as is usually the case with this sort of story, Lacy has an embarassing (and unoriginal) secret of her own. Watercolor, pen, and colored-pencil illustrations perfectly capture the pups' personalities.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss. Emmy loves all types of trees--especially the mimosa tree, which Gramma declares is like Emmy: "stubborn and strong and a little bit wild" (a metaphor that, somewhat tediously, carries throughout the story). To Emmy's chagrin, she can't buy a mimosa tree, but ends up planting a seedling from Gramma's tree instead. Mixed-media watercolors illustrate this gentle story of a nature-loving gal.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. "Nobody listens to a little brother," complains Kevie the bear. He finally comes into his own when he, big brother Josh, and Daddy prepare Mama's special soup; it just so happens that Kevie's the only one who knows the secret ingredient. Unfussy mixed-media illustrations featuring the bear family in silly aprons are well suited to this satisfying tale.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 4-6 During World War II, Ellie's beloved big brother is drafted. She's crushed but relies on the letters he writes home in order to stay connected. It's little consolation when Ellie's larger-than-life aunt Toots comes to stay "for the duration." Though the copious period details are awkwardly incorporated, the book does provide a strong sense of time and place.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Beth Spiegel. Haley isn't sure about first grade: no share time, only one recess, and lots of writing. Then she learns that first grade has its benefits: stories with chapters, no more naptime, and a teacher who, while different from last year's teacher, is just as understanding of Haley's feelings. Amusing details in the illustrations satisfyingly extend the comforting text.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(2) K-3 Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. "Tamika is my best friend. She just doesn't know it yet." At the neighborhood pool, six-year-old Lily tries everything to get seven-year-old Tamika's attention. In the end, Lily accepts the friendship of six-year-old Keesha, who will likely make a much better friend. The rich watercolors add roundness and life to the African-American characters.

Reviewer: Meaghan Miller | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2005

(3) 4-6 Alice, the daughter of an FBI agent, and her family move from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1964. Longing to fit in, Alice struggles with her classmates' racism toward the only black girl in their newly integrated class. Based on the author's own childhood, the novel explores the moral choices faced by children and the price of courage.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth