The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

McGinty, Alice B.

Eliza's Kindergarten Surprise

32 pp. | Cavendish | July, 2007 | Trade ISBN 978-0-7614-5351-2 $14.99

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Speir. On the first day of kindergarten, Eliza's mother puts a kiss in Eliza's pocket, but her pocket still feels "empty, too empty inside." Things look up when, using found objects, she makes a pocket-size mini-mom for comfort. Eliza's idea may reassure hesitant kindergartners, though her repeated refrain ("empty, too empty inside") verges on melodramatic. Colorful and clean illustrations aptly chronicle Eliza's emotional day.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi