(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Jim Fowler. Molly and her best friend Albertina share the same dearest wish for a pet. In a chapter book that realistically captures a familiar domestic drama, when the girls hatch a plot to get the pets they wish for, it doesn't happen exactly as planned. Short chapters, breezy dialogue, and likable characters make this a good choice for transitional readers. Black-and-white drawings appear throughout.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Jim Fowler. Molly, new to the neighborhood, becomes instant best friends with plucky, resourceful Albertina. Their friendship is temporarily jeopardized when Molly overhears Albertina telling tough-talking, karate-kicking Violet that Molly has a nightlight. All is resolved in a gently surprising way. A nifty early chapter book that will claim a solid place in this growing genre.

Reviewer: Elizabeth S. Watson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1998

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Peter Catalanotto. In this improbable story about the interconnectedness of the inhabitants of the Alaskan tundra, a young boy and his mother help an otter pup, who helps an injured raven, who in turn helps a caribou calf, and so on--each small, selfless act of kindness from one affects the other's life profoundly. In the end an Arctic fox helps the boy and the circle is complete. Moody illustrations effectively convey the changing seasons.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Before leaving to receive treatment for a serious (unnamed) illness, Uncle George, a gardener, teaches his nephew his craft. When he returns home to die, the nephew is able to cheer him with a bouquet of garden-grown blossoms. A compassionate, if calculated, text and occasionally stiff acrylic paintings present a difficult subject with uneven results.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.