(4) K-3 Illustrated by Pulak Biswas. After a flood kills her parents, Chandra lives with her cruel uncle. One day, she hears the music of her mother's flute, and magical things start happening. Another flood hits, and Chandra's swept away, only to find the magic flute--and a loving family. Though Biswas's black and color-washed illustrations are murky, they portray both the anguish and hope in Gilmore's mystical story.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Leslie Elizabeth Watts. Frustrated and angry that her father is too busy working to play with her, Emily creates a ravenous snow dinosaur in her backyard. Grizzle grows as Emily feeds her more and more and more. When Dad finally comes outside, Emily must save him from Grizzle. The text is wordy and purposeful, but the illustrations effectively convey Emily's shifting emotions.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Renné Benoit. After Lisabeth disses her dinner, Mom boasts that "When I was a little girl I ate everything I was given." Poof!: an apparition of young Mom shows up to model perfect behavior. In a twist, Grandma arrives and gives adult Mom a reality check. The grand premise would have been better served by fresher prose and a livelier palette.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) YA When her grandmother plans to visit from India, Tara predicts that all hell will break loose--Naniji has never visited, resentful that Tara's mother "lured" her son away to Canada. Tara hates that she's always too Indian for some but not Indian enough for others--a group that now includes her own grandmother. Slang and sarcasm make the narration realistic-sounding in this well-written novel about identity and prejudice.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001