(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Mike Spoor. Alice's parents can't handle her preschool sister Rosie's outlandish stories and behavior. As they try to set Rosie straight about lying, Alice fears they'll kill the little girl's vibrant imagination. Alice videotapes Rosie's school play and stumbles onto a way to make both girls feel better while staying true to themselves. Kennemore presents a creative take on the middle child–syndrome story.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Mike Spoor. On a class field trip to a farm, seven-year-old Alice falls in love with a piggie. She asks for the pig as a birthday present, but her wise parents instead surprise her with a guinea pig. The story contends with typical family and sibling issues (e.g., Alice's brother teases her whenever she says aminal). Black-and-white illustrations keep things light.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Mike Spoor. It's tough to be the middle child. Alice's little sister, Rosie, wreaks havoc wherever she goes. Her older brother, Oliver, wins chess tournaments and blows his top if he doesn't win everything else. One special day, Alice shines, winning the alphabet game on a car trip and triumphing at the local fair, in this empowering and true-to-life look at sibling life.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Tim Archbold & Tim Archbold. Lizzie, fed up with her family's bad-tempered neighbors, stirs up a potion in hopes of getting rid of them. Her more practical younger brother Dan is startled by the spell's seeming success, while youngest child Max believes in the magic wholeheartedly. The tart sense of humor and likably unconventional characters place this funny British story squarely on the shelf next to Hilary McKay's family novels.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2003