(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Ann Blades. Tod and Jen hate doing their farm chores, but when the cows escape, the sibs step up to find them. The straightforward story line may attract transitional readers. However, awkward dialogue detracts from the most appealing point: the children sincerely, refreshingly dislike caring for the cows and never change that opinion. Stiff pictures display the action.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Muriel Wood. Bored and unhappy spending Christmas with her parents at Gran's house, ten-year-old Sal discovers an old trunk filled with family photos and a blue, hooded coat. She tries it on, and the "olden days coat" transports her into the past--where she meets her grandmother as a young girl. Both illustrations and text are competent but somewhat bland and predictable.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty