(4) 4-6 Haley's summer job at Uncle Jake's Arizona bed-and-breakfast is disrupted by a cabin fire, threatening postcards, and suspicious behavior from many of the guests. The fast-paced suspense story features an intriguing cast of suspects, but armchair detectives will be disappointed that the identity of the "firebug" ultimately seems more arbitrary than clue-driven.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Normand Chartier. Prospector Ebenezer Overall is "savin' up for a rainy day" by hoarding "stuff" and burying his gold nuggets. When a rainy day finally comes to Dry Gulch, it's a real gullywasher, and the town is swept away--everything except for Ebenezer's hoarded supplies, which Ebenezer generously uses to help rebuild the town. Bold, exaggerated illustrations on double-page spreads add to the humor.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bryan Langdo. In this lighthearted southwestern version of the Cinderella story, Joe Cinders (with the help of his fairy godfather) bests his mean stepbrothers and gets the gal. Although the figures in the watercolor illustrations are stiff, they are expressive enough to convey the story's humor. This fresh take on an old tale will delight young buckaroos and works well as a read-aloud.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen