(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 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.