This graphic novel for young readers introduces a new series dealing with how fairies come to learn of their own existence. BUT on a deeper heavier topic, it lets children know about how hard it is when parents split up.

Page one shows Cici and her father crying in front of his packed boxes and suitcases as he moves out. This happens just days before Cici’s tenth birthday. Hazel is having a hot tub party of Cici’s birthday which quite a few students want to attend, even Cici’s good friend. Since Cici’s father won’t be home for her birthday, Cici decides  to go to Hazel’s party. Meanwhile, Cici’s Abuelita comes to live with her, her mother and little sister.

The morning of Cici’s birthday, suddenly she has fairy wings. SURPRISE! So does Abuelita! Abuelita revels, ” In our familia , there have always been fairies. First, your wings grow in. Then, little by little you discover your powers.”(21) Cici’s first fairy power is the power of fairy sight. She sees people for who or what they truly are. Her mother has as many arms as an octopus, which are always busy. The girls at Hazel’s party are all chickens. Distraught by what she is experiencing at the party, Cici finally tells her friend about her father’s moving out. Her friend is not sympathetic and stays at the party, becoming another chicken.

The next morning, Cici must choose to believe in fairies or loose her fairy sight forever. Abuelita tells Cici, ” Your wings are a symbol of your powers. You must be careful who you share them with. Once you decide, you will be able to control when your wings are seen. If you give them up, however, you also give up the power to believe. You will never see wings on yourself or anyone else ever again.” (45)  Cici states, “I choose to believe.” (47)

Just as rainbows silently appear this book begins slowly building filling with falling rain until the rainbow finally shows.

It is a book of few words, but those words matched with the illustrations by John Wallace prove the old saying- a picture is worth a thousand words, especially to young readers. The two page spread of the bright rainbow up above with the small young children in yellow rain slickers pointing up to it down below a dark bluish grey sky show the wonder and awe of a rainbow. Then, the next two pages are filled with the brilliant seven bands of color as the rainbow’s spectrum of colors are listed. Followed by a two page diagram of sunlight going through a giant raindrop which bends the light into what we know as a rainbow.

Now the reader will see a double rainbow, followed by an “upside down” rainbow (20-21), followed by a rainbow at a park fountain, and at a waterfall. Then, it is revealed rainbows are full circles if you can view them from up in the sky, so there are no ends and no pots of gold. Finally, the important fact of needing to have your back to the sun is revealed. The illustrations end with that bit of information, but the very last page states five more “Facts about rainbows” not previously stated in the book.

A very readable, very informative biography of Benjamin Franklin, it includes discussion of his role as one of America’s Founding Fathers, but focuses on his role as scientist, in an era when the word scientist was not even yet in use.  It tells about his curiosity and inquisitiveness, about his lack of formal education, but his constant pursuit of understanding through reading and experimentation.  It shares how much of his experimentation stemmed from the desire to solve real-world problems, from the invention of a better stove to help folks stay warm, to the invention of bi-focal lenses so that he didn’t have to keep changing glasses.  It shares how his fame as a scientist opened doors to him in his role as ambassador.  It shares enough to give the reader a real sense of knowing him as a person, not just as a list of accomplishments.

A solid little early chapter book for beginning readers.  In four chapters, it tells the story of animal-loving Lulu trying to bring her less-than-enthusiastic grandmother around to her way of thinking, when a large, cantankerous cat is found left in a bag on Lulu’s front porch, while her parents are away.  The first time the cat runs away, grandma is thrilled, but after it find’s its way back into their lives through Lulu’s open bedroom window, when reeks all sorts of havoc, and still manages to leave even grandma sad when she disappears again.  When she’s found again, with a new batch of kittens, it’s reluctant grandma who agrees to take them in and find them homes.

Okay, so you don’t need me to tell you these books are recommended for school libraries.  Their legendary popularity speaks for itself.  However, let it be known that my recommendation has more to do with how popular I know them to be with kids than with my own opinion of the writing.  When it comes down to it, it’s the kids’ opinions that matter.  It took SSBRC to get me to finally read a complete one of these books, with the impetus that it would be good for me to educate myself as to what it is the kids are reading.  The character, and the situations he faces, are relateable, but the writing babbles on like a rambling string-of-consciousness.  Even reading silently, I felt out of breath, as if I’d spent two hours listening to a motor-mouth who doesn’t stop for breath, or require any response, but just shares non-stop every thought in his/her head, no matter what tangents they go down.

Eloise finds living in The Plaza hotel has its perks as she watches the Grand Ballroom being prepared for a wedding. When Eloise announces she is going to the wedding, Nanny says, ”  ‘No one asked you to go.’  ”

After Eloise’s bath, “Nanny says, ‘If you are very good you may see the bride.’  ”   Now, (illustrator- Katherine Mitter has) Eloise off and running in her pink bathrobe down to the Grand Ballroom to see the bride. Eloise discovers the bride is crying because her flower girl is sick. Eloise to the rescue, pink bathrobe and all.

Take three friends, a cute boy, a slightly goofy stepsister and a hypnotist and they all add up to a breathless, crazy sleepover. Will Meghan, Paige, Anna Marie and Veronica be able to fix everything – even Meghan’s missing left eyebrow? What about the mascot from the rival school and the chicks in the bathtub? Things can’t be any more exciting than this…or can they?
This is a fun, fairly benign tween story about a sleepover that goes wonky with a tiny bit of romance to spice it up. The characters are believable and their antics would make any parent giggle and shudder at the same time. A fast read – recommended.

Looking for a rollicking account of the old Red Riding Hood story? Look no farther than Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith!
Little Red is on a mission to Auntie Rosie’s house to bring her some medicine for her outbreak of spots. Along the way, she encounters playful African animals of every sort. The bad guy, a lion in this case, sees Little Red and hatches a very naughty plan in which he will end up eating Little Red AND Auntie Rosie (for dessert).
Well, Little Red can spot this rather poor actor from a mile away and decides to teach that naughty lion a lesson! In the end, he promises to never ever eat another auntie or any children…but, what about daddy?
Bold colors and cartoon-like art are full of energy. Kids will laugh out loud at Little Red’s ability to thwart that naughty lion at every turn with wit and humor. She’s one tough Little Red! Add this one to your collection!

Sherlock Holmes never looses its appeal and this version of him is still going strong in this republished story.

Basil and Doctor Dawson learn how to be great detectives through observing the great Sherlock Holmes, himself. The reader discovers that Basil and Dr. Dawson are mice that live in Sherlock Holmes’ building. Basil and Dawson often sit quietly in the corner of Sherlock’s apartment as they discuss their cases. Now, Basil and Dawson are called in to find twin mice who did not return home after school. Basil chides Dr. Dawson, ” ‘You are not making full use of your deductive powers.’ ” (24) after the ransom note is delivered for the twins release. Using a magnifying glass on the dirt left behind from the messenger’s boots, Basil is on the trail to find the missing children. Basil and Dawson disguised as seamen gain more information by casually talking with the innkeeper in a seaport town. Later, they set a trap for the kidnappers by talking just loud enough so they will definitely be heard while eating dinner at the cafe. What the kidnappers do not know is that Basil has gotten the local constable involved in the plan. Basil and Dr. Dawson rescue the twins, but not without a scratch or two to themselves.

The reader will enjoy the text along with the pencil sketches, in every chapter, giving the reader a look at fashion and decor from the late 1800s.

Introduction to the next book- Basil and the Cave of Cats.

Spring has sprung and Nanny informs Eloise she needs a new hat. Eloise tries on all the different hats worn by the employees of The Plaza hotel where she lives on the “tippy-top floor”. Each time Nanny comes up with a reason why the hat is not suitable: too tall (chef’s), no brim ( room service’s), and not colorful enough (bell captain’s). Finally, Nanny brings out a hat box just for Eloise with a hat that meets all of the requirements. Precocious as ever Eloise, ” ‘ Oh, I love, love, love hats!’ “