Reviews
Robin Smith’s favorite second-grade read-alouds

Rebecca Caudill  Did You Carry the Flag Today, Charley?; illus. by Nancy Grossman
    Holt
For adults the book will strike a note of timeliness, as it appears to be a story of a Head Start program in the author’s native Appalachia. But for beginning readers, scarcely much older than Charley himself, his first days at school will have the appeal of utter timelessness. Five-year-old Charley, exploding with eager curiosity, comes from a little house deep in a wooded hollow. In his first encounter with the outside world — a strange new world of modern plumbing, teachers, finger paint, modeling clay, stories, and books — the engaging little nonconformist plunges headlong into new experiences. A very attractive book, illustrated with amusing, expressive pencil drawings.

John Reynolds Gardiner  Stone Fox; illus. by Marcia Sewall
     Crowell/HarperCollins
A poignant story inspired by a Rocky Mountain legend. The author has set the story in Wyoming and has added fictional characters, with a remarkable relationship between ten-year-old Willy and his grandfather. The old man counts on the boy’s going to college and has saved fifty dollars toward this end. Suddenly Grandfather falls mysteriously ill; but Willy — with his big black dog Searchlight pulling the plow — harvests the potato crop. Because he needs the prize money to pay the back taxes on the farm, Willy uses his college fund to enter the National Dogsled Race with Searchlight — which ends with both a victory and a tragedy. A moving tale illustrated with strong pencil drawings; the jacket exactly catches the tense urgency of the racing dogs and their masters.

Kirkpatrick Hill  The Year of Miss Agnes
     McElderry/Simon
In this story set in 1948 Alaska, ten-year-old Frederika is intrigued by the new teacher, wondering if she'll last the year at their remote Athabascan village's one-room school. The pleasures in this novel stem less from the plot (which is essentially nonexistent) than they do from the anecdotes about Miss Agnes's masterful teaching methods, as conveyed by Fred in her distinct and definite voice.

Johanna Hurwitz  Rip-Roaring Russell; illus. by Lillian Hoban
     Morrow/HarperCollins
In the author’s first novel about a character introduced in Busybody Nora (Morrow), Russell Michaels, a four-year-old boy with a penchant for losing both his belongings and his temper, begins nursery school. His first weeks at school in many ways resemble those of other children. Initially, Russell misses his private time with his mother and fights with another boy in his class. But as the days pass, he enjoys himself more and more and grows better able to juggle life at home with that at school, successfully eliminating the tensions that are created as his world expands. The author writes fluidly, combining minor details with dramatic moments into a seamless narrative. But Russell is no Ramona, and older children, just slightly past their own cantankerous early years, may grimace — not smile — at the overly cute, pouting four-year-old child who reminds them a little too much of themselves.

Jessica Scott Kerrin,  Martin Bridge, Ready for Takeoff!; illus. by Joseph Kelly
     Kids Can
Martin Bridge means well, but his wonderful plans don't always turn out right. Slice-of-life incidents, presented in three stand-alone chapters, ring with truth and familiarity because Martin is no cookie-cutter elementary school boy. Frequent gentle graphite-and-charcoal illustrations add exuberance and dimension to the text. A rich story for new chapter-book readers, who will be more than ready for Martin Bridge.

Dick King-Smith,  Lady Lollipop; illus. by Jill Barton
     Candlewick
Lollipop, the "scruffiest, ugliest pig of the lot," hardly seems the right pet for pampered Princess Penelope. As it turns out, Lollipop can learn to do just about anything her young trainer, Johnny, wants her to do. Johnny's ability to understand Penelope and her hapless parents is at the heart of this satisfying tale. The short chapters and the book's open, lively design and engaging pencil illustrations add to this amusing book's appeal.

Megan McDonald  Judy Moody Gets Famous!; illus. by Peter Reynolds
     Candlewick
In this sequel to Judy Moody, the irrepressible third grader — envious of her goody-goody classmate who gets a tiara and her picture in the paper when she wins a spelling bee — is in the mood to get "F-A-M-O-U-S." The story has great energy and humor, and everything about this liberally illustrated, spaciously designed book spells G-O-O-D N-E-W-S for early chapter book readers.

Ken Roberts  The Thumb in the Box; illus. by Leanne Franson
     Anansi/Groundwood
Here's the story of how an island community turns some unwanted gifts from the government into just the things that the islanders have wanted and needed. The funny and fresh David vs. Goliath tale is narrated with personality-plus by eleven-year-old Leon. Breezy, direct narration makes this early chapter book, set on the coast of British Columbia, accessible and involving.

Ruth Gannett Stiles  My Father’s Dragon; illus. by Ruth Chrisman Gannett
     Random
Here is a thoroughly original book that parents will love to read to their children. Fascinating drawings by Mrs. Gannett, illustrator of Miss Hickory, are an integral part of her daughter’s book. Elmer Elevator was so good to an alley cat that he gained the desire of his heart, a chance to fly. Acting upon the cat’s advice, he went to Wild Island to rescue a baby dragon, kept captive by some lazy animals. The little boy’s encounters with boars, tigers, lions, monkeys, crocodiles, a gorilla and a rhinoceros made a delicious tale of fabulous adventure, full of narrow escapes and unexpected drama.

Vera B. Williams  Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart
     Greenwillow/HarperCollins
A series of poems tenderly convey two sisters' resilience and vulnerability in the face of parental absence. The girls' father is in prison, and their mother must work long hours for minimal pay. Black-and-white pencil sketches enhance the poems' emotion, culminating in a joyous wordless three-page sequence when the girls' father returns home. Colored-pencil portraits open and close the book.

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