This is a very different story from Polacco, who usually writes realistic stories, often from her own experience. The Graves family moves into a normal, suburban neighborhood. They paint their house blood red. No one in the neighborhood wants to visit them after that! Finally, Seth and Sara, who live across the street, decide to try to make friends with the Graves children. They are successful, but are never invited into the Graves' house, until one day when the oldest Graves, Hieronymus, invites Seth and Sara to help him babysit his quadruplet sisters. The walls of the house appear to be painted dull black, but they turn out to be covered with spiders (his father's pets)! In the kitchen is the family's 'baby' Venus flytrap, which is growing all the time. Mrs. Graves takes her Venus flytrap to the local Garden club meeting, where the plant not only eats all the food for the tea, but all the other ladies' hats, as well. Due to this incident, the rest of the neighbors have a difficult time accepting the Graves, until the local television host of a home decorating show comes to town looking to give away the 'Best Decorated House Award.' Whose house will win? This is a funny choice for the Halloween season, or just for children who like to laugh at their fears.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0399240349

ISBN-13: 9780399240348

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The animals and the birds argued fiercely about which was better teeth or wings. They finally decided to settle the argument by playing a ball game. Little bat had both teeth and wings so he was sent back and forth between the teams until one team wisely accepted him. Find out which team bat played for and what the losing team now has to do.

Reviewed by: caroll

Date read: 7/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0803715404

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When the family packs up and heads home at the end of the summer, the great blue summer house sits empty and quiet. At least, it seems quiet until we see the cat that finds her way in to spend the winter, the spider that is busy in the corner, and the bird that makes her nest in the attic. When the family returns next summer, they find kittens and baby birds to keep their new baby company.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0374327696

ISBN-13: 9780374327699

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What happens when a dog drops a tennis ball down a prairie dog hole? Nothing less than the great fuzz frenzy! The prairie dogs are wondering what the ball is and whether it's dangerous when Big Bark, the resident bully, tells everyone to stand back and let him look. But Pip, the smallest prairie dog, discovers that the tennis ball has fuzz that comes off! They all pull off fuzz, decorate themselves, and have parades until the fuzz is all gone. Then they start arguing because some prairie dogs have more fuzz than others. Finally, Big Bark ends up with all the fuzz, but then he gets grabbed up by an eagle! Can they save Big Bark? Do they want to? The ending is great, and the pictures are priceless. Who knew there were so many ways to wear tennis ball fuzz?

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0152046267

ISBN-13: 9780152046262

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Gloria, a pitiful pug, is grumpy. Her three young human owners do everything they can to cheer her up. They bathe her, give her bike rides, dress her up, and put on plays for her. Finally they find out what she needs to be happy ' a hug.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0670061239

ISBN-13: 9780670061235

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