Five Stories

February 16, 2015
Five animal friends who share an apartment building feature in this sensitive and drily funny collection of five stories, which are driven by mild but realistic worries and conflicts. In one, Emma the squirrel bakes herself a 15-layer birthday cake, only to mistake it for a piñata, giving her the memorable party she wanted, but not how she expected; in another, Fernando the rabbit tries to summon the courage to embrace his unexplored passion for dancing. Alter’s b&w illustrations contribute greatly to the characters’ distinct personalities and the warm atmosphere of their neighborhood, one that readers will be eager to revisit. Ages 6–9. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

February 15, 2015
Five neighbors learn to live together in their apartment building despite their differences.Mouse Henry, bird Violet, squirrel Emma, cat Wilbur and rabbit Fernando are friends, but they are not alike. Some like to socialize, others like quiet, and at least one likes to give parties. Five chapters recount the five "problems" the neighbors must overcome to live together peacefully. Upstairs neighbor Emma's rearrangement of her cache of acorns makes too much noise for quiet mouse Henry; Emma wants to throw herself the perfect birthday party; shy Fernando worries about his place in the neighborhood parade and yearns to dance; competent Violet wants to handle a leaky roof by herself; Wilbur doesn't know how to save his garden plot from development. Each problem is solved by the humble kindness of the neighbors. New chapter-book readers will be attracted by the sweet cover showing the five different animals enjoying their respective hobbies. However, the chapters will challenge the intended audience, as they are long and slow-moving. Here's hoping that in the next Sprout Street tales there are fewer words and more action, which will help young readers connect with these characters. (Fiction. 6-9)

January 1, 2015

Gr 2-4-This intermediate chapter book showcases five very different neighbors-Henry (a mouse), Emma (a squirrel), Wilbur (a cat), Violet (a chicken), and Fernando (a rabbit)-all living in an apartment building. They help one another in simple ways, such as celebrating a special birthday, as well as with more complicated problems, such as moving a garden about to be demolished or repairing a drippy roof. The chapters are liberally sprinkled with adorable illustrations, and each story begins with a picture of the resident's apartment door, allowing readers to speculate about his or her habits and hobbies. Hand this title to fans of Cynthia Rylant or Patricia MacLachlan or to any reader who prefers a quieter book.-Melisa Bailey, Harford County Library System, MD

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015
Grades 1-3 The five stories here present a tribute to the ups and downs of friendship. Differences are the central focus of each story as characters display their very diverse personalities. Poetry-loving Henry fancies peace and quiet; vivacious Emma is always ready to party; creative Violet wants to practice her flute and knit; gardener Wilbur prefers to work with plants and dig in the dirt; and shy Fernando's secret desire is to dance. These animal friends reside in the same apartment building, but sometimes their different lifestyles make being neighbors hard! Episodic chapters reveal how problems, such as a noisy acorn collection, leaky ceilings, and a birthday cake disaster, find resolution in a fashion reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh's misadventures in the Hundred Acre Wood. Soft, expressive pen-and-ink illustrations provide assistance for the transitional reader. Demonstrating tolerance, politeness, and teamwork, these gentle stories help show how the world can work when challenges are approached with kindness and understanding.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)