Lights Out!

June 1, 2000
Gr 1-3-These easy-readers have good stories and are true to their purpose. In Lulu's Lemonade, Mattie and Martin decide to make lemonade for Mattie's little sister. They make half a gallon, then figure out how to fill up the rest of the gallon pitcher. Their recipe, which includes orange juice, lime juice, lemon-lime soda, vanilla, fresh mint, and ice, is included. Readers are invited to grab some measuring containers and do their own practicing with teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints, and gallons. Large, full-color art shows the children happily engaged in their creative activities. In Lights Out!, a little girl notices that lights stay on in the apartment building across the street long after her bedtime. One night her parents let her stay up late and try to be the last person with a light on. She starts with a total of 32 lights on and subtracts them as each occupant of the apartment building goes to bed. The fun comes from the varied activities she observes-twin boys pillow fighting, a clown teaching a dog tricks, ballet dancing, cooking, reading, etc. Children can enjoy the story, do the subtraction with the protagonist as the lights go out, count items in the pictures, or do other related activities that are listed in the back of the book. Smath's exuberant cartoon drawings add a great deal of humor to the story. These books would be useful both at home and at school. The stories hold interest and the activities do not require advance preparation or fancy materials.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Copyright 2000 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.