Lindy's Happy Ending (Hopscotch Hill School)
Grade 1-2-In this early chapter book, Lindy has creative ideas for doing tasks, but they often require more work than is necessary. She involves the other children in her class in doing things her way, but midway through each activity she becomes bored and leaves. When the children are given the opportunity to hatch duck eggs and raise the ducklings, Lindy typically has ambitious plans. As usual, her lack of responsibility leads to trouble as she forgets to place the lid on the cage. The ducklings make a mess, and Lindy's classmates good-naturedly pitch in to help her clean it up. Although the students are always cooperative, they are becoming disturbed by the girl's behavior, and they decide to help her develop responsibility skills by making and using a checklist and encouraging her to stick with the job. With its easy vocabulary, engaging plot, and realistic watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, this title is a perfect bridge to longer chapter books. An extensive note to parents gives suggestions for teaching their youngsters the lessons that Lindy needs to learn about making realistic plans, completing them, and using a checklist. A solid purchase.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.