Ava and the Real Lucille
When Ava and her sister, Arlie, enter a poetry contest to win a pet, Ava imagines that the prize will be a dog, and she even chooses its name: Lucille. They do win the prize, but Lucille turns out to be a parakeet. Ava doesn’t hide her keen disappointment, but she gradually warms up to the companionable little bird. When something sticks in Lucille’s throat and she can barely breathe, Mama, Ava, and Arlie lovingly nurse her back to health. Each character in the well-structured story is an individual. The text, with its short sentences and frequent dialogue, reads aloud well. In a bit of economic realism that many will appreciate, Mama calls the pet-store owner for medical advice, because a vet would be too expensive. Golden light suffuses the illustrations, giving a cozy look to the scenes, even when Ava is feeling let down and antagonistic. A warm story with its own quirky charm. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan