Believing Sophie
Grade 1-3?On her way home from the grocery store, Sophie has a bike accident that sends her bag of chocolate candy all over the road. Fortunately, she is unhurt and goes back to Luca's. But as she is leaving with her new supply, a woman accuses her of hiding a pack of cough drops she had originally bought for her father in her belt. The clerk, who was not there before, tells her to wait in a back room until the owner arrives. Mr. Luca believes her, and when she remembers the receipt tucked in her sock, she is totally exonerated. This empathetic story could lead to some interesting discussions. However, although Sophie is a nice kid, the adults, except for Mr. Luca, are an insensitive group. There are references to how she feels throughout, such as "...a little hurt funny, a little queasy funny, a little sad funny," and some of these brief analyses work better than others. Many children may be able to relate to Sophie's emotions and reticence, but the text is a bit long. The predominantly full-page illustrations are colorful and cartoonlike, capturing the action and setting in a style that is well suited to the story.?Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.