Read for Me, Mama
Thursday is library day. It's Joseph's favorite day of the week, partly because  the librarian, Mrs. Ricardo, reads such great stories and partly because he can take two  books home, one easy and one hard. While Joseph's mom--a busy single working mother--has a knack for storytelling  (even making geraniums and empty lots sound exciting),  she always manages to sidestep her son's requests to read the "hard book" to  him. The truth comes out in church, where she decides it's time to learn to read, then  actually does so with the help of her son. This compassionate story, illustrated with  warm, richly colored oil paintings, addresses the issue of adult literacy in a gentle,  hopeful way. Vashanti Rahaman--author ofO Christmas TreeandA Little Salmon for Witness--is a frequent contributor toCricketandHighlights for Children. Lori  McElrath-Eslick illustrated Nancy White-Carlstrom'sDoes God Know How to Tie  Shoes?andI Am  Christmas.(Ages 6 to 10)