Andy Shane and the Queen of Egypt
Kindergarten-Grade 2—Quiet, reflective Andy Shane continues his determination to stand up to his boisterous, exuberant friend Dolores. As he heads to school, Granny Webb gives him a scarab necklace for his African-country assignment. When he announces that he has chosen Egypt, Dolores, wearing elaborate, self-made Egyptian accessories, proclaims herself "Queen of Egypt" and tells Andy that he can't have it. She builds a pyramid out of pineapple chunks despite his preference for pineapple on his pizza, and, at T-ball, she distracts him and the entire outfield with an Egyptian dance in the stands, causing him to miss a catch and lose the game. The next day, Dolores shows her support during class presentations and they agree to be partners on their assignment. Andy's sensitivity and personal growth are deftly and humorously conveyed in Jacobson's text. Readers new to the series may wonder about Andy's relationship to Granny Webb, but that does not diminish this engaging and satisfying entry that can stand alone. Carter's pencil and black watercolor wash illustrations depict a cast of expressive Caucasian characters, and while the gray tones are somber, they perfectly reflect Andy's contemplative nature.—Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.