Daisy's Perfect Word

Gr 1–3—Daisy loves words. She collects them like squirrels collect nuts, ever eager to store her selections in her green notebook with purple polka dots. She has "Wow Words," "Quiet-Time Words," "Sweetest Words," and a whole multitude of other terms that she has collected, recorded, and savored. One day, Daisy's favorite teacher announces that she's getting married. After much agonizing, the child decides that a perfect word would be an ideal gift. As the protagonist struggles with a difficult peer relationship and takes readers through her day-to-day life, there's enough tension to keep youngsters engaged. Daisy's irrepressible but realistic enthusiasm for life is charming and irresistible. Her story is a perfect next step for children who have outgrown Jane O'Connor's "Fancy Nancy" books (HarperCollins) but aren't quite ready for Andrew Clements's Frindle (S & S, 1996).—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID