FICTION

The Trouble with Babies

by Claudia MILLS
illus. by Katie Kath. 192p. (The Nora Notebooks: Bk. 2). Knopf. Aug. 2016. Tr $12.99. ISBN 9780385391658; lib. ed. $15.99. ISBN 9780385391665.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3–6—Nora's family is about to welcome a new baby, and she's about to become an aunt. The scientific-minded 10-year-old makes her new niece the subject of her next notebook, jotting down as many baby facts as she can. This is quite a change for series fans, who may remember that ants were the stars of the first installment. What begins as a curiosity about the new baby soon turns into a possible idea for a science project. Unfortunately, her teacher pairs her with Emma. Unlike Nora, Emma loves babies, the color pink, and cats. Further adding to Nora's stress is a social studies assignment that involves writing diary entries as Martha Talbot, a pioneer on the Oregon Trail. Fourth grade seems to be getting very complicated.
VERDICT Fans of Mills's first Nora book will not be disappointed as she delivers another satisfying read.
Reviewed by Martha Rico, El Paso ISD, TX
Science-loving Nora and her fourth-grade science-lab partner, pink-obsessed Emma, can't agree on a science fair project. Meanwhile, Nora records observations of her sister's new baby; doing so alerts Nora to all the gendered expectations around her. Realistic school and family relationships are at the heart of this sweet second book. The easy-flowing third-person narrative is supplemented with occasional grayscale spot illustrations.
 , Jun 01, 2016

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