K-Gr 2-In Jennifer Richard Jacobson's story (Candlewick, 2008) for beginning readers, Andy Shane is assigned to show the new student, Lark Alice Bell, around his classroom. Dolores, the class busybody, tries to butt in and monopolize Lark, so the teacher allows her to be Lark's recess buddy. Andy and Lark build a snow cave together, and the boy learns that her yellow Lab had puppies and there is still one available for adoption. When recess is over, Andy and Lark get teased by their classmates for being in love. Andy and Lark become reading buddies and while waiting to read, Andy doodles a heart with the word LAB inside. Dolores mistakes the word for Lark's initials and blurts out, "Andy Shane, you are in love!" In the end, Andy adopts the puppy, Dolores realizes that Andy actually loves the dog, and the three of them become friends. Rachel Lillis perfectly captures the voices and intonations of the young students, but she gives Granny Webb a stereotypical creaky, elderly person's voice. Page-turn signals are optional. Fans of Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge series will enjoy Andy Shane.-Nancy Baumann, University of Columbia-Missouri (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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