Elisa, almost eight, is the star of the newest Riverside Kids series. With Marshie still clinging stubbornly to his pacifier and Russell struggling through the challenges of sixth grade, Elisa realizes she’s no longer a little girl and Marshie, at two, is no longer a baby. Elisa is a responsible middle child. She changes her brother’s diaper and soothes him to sleep, convinces him to give up his pacifier to the baby gorilla at the zoo, realizes that there’s more to eating than chocolate, and flies in an airplane alone for the very first time. Elisa’s wide-eyed, but sensible, outlook is honestly and lovingly portrayed. Hurwitz has a gift for making everyday family life seem remarkable. Familiar situations and characters, frequent pencil illustrations, and generous font and white space make this a perfect transitional book for new readers who will look forward to following Elisa and her warm family and friends in the future. (Fiction. 6-9)
