LILY AND THE PRESENT
By
Lily's new brother ""came into the worm with nothing,"" and Lily would like to get something ""big and bright and beautiful"" to supplement his other, boring presents. At Biggs' Department Store, she purchases a big crocodile, a bright chandelier, and a beautiful wedding cake, cheerily saying (as her mother does), ""Charge it, please."" Alas--none of these grand things will go out the store's revolving door; abandoning them, one by one, Lily admits to herself that they weren't appropriate anyway and uses her own money to buy a balloon: ""And perfect it was."" With just the right balance between imaginative fantasy and satisfying realism, this reworking of a popular theme makes a stronger, more satisfying story than Lily and the Bears (1991). Again, Ross's color-pencil art is humorous and appealing, though much of the delicate detail will be lost in group sharing.