DEAR BABY

Sixth-grade Farla works out her anxieties about her nice new stepfather, Charlie, and soon-to-be-bom half-brother or sister by writing letters to the baby. The anxieties are normal, but her problems are relatively small: Charlie's jokes don't seem funny; she has a tiff with a friend; Great-aunt Sally has come to stay. Still, everybody is basically nice, and all is easily resolved. Farla considers moving in with her grandmother, but it turns out that ""Bubble Flo"" isn't a good cook, and besides she's remarrying and moving to Florida. Finally making friends with Great-aunt Sally, Farla takes to heart her remarks that ""it takes great maturity to admit your shortcomings"" and ""perseverance is part of maturity and [if you] just carry on. . .something will come of it."" When baby Annabelle Rose arrives, Farla promptly falls in love with her, realizing that ""growing up inside means you make more room in your heart."" Pleasant, easily read, psychologically on target (in fact, somewhat like a case study), but unexceptional.