JAMAICA TAG-ALONG
by Juanita Havill
When Jamaica (of Jamaica's Find, 1986) wants to play basketball with her big brother Ossie and his friends, he scornfully excludes her. So she retreats to the sandbox, where a toddler, Berto, volunteers help with her sandcastle. At first, Jamaica rejects him as she has been rejected; then it occurs to her that it would be nicer to accept help than to hurt Berto's feelings. When Ossie's game is over, he joins them—and Jamaica welcomes him. This simple but important lesson is attractively illustrated in realistic watercolors, most of them broad double-spreads that draw the reader in and are large enough for use with groups.