ROOMMATES

Mimi and her slightly younger sister, Beth, don't welcome sharing a room when a new baby is expected: Beth thinks Mimi is too messy, while Mimi complains that Beth pinches. In their first days together, their perpetual squabbles heighten: Mimi draws a line down the middle of the room, Beth eavesdrops and heckles when Mimi has a friend over. Ultimately, of course--starting when Mimi helps Beth with her homework--the two learn to accommodate and become better friends, sharing confidences and welcoming their new sister. Just a half-step up from an easy reader, this satisfactory dramatization of a common adjustment is nicely illustrated with warm, realistic b&w drawings.