BEEZY
by Megan McDonald & illustrated by Nancy Poydar
A new chapter-book heroine emerges in a set of three easy stories: Beezy has fun during a hurricane with her grandmother and friends; gains a pet by taking care of a stray dog; and gets to know a vivacious new neighborSarafina Zippy, who is rumored to be tattooed and from the circus. The author of My House Has Stars (1996), McDonald (who reviews for this publication) effectively introduces the characters in a lively text and sets the stage for more books about Beezy; Poydar's energetic illustrations brim with whimsy, joy, and action. While readers never learn if Sarafina has a tattoo, this book is a breezy, pleasing read. (Fiction. 6-8)