ARNIE AND THE NEW KID

When his new classmates find that Philip can't do some things because he's in a wheelchair, their response is totally unsympathetic. Then Arnie breaks his leg and finds out what it's like to be hampered by crutches. He and Philip become friends--and Arnie's new sympathy provides a way to squelch the others' teasing by including Philip in their activities. The story is almost painfully simplistic, and it's sad (but not, alas, unlikely) that no adult intervenes with some consciousness-raising on Philip's behalf. Still, it may be valuable to have this lesson so baldly stated, while Carlson's flat perspectives, bright, unsophisticated colors, and expressive animal characters continue to appeal.