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When Emma learns that her family is about to adopt a 4-year-old boy, she is thrilled. She has always wanted a little brother and is convinced Max will be the best brother ever. Her friend Sally isn't so sure. "He will be a pest," she says. "All brothers are pests." When Max finally arrives, Emma is stunned that things don't go the way she expects them to. Max had looked little and sweet in th... More

When Emma learns that her family is about to adopt a 4-year-old boy, she is thrilled. She has always wanted a little brother and is convinced Max will be the best brother ever. Her friend Sally isn't so sure. "He will be a pest," she says. "All brothers are pests." When Max finally arrives, Emma is stunned that things don't go the way she expects them to. Max had looked little and sweet in the photograph. In real life he looks big, he doesn't smile at her, and he says her homemade cookies are yucky. It's going to take a lot of understanding and some changes in perception for Emma and her new brother to find a way into each other's hearts.

Jean Little's superb early chapter book captures all the emotional ups and downs of adoption and sheds some light on the complex and stressful transition from foster home to adoptive family. Jennifer Plecas manages to portray a world of feelings on the expressive faces of her simply drawn characters and track the evolving moods of the entire family as they move toward empathy and acceptance. Adoptive families will find this sequel to Emma's Magic Winter a great addition to their libraries, as will any reader going through difficult changes. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

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