Clementine’s been having a bad week. She was sent to the principal’s office Monday for cutting her friend Margaret’s hair — and she was only trying to help! — and it only has gotten worse. As the week wears on, things keep going wrong for Clementine, from cutting her own hair (and coloring it green) and the increasing fear that her parents want to get rid of her. It all works out in the end, of course. But, honestly, the true joy of this book are the little things like ideas sproinging into Clementine’s head, or her myriad of names for her little brother (like Radish and Zucchini and Lima Bean — if she got stuck with a fruit name, why shouldn’t he have a vegetable name?), or her desire to do things right but they always come out wrong. Clementine’s an absolute dear, a character that you want to wrap up in a great big bear hug. It’s always delightful to find new friends like that.

Rated: None