Annie's Chair

Learning to share doesn't come easily to most preschoolers, and Miland captures this challenge masterfully and humorously in a tale about a girl who refuses to relinquish her favorite seat. For Annie, her chair represents not only a place where she can daydream, but also a comfort zone ("She can be a fairy queen or a jumping bean... Sometimes Annie just likes to sit and think"). Miland's range of images, from Annie bathing her doll while standing atop her chair, to reclining outdoors and donning fetching sunglasses, demonstrates why this is the heroine's treasured item. And even while Annie makes it abundantly clear that only she can sit in that spot, it's no surprise when someone manages to usurp the space—Miland adds to the comedy by making the culprit Annie's dog, Benny. The array of tactics the girl uses to bodily remove Benny is both inventive and amusing. Yet with all her efforts, she resorts to childish tears. Before readers can dismiss her as a whiny girl who cries to get her way, however, Annie comes up with a twist, and proves that sharing can double the fun. Ages 2-5. (June)