Here Comes Hortense!

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a trip to WonderWorld, which provides a neurotic grandson with more opportunities to worry about his relationship with his beloved Nana. In this sequel to Nana’s Getting Married, Nana’s six-year-old grandson gets a surprise during his trip to an amusement park with Nana and her new husband, Bob—Bob’s granddaughter, Hortense. Hortense and Nana are like two peas in a pod—unlike the timid narrator, both love scary rides like the Mix Master and the Flume—and it isn’t until the boy realizes that Hortense shares some of his fears that they reconcile. Graham’s exaggerated chalk pastels feature a lurid carnival palette and in-your-face characterizations, providing a comedic balance to the boy’s pained emotional state. Ages 4–7. (Apr.)