Revenge of the Small Small: 9

With sibling rivalry as its central theme, Little's latest tells of Patsy, the youngest member of the Small family, who is often teased or left out by her siblings. When her father brings home ``a surprise for the small Small,'' Patsy uses the gift--a box filled with art supplies--to construct a toy village. The put-upon girl wreaks her revenge by erecting grave markers in her town's cemetery, bearing the names of her ``departed'' sister and brothers: ``Here lies Jim Small--A Bad Brother,'' for example. Predictably, the three siblings eventually repent their meanness and earn their sister's forgiveness. Patsy's reactionary deed may strike some as a bit morbid; those youngsters with siblings of their own, however, will empathize with the girl's hurt feelings and understand her actions. Though this combination of strong familial emotions and a naturalistic, contemporary setting proves somewhat more forceful than much picture book fare, Little maneuvers through these crises with a sure and unforced hand. Children could learn a lot from the Smalls' relationships--a family portrayed with obvious affection in Wilson's straightforward, true-to-life watercolors. Ages 3-8. (Mar.)