Nadie Me Quiere!: Nobody Likes Me!

K-Gr 2-Poor Migas! He's new to the neighborhood and no one seems to want to play with him. Rejected first by a mouse, then in rapid succession by some cats, a few rabbits, a herd of sheep, and a large dog, Migas descends into the depths of depression before a wise fox helps him out. With a little explanation, everyone wants to be Migas's friend, and the whole crew ends the day playing happily together. This rather pedestrian story line is saved by the fresh, rolling language, translated ably by Almohar. The repetitions will draw young listeners in and make it easy for beginning readers to detect patterns. Krischanitsz's watercolor illustrations are comic and gentle, with round-eyed animals looking suspicious, frightened, and ultimately happy. The palette, in reassuring greens and golds, gives the whole a comforting, homey look. Like classics such as Lillian Hoban's Will I Have a Friend? (Macmillan, 1967), this is a sound easy reader for youngsters who wonder if they will ever blend in. A solid addition for bookstores, as adults will be drawn to its handsome appearance. Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA