Summer Jackson: Grown Up

In Harris's first picture book, a cheery take on a familiar premise, Summer announces that she's tired of being seven: "Two scoops of ice cream are not enough. Hand puppets are not that funny. And eight o'clock is way too early for bed." Opting to become a grown-up, she sports a new look: high heels, blazer, sunglasses, and briefcase. Her daily routine now includes reading the newspaper and eating her sandwich with a knife and fork. Ford's (First Family) illustrations portray Summer's transformation with verve and humor, easily conveying Summer's determination and confidence. It seems as though the jig might be up when she charges schoolmates money for her "consulting" services and the principal calls her parents, but they slyly give her permission to be "as grown up as you like." Summer soon discovers the downside of adulthood when she must clean up after dinner, overindulges in ice cream, and finds her parents in her bed ("We got scared of the dark"). Though her return to childhood is predictable, Summer exits on one last sassy note. Ages 4%E2%80%937. (June)