THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH

Laurence Yep, . . HarperTrophy, $4.99 (96pp) ISBN 978-0-06-440852-3

Set in San Francisco's Chinatown, this novel mixes elements of fantasy and fairy tale as an eight-year-old boy gets a paintbrush that transforms his dreary life. "Snappy dialogue, realistic characters and plenty of wise humor keep the pages turning," wrote PW. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)

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