The Picolinis

This story is an artful combination of many subjects readers are often drawn toenchanted dollhouses, buried treasure, the circus, little people and dolls-come-to-life. The Blake family acquires a Victorian dollhouse at an auction, after outbidding an evil-looking young magician. Peter and Jessica are quickly engaged in the mystery behind the dollhouse, hinted at by the former owner, and learn there may be treasure to uncover. But the magician tries to beat them to it and almost succeeds. The action is well paced, and the ending, if predictable, is still satisfying. Utterly enjoyable are scenes in which the dolls inhabiting the small house, the Picolinis, plot ways to secretly help the family; the line drawings that rather stiffly depict the humans perfectly capture these small folk. A lively bunch of ex-circus performers, they are a cast readers will hope to meet again. Ages 8-12. (April)