Too Many Murphys

This sweetly told story stars Collette, an eight-year-old who finds her younger brothers and sister a constant trial. She is tired of being expected to be some kind of ``midget mother'' to the children, always expected to behave in a model fashion. And she envies her schoolmates with ``only child'' statustheir lives seem remarkably smooth. When Christmas comes, Collette has one wishto be an only child againand her parents oblige, whisking away the others to their grandmother's house. Of course, before the day is out, Collette misses her siblings. The plot isn't really substantial enough to float an entire book; readers may grow weary of Collette's yearnings before she does. But McKenna accurately serves up the dialogue and behavior of a houseful of children, and readers in the same situation as Collette will be in full sympathy with her complaints. Ages 8-12. (September)