Angel Mae

Christmas is rapidly approaching, almost as fast as Mae Morgan's new sibling is expected on the scene. Mae has a part in the school play as the ``angel Gave-you'' (no one has the heart to correct her). The day of the play arrives and Mae's mum has gone to have the baby. With pillowcase on her front and paper wings on her back, Mae is ready to perform. At the last minute, Dad arrives and waves to his angel, who falls off her chair in surprise. Hughes's little British children are adorably banged-kneed and scruffy, clearly well loved by their parents, who look a little weary and battered themselves. Another in the popular Trotter Street collection. Ages 3-6. (Oct.)