Nurse Clementine

A girl with a nurturing nature discovers how much her family really needs her in this gently humorous story from James (George Flies South). When Clementine receives her dream birthday gift—a nurse’s outfit and first-aid kit—she can’t wait to begin her rounds, taking care of everyone. After enthusiastically bandaging Dad’s stubbed toe, Mom’s headache, and her dog Wellington’s (presumed) sore paw with yards upon yards of bandages, Nurse Clementine sets her sights on her rambunctious younger brother, Tommy, seen hurtling down the stairs in roller skates, goggles, and cape. Tommy, however, declines any medical attention, even as he spectacularly bumps and bounces off the furniture. But when Tommy gets himself into a scrape in which he does indeed need a helping hand, Nurse Clementine comes to the rescue. James’s ink-and-watercolor vignettes capture the exuberance of children pursuing their passions as well as playful family dynamics that many readers will find familiar. The ample white space and loosely rendered artwork, coupled with James’s understated and quietly funny narration, give the story a pleasant airiness. Ages 3–6. (May)