The youngest of three, Ben longs to make the grade in Ellis's (Pick Up Sticks) affectionate tale of sibling solidarity. When report card time rolls around for sister Robin and brother Joe, Ben feels left out. "There are no subjects in preschool," Ben laments. "There are no report cards in preschool." Soon, Ben begins to notice lots of things he's too little to do, including swimming, eating with chopsticks and seeing out the backseat of the car. But before long, Robin and Joe come to the rescue, surprising Ben with a homemade report card that includes subjects like "feeding the cat," "shoe tying" and "tooth brushing." Outlined in strong black strokes, LaFave's (Catalogue) misty, mottled colors stand out against the bright white background as the artwork chronicles Ben's thwarted efforts, leading up to his brother's and sister's boost. Ages 3-6. (Dec.)
