Open for Business (The Recess Genius #1)

Regina Grey is a “whisper of a girl” who “no one seemed to notice.” Far from being a standout student (“she muddled her math, spluttered her spelling, and got jumbled up in gym”), the child, who presents as white, is nevertheless practiced at “disappearing into books.” But when by chance her reading helps a few of her classmates solve their problems, she quickly becomes the “Recess Genius,” offering solutions for everything from little brothers to bees to recovering a beloved stuffy. But while being noticed is nice, Regina misses her books; she tries to curb the diverse classroom’s demand for her services by handing out deliberately bad advice, only to find even her snarkiest solutions work wonders. Sumner Johnson (Braver Than Brave) employs a spry, wry voice, following the protagonist’s problem-solving prowess as she finds a way to seek solitude some of the time, and hang out her shingle when she wants to feel needed. Minimalist in background detail but highly expressive in character, scribbly full-color vignettes by Ebert (Hello World!) channel the quirky, mischievous energy of Hilary Knight’s work. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Lauren Galit, LKG Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer March Soloway, Andrea Brown Literary. (Feb.)