MY SISTER THE SAUSAGE ROLL

An offering in the Chapters series from Holmes (Letters to Julia, p. 381) takes another look at the well-worn subject of baby siblings. Eloise has a new sister named Mary Alice. Her mother thinks the baby is perfect, but Eloise thinks she looks more like a sausage roll than anything else—and she'd rather not even think about the way Mary Alice sounds and smells. In fact, she'd prefer to ignore her completely, but that's impossible; Eloise's father is away on an extended top-secret government job, and he's asked Eloise to report on Mary Alice's progress. With her friend Jenny, Eloise cooks up a surprise for her father's return: They show Mary Alice his picture every day so she'll recognize him from the start. Things don't turn out quite as they planned—the full-size, fully animated father scares Mary Alice, accustomed to the nice, still picture, but he's willing to be patient. The plot is transparent, and the story is clipped and rushed, but Holmes shoehorns in plenty of humor, believable characterizations, and a satisfying conclusion. (full-color illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 7-10)