EDDIE’S LITTLE SISTER MAKES A SPLASH

Another nostalgic slice-of-life from former New York Mayor Ed Koch and his sister, this low-key adventure seems unlikely to hold the interest of contemporary children. The plot is simple: Eddie, Patty and their parents are heading to a rented cabin on a lake for a two-week vacation. (Older brother Harold’s absence is unexplained, a fact that may confuse fans of the Kochs’ earlier book but won’t be noticed by those new to the characters.) Little sister Patty is so young that she doesn’t remember last year’s visit, but she’s old enough to feel hurt when her brother seems impatient with the responsibility of finding her a friend. Although essentially obedient, Patty gets distracted by the sound of voices and splashing and ventures to the lake alone. When she loses her footing while wading, Eddie springs to her rescue. The straightforward narrative fails to engender much suspense, and the relatively long text may also put off potential readers. Ironically, Warhola’s watercolors succeed admirably in evoking the 1940s setting, but serve to distance readers further. Unexceptional. (Picture book. 4-8)