CLEMENTINE AND THE FAMILY MEETING

Already worried because Eighteen, her science project rat, has disappeared, eight-year-old Clementine is dismayed to learn that her perfect four-person family is about to become five. Things are changing too fast. Pennypacker continues to find new areas to explore in this popular middle-grade series about families, friendship, and sibling rivalry. Clementine's concerns about her mother's pregnancy are presented with understanding and sympathy, as is her lively but distractible nature at school. The first-person narrative introduces a new side of Clementine -- she wants to build things, like her dad does -- and a new friendship issue with Margaret's sudden interest in make-up . Frazee's line drawings show close family scenes as well as Clementine with her schoolmates. Both familiar and new, this would work just as well to introduce this appealing character as to satisfy those who are already fans. Seven to Ten