Kate the Great: Except When She's Not

In this illustrated novel featuring fifth grader Kate (whose drawings on every page add humor to her already funny narration), Kate's mother asks her to show "a little extra kindness" to difficult schoolmate Nora. Becker sends Kate and Nora down a realistically bumpy road to friendship, with Kate's family and best friend Brooke providing abundant encouragement (and laughs) along the way.

This illustrated novel is the first entry in a series featuring fifth-grader Kate, whose drawings on every page add oodles of humor to her already funny narration. Kate's mother asks her to show "a little extra kindness" to difficult schoolmate Nora, whose father is away on an extended business trip. Prickly Nora has no friends (and doesn't appear to care), but Kate's mom says maybe she just doesn't know how to have friends. Thus begins Project Nora. Kate's best friend, Brooke, who doesn't share Kate's years of forced playdates with Nora, is on board with some excellent ideas. Becker sends Kate and Nora down a realistically bumpy and winding road to friendship, with Kate's family and Brooke providing abundant encouragement (and laughs) along the way. Kate's amusing drawings include such things as a "cringe-o-meter" for embarrassing things her parents do; a cartoon of unpopular new Junior Guide leader Mrs. Staughton and her "Fabulous, front-loading, foot-long fanny pack"; and a DIY chart for making a "Bob" (the family's "Big Ol' Bowl," which sits in the middle of the table, filled with quotes and questions to start dinner conversations). Bob, it turns out, provides thoughtful advice, with quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt and Einstein that, due to Kate's comic renderings, readers won't easily forget. May Kate continue to be this great. jennifer m. brabander