Patrick Eats His Peas and Other Stories

Matilda is excited it's Saturday, because everything is just more fun on Saturdays. Her little sister Clemmie gamely mimics Matilda's enthusiasm, but she is a bit hesitant when her older sibling wants them to go out and play in the rain. With a little encouragement from her relentlessly positive big sis ("You have to TRY things, Clemmie. If you TRY something, you'll see that you LIKE it") and bravery on Clemmie's part, soon the sisters are out in raincoats and boots enjoying themselves. As pictured in the panels of this early-reader comic, Matilda teaches Clemmie other things, too, such as how to catch raindrops on her tongue, jump in puddles, and search for worms. Amidst her excitement, Matilda releases Clemmie's precious red birthday balloon into the sky as a present for the rainbow that appears. Though she realizes her mistake too late, Matilda figures out a way to make it up to a dismayed Clemmie in the satisfying conclusion. It's a tender, accurate depiction of sister dynamics, including the lessons they invariably learn from each other, and Liniers's cartoon drawings capture the siblings' distinct, expressive personalities. His occasional use of wordless panels and the varied panel styles, placement, and sizes enhance the story, and the multihued watercolor palette beneath inky lines of rain accentuates the joyfulness possible on a stormy day. cynthia k. ritter