Hide and Seek

December 1, 2010

Gr 4-6-The Carters are a close-knit and compassionate bunch. They run an urban wildlife rescue, which sets the stage for humorous adventures that play out amid other funny family situations. In this book, Halloween is approaching, and a young deer's curiosity has gotten the best of him, leaving him wandering through the neighborhood with a plastic pumpkin stuck on his head. Aiding the deer is central to the story, but it's actually one of several equally strong plot threads, which might prove a tad overwhelming for some slower readers. Still, the happy chaos is part of the book's appeal, and the characters are the biggest treat of all. From Grandma Alice, who decides to wear an emerald ring from her suitor on her toe, to little brother Razi, who dresses up as "Find-It Man" to locate a wayward family puppy, the cast is quirky, warm, and engaging. Stauffacher has done a neat job of making readers feel as though they have been invited in for a piece of Mrs. Carter's ginger cake and an afternoon of laughs. Lamont's light and lively cartoon art is the perfect complement to the storytelling. An entertaining, feel-good read.-Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2010
Grades 3-5 The third Animal Rescue Team offering (following Gator on the Loose! 2010) finds 10-year-old Keisha Carter and her family attempting to assist a deer with a plastic pumpkin stuck on its head. Unfortunately, the buck eludes them, prompting the local media to suggest that the Carters arent up to the task and Keisha to involve her class in some scientific problem solving. Stauffachers intriguing characters (especially Keisha, her hyperactive brother Razi, and quirky grandma Alice) will have much appeal, as will a constant parade of sympathetic animals in distress. Recommend to series fans and animal lovers alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2011
In their second and third installments, the Carters--a big, loving family with an animal rescue business--attend to a mysterious skunklike smell, an injured dog, and the misguided rescue of a baby crow (Special); and, among other adventures, try to help a deer with a plastic pumpkin stuck on its head (Hide). The warm biracial family brims with love and good sense.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)