MY GRANDMOTHER IS A SINGING YAYA

In this sweet-natured comedy of intergenerational love and acceptance, Lulu's irrepressible Yaya (the Greek word for grandmother) so embraces life that she bursts into song at the drop of a hat. "I want Yaya to act like the other grandmothers," narrator Lulu tells her mother. "That means no singing in the middle of everything." When Lulu takes Yaya to a Grandparents' Day Picnic at her school, the girl does her best to thwart Yaya's singing reflex. But Yaya's serenades end up making her the toast of the event—and Lulu realizes that maybe singing one's way through life isn't such a bad idea after all. First-time children's author D'Arc hits just the right note in Lulu's voice, capturing the girl's vacillation between exasperation and adoration. Palmisciano (Montezuma's Revenge ) has a field day with Yaya, endowing her with youthful warmth, theatrically raven hair and stylish legging ensembles. Ages 4-7. (Nov.)