cover image Polka-dot Fixes Kindergarten

Polka-dot Fixes Kindergarten

Catherine Urdahl, illus. by Mai S. Kemble. Charlesbridge, $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-57091-737-0

On Polka-dot's first day of kindergarten, her handy grandfather gives her a fix-it kit of her own, which includes duct tape, soap, and bandages. At school, Polka-dot gains an adversary: Liz (a fan of stripes) makes fun of her polka-dotted clothes and points out when Polka-dot makes a mess. But as the tension between the girls rises ("Your mouth is mean, mean, mean," Polka-dot tells Liz), a mishap gives Polka-dot a chance to use her kit to help Liz and forge an unexpected friendship. Kemble's watercolors telegraph the girls' fluctuating emotions as they navigate a new experience. Ages 4%E2%80%937. (July)