Grandma's Wedding Album

When young Michael and Emily discover wedding apparel in their grandmother's attic, it becomes the perfect motivation for Grandma to walk the kids through the beautifully decorated photo album of her 1965 nuptials (an invitation to the festivities is attached to one of the spreads). Frequent collaborators Ziefert and Gudeon (One Red Apple) offer a straight-faced, straitlaced recounting, with no moments of high drama or low comedy to distract from the affectionate solemnity. The preparations and ceremony go off without a hitch ("It was my turn to proceed down the aisle," Grandma recalls. "I was happy. I was scared. But when I saw Poppy smile, all my fears vanished"), smiles are abundant in every scene, the best friend catches the bouquet (and is married a year later); two bridesmaids swing-dancing barefoot in the grass is about as close as anyone gets to letting their hair down. Readers who have been to or in real weddings will know that the excitement/nervousness quotient usually runs much higher, but that's a whole 'nother story. Ages 5–8. (May)