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Liars and Saints

After "Weekend with Wendell," Kevin Henkes returned with a *second* mouse masterpiece.


This one seems to tip a hat--boldly--to Beverly Cleary. Cleary wrote "Ramona the Brave"; Henkes wrote "Sheila Rae, the Brave." And, indeed, Sheila Rae has courage. She enjoys studying lightning during a storm, and she dares to giggle when the principal walks by. She imagines that her maraschino cherries are the eyes of dead bears (and she eats five).


The biggest transgression: Sheila Rae announces she will walk him by a NEW UNAUTHORIZED ROUTE.


(You really travel back to childhood here. Sheila Rae shivers with excitement as she "crosses streets" and "turns corners." Oh, to derive a thrill from having crossed a new street!)


Of course, Sheila Rae doesn't really know herself, and her story takes a shocking turn. But Sheila Rae's sister comes to the rescue--Friends can embolden each other--and all ends well. Big sis and little sis walk into their house--and they do it in a sassy way, "backwards....with their eyes closed."


I love this story because it reminds us that a five-minute trip from school to home really can be an adventure for a child. (Sheila Rae pretends a tree is a monster, and she "snaps off its fingers.") I also like this book for its world-building: Though we don't spend much time with Wendell and Sophie, former antagonists, we learn from some graffiti that the two are now in love.)


I'm eager for Josh to be old enough to actually discuss these stories.



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