Mildred Kantrowitz

Actually quite brilliant. All the feelings a young boy (8?) goes through when wondering why his friend would go off without him. Illustrations look like graphic novel/ sequential art, but are what the boy sees in his thoughts. The "meta" panel near the end is especially cute, especially given the age of the book. I like the matter-of-fact diversity of the city neighborhood... I don't know from nothing but something about it says 'Brooklyn' to me.

The only thing that might concern some is the show more solution. Turns out Smokey had a dentist appointment which he (accidentally on purpose?) forgot. He seems a bit young to be responsible for getting himself there on time, even given the era when city children were readily sent to pick up groceries.... show less

A little girl's best friend and neighbor has just moved away, so she spends the afternoon with the little boy she is babysitting sitting across from her friend's old house and watching the movers take all the familiar items from the place. She's fairly sad until another moving company truck shows up and starts unloading the possessions of the new owners.

A pretty nothing story with a sort of annoying protagonist. Mercer Mayer's art is eye-catching though.

Yes, the isolation and uneventful routine contribute to Maxie's depression, but I think we're mixing cause and effect. Moreover, being needed is insufficient... she also needs, and deserves, friendship, and I hope these neighbors drop in for a chat or a game of cards at least weekly.

(And yes, I do know whereof I speak, and no, I don't want to explain.)

Violet, Amy and Eva's bird, is old and dies. Amy and Eva organise a funeral service with their friends. Amy is depressed, saying that nothing lasts forever. However, Eva finds a sense of continuity in life, as their cat, Blanche is expecting kittens.