The days after Christmas have been tough for 4-year-old Sal. Her mother just had a baby, their Uncle Jack is visiting with them, and her favorite gift from Santa is missing. Can everything be sorted out by New Years?

This is a sweet title, with the charm of such beloved books as Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby series. The problems are small scale but relatable, especially the sibling rivalry felt by a middle child in particular. Sal's innocent view of the world is refreshing compared to some middle-grade novels that tackle very serious issues. (Don't get me wrong, those novels are important too, but sometimes you need a break from such dark worldviews.)

Although this book is technically part of a series, it pretty much stands alone. The other books are from her older brother's point of view anyway, so I don't think much is lost by picking this one up out of order. Certainly, I felt fine reading this without having read any of the other titles first.

The one thing that I don't get is really who this book is for in terms of audience. Sal is only 4 years old, and this chapter book, while slim, is beyond the reading level of all but the most precocious of preschoolers. The children old enough to read at this level will likely view this title as "babyish" because the protagonist is so young. I guess children who already enjoyed the Billy books in the series might pick it up because of that, but I feel like it would have been better to introduce Sal as an early reader version of the series for younger siblings who want to feel included in what their older siblings are reading (similar to the Little Sister spin-offs of the Baby-sitters Club books. ( )

Four-year-old Sal has cried every day this week. Her new baby sister is taking up all of her parents' attention, plus she's almost a week old and still doesn't have a name! Uncle Jake is visiting, and he calls her Salamander, which she does not like. Worst, she's lost her favorite Christmas present from Santa!

This brief, heartwarming story takes place over the course of just over a day. Sal's concerns feel weighty, an accurate portrayal of childhood problems, and Sal's emotions are given their full range. Henkes has a deep remembrance and understanding of what it's like to be a kid, as he's proven in his earlier books. I'm not sure of the audience for this one, but it's a lovely little slice of life. ( )

Told from the perspective, Sal is an opinionated, misunderstood, and relatable kiddo that tells a story rooted in family aspects and mystery. Great for an independent read for upper elementary (4th-5th) or early middle school (6th-7th) and it is a relatable and entertaining story that can build confidence and engage these readers.