ANNIE...ANYA

Annie is five when her doctor parents take her to Moscow, where they are to work for a month. For Annie, the novelty doesn't make up for the strangeness; even the alphabet is unfamiliar, so she loudly sings her own—over and over. Still, some sights are amusing, especially the circus; and after a lonely first day at a Russian day-care center, she makes a friend with a name very like hers: Anya. First the two exchange words, then visits; by the time Annie goes home, it's hard to say goodbye. This warm, realistic story about the kind of adjustment many children must make under more difficult circumstances offers a pleasant informal introduction to Moscow, while a generous number of Russian words are casually introduced along the way. Trivas's pen-and-watercolor art nicely captures the city's ambiance and the children's lively activity. (Picture book. 4-8)