VERA RUNS AWAY

Running away to escape an unappreciative family is a nearly universal developmental stage of four- or five-year-olds. Pack your essentials (the favored stuffed animal, extra socks, a few special treasures) and hit the road to find a better family. Rosenberry (Vera’s First Day of School, 1999, etc.) returns to her own childhood memories for her series of picture books about common childhood experiences. In this well-told tale, little Vera is thrilled with her first report card with all A’s, but Mom and Dad are far too occupied with a flooded toilet to give her more than a quick compliment, and Vera’s big sisters are nonchalant about A’s in first grade. Vera strikes out for greener pastures with a bandana-wrapped bundle hanging from a rainbow-striped umbrella, providing an endearing hobo-style escape to the calming charms of a secret hideaway in the forest. When hunger pangs strike, Vera returns home to find her family in an uproar over her disappearance, proving to her that they do indeed care about their second-to-youngest daughter. Rosenberry succeeds in both her story and her illustrations, capturing the emotions of a young child who feels unappreciated and unrewarded for a job well done. Her bright gouache illustrations are a refreshing delight with lots of amusing details, and unusual because none of the four daughters in the family (or Mom, either) is pretty in a traditional sense. Vera is a spunky little heroine, with plenty of pluck left for more childhood adventures in a winning series. (Picture book. 3-7)