The Marvelous, Amazing, Pig-Tastic Gracie LaRoo! (Gracie LaRoo)

Gr 1-3--Gracie LaRoo, a young pig, loves to perform with her water ballet team, the Water Sprites. In this collection of four books, each with four short chapters, Gracie uses her skills to face the challenges that come her way. First, Gracie must overcome her tendency to get distracted in order to help her team win at the Pig Jubilee championships. Next, Gracie finds a way to get past her disappointment at being a stunt double in a movie. In the third entry Gracie and her team must figure out how to win over a cruise ship audience. And finally, Gracie faces off with her old school principal and coach when she arrives to give a demonstration and speech at her former school. Gracie proves that courage and confidence can help one face life's challenges. The bright, colorful illustrations break up the text nicely and make the stories quite appealing. Each chapter is four to five pages long, which will help new readers build confidence. VERDICT For general purchase where upbeat and charmingly illustrated early chapter books are needed.--Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT