Just Grace Gets Crafty

Reviewed by: Barbara Merritt - Scarborough School Department, Scarborough, Choose Library District

Review Date: December 8, 2014

Review

Grace is back in the eighth entry in the Just Grace series. A substitute teacher begins a creative writing project that gets the children's imaginations running. Grace and her best friend Mimi are preparing for a craft fair and scheming to make friends for their crossing guard who is new in town. Captions done in what is supposed to be hand drawn letters keep the reader aware of what Grace is thinking throughout the story. It almost feels like a stream of conscience. Graces's many drawings throughout illustrate what is happening. This all makes this book approachable and appealing to young readers. Friendship, and the need to work at it and give it space are another theme. Told with humor and insight, this will appeal to children.

Overall Book Score: good