SQUASHED IN THE MIDDLE

Poor Daisy . . . she's a middle child in a talkative family, and nobody ever listens to a word she says. In fact, everyone in her African-American family speaks for her—from her know-it-all big sister to her kindly but preoccupied parents. Robin Miles does a fine job conveying the frustrations of the soft-spoken child, as well as portraying Daisy's transformation from a quietly unheard child to a more confident one who claims her space in the world. Miles characterizes the personalities and emotions of the people who populate Daisy's noisy, colorful world. Her dramatization of the moment when Daisy finally gets her family's attention is perfect. Children will enjoy Pat Cummings's illustrations, which add much to this small but poignant tale. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2009]