I Really, Really Need Actual Ice Skates

PreS-Gr 1—Charlie's younger sister wants her own skates so that she can twist and twirl at the town rink like her friends. She convinces her dad that the money allocated for a scooter should go toward purchasing them. Regrets set in when she cannot move backwards or do a loop on the ice without falling down. Lola says, "I don't want to have ice skates anymore, Charlie!" She had made a promise, though: her skates would not end up sitting unused at the bottom of the closet with her big red kite, toy guitar, and special yo-yo that lights up. When she sees her friend Morten having trouble staying on his scooter, she suggests a trade. Not surprisingly, the happiness that results is fleeting. The colorful mixed-media illustrations depict bright, frosty mornings at the ice rink. The children are dressed in heavy coats and winter hats, and the girls wear striped leggings. This story is based on the TV animation series.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada