About the Author

Judy Blume’s 27 books have won many awards. Judy Blume has received the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. She divides her time between Key West, New York City, and Martha’s Vineyard.

James Stevenson has written and illustrated more than 100 books for children. In 40 years at the New Yorker, he has published more than 2,000 cartoons and covers, as well as numerous written pieces. His illustrated column, “Lost and Found New York,” frequently appears on the op-ed page of the New York Times.

Reviews

Gr 1-3-Jake, a first grader, is the Pain, and his sister Abigail, a third grader, is the Great One in Judy Blume's seven slice-of-life stories (Delacorte, 2008) that involve the entire family. For example, at the beach, the Pain is afraid of the ocean. When the siblings go to the fair with Aunt Diana, Jake takes a ride on the Gravitron. At the mall, they must decide which movie they will see and which fast food restaurant they will visit. After the Pain sticks a pussy willow up his nose, there's a trip to the emergency room to remove his "furry booger." Kathleen McInerney reads in a measured, mostly child-like voice. Another humorous collection that will be enjoyed by Blume's fans and could be used effectively as a read-along by ESL students.-Marilyn Hersh, Hillside Elementary School, Farmington Hills, MI Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.