School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-In this installment, Grace's best friend, Mimi, confides a secret: she's going to be a big sister. The eight-year-olds can barely contain their excitement over the sure-to-be super-cute sibling Mimi's family is adopting...until Lily, a visiting four-year-old, shows up. When Mimi and Grace act as "mother's helpers" for Lily, the tutu-wearing preschooler immediately takes to Grace and not to Mimi, leaving her scared that her new sister won't like her, either. True to form, Grace finds a thoughtful way to fix things. The adorable illustrations are enhanced by tongue-in-cheek captions that add warmth and humor, and the frequent headings keep the story moving at an engaging pace. Another winner in this enjoyable series.-Nicole Waskie-Laura, Chenango Forks Elementary, Binghamton, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Eight-year-old Grace's best friend Mimi excitedly lets her in on a secret: her parents are working toward adopting a little girl. When the two friends are hired as mother's helpers to watch Lily, a neighbor's four-year-old, it seems like the perfect opportunity for Mimi to practice being a big sister. Unfortunately, Lily is instantly enamored with Grace (who is soon driven crazy by all the attention) and -- exhibiting a typical preschooler quirk -- decides she doesn't like Mimi one bit. As usual, Grace's special powers of empathy help her come up with a plan to fix everything. Also par for the course are the amusing section headings ('What I Didn't Know I Didn't Know'; 'What Mimi Ran Back to Tell Me After She Left') and the entertaining cartoon drawings. Grace's dilemma is easy for readers to relate to, and her voice is consistently funny, frank, and believable. What Fans and Newcomers Alike Will Do: speed through this latest and look forward eagerly to the next. JENNIFER M. BRABANDER (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
This sixth offering in the Just Grace series finds Grace and Mimi working as mother's helpers caring for Lily, an energetic four-year-old with an endless wardrobe of tutus. Lily's immediately smitten with Grace, but not so much with Mimi who worries that her own soon-to-be-adopted little sister won't like her either. Luckily, the ever-empathetic Grace comes up with a plan to help the two connect and restore Mimi's confidence. Short chapters, frequent black-line illustrations, and Harper's sure voice as the blossoming Grace mark this as one of the better series for emerging chapter-book readers. Book seven to follow.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist
