Elisa Michaels, Bigger & Better

Elisa Michaels is a second-grader living in New York City. She has both an older and a younger brother. Each chapter is a separate story about Elisa and her family members. In the first chapter, Elisa misses her grandmother, who lives in Florida. She won't be able to see her for seven months! Elisa's mom invents a way for Elisa to "have breakfast with Grandma."Several stories deal with Marshall, who is two years old when the book begins. Elisa cares for her little brother while the new babysitter plays chess. She goes all out to keep him happy. In another story, the family worries that Marshall is getting too old for his pacifier. When they visit the zoo, Elisa is inspired by a baby gorilla and she niftily solves her little brother's pacifier problem. In "Marshall Makes Mischief," Marshall is determined to open the library's fake Christmas presents. Elisa tries hard, but she can't control him. She does, however, come to a big realization about the library and about presents.Elisa learns that having wishes come true can be bittersweet. In "Chocolate All Day Long," she gets permission to eat only chocolate for one entire glorious day --- but feels differently toward chocolate by dinnertime. In the last chapter, she travels alone to visit her grandmother and soon learns about homesickness. This chapter neatly mirrors the book's first story, with Elisa's grandmother helping her "have breakfast with" her mom.Debbie Tilley illustrates the book with adorable cartoony pictures. They show rather old-fashioned looking characters, which suits the classic feel of the stories.If you're looking for wild adventure, look elsewhere. These are gentle, good-hearted, winning stories full of humor and emotion without being sentimental. Elisa is genuine, funny and extremely likeable. I highly recommend this warm and wonderful celebration of family. --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon ([email protected])