Oh dear. Not only is there that troublesome old set of 'Indian' stereotypes, but Betsy is such a fortunate child that it's like there were 13 good fairies at her christening.

She doesn't want the teacher who wears black for second grade, so on the first day of school she discovers that teacher is gone and her beloved first grade teacher has been promoted to second grade. She wants a baby sister for Christmas... and Star is born on Christmas morning (and not only that, but Betsy gets to name the baby!). Thumpy gets picked up by the dogcatcher, but Mr. Kilpatrick happens to be driving by and so he gives her a lift to the pound. Etc.

This child will never learn resilience... and I know that I, as a child, would have been furiously envious.

I recommend skipping this one with your family. I'm all for 'teachable moments' but I think it would be hard to explain why this is bad to small children. Let me know if I'm wrong, please.

I pulled out the Carolyn Haywood books because I remember them making me happy when I was about 6. Instead of letting my own six year-old read them, I started reading them to her, thinking they wouldn't hold her attention without the flash and speed of more modern books. I was totally wrong. Neither of us can wait for her to get home from school to continue the adventures of this girl with the little red ribbons. Something about old fashioned, funny stories that are told slowly yet with not too much detail or metaphor hits the spot hits the spot for us. Take that Wimpy Kid.

The second Betsy book that my Betsy and I read. We have a beautiful old hard cover, not this silly paperback version. Second grade.

Another Charlotte bedtime book, continuing my streak of reading her stories about her upcoming grade before school starts.

Betsy's 2nd grade year brings a surprise when the school year begins and a very special surprise for Christmas.