A crisp, humorous, original twist to first-day-of-school stories begins with older sister Lucy's rigorous training of Annabelle: "This is the world . . . This is not red . . . a nickel's worth five pennies . . ." A male kindergarten teacher and an interesting conception of an elementary school environment create interest, but Annabelle herself is the best part of a terrific story, wonderfully illustrated and designed. (Ages 3-6)

Although some of the things her older sister taught her at home seem a little unusual at school, other lessons help make Annabelle's first day in kindergarten a success.