Booklist Review

Gr. 1, younger for reading aloud. All the first-graders are opening their lunch boxes with lip-smacking satisfaction when Sam discovers that his mother has forgotten to pack his lunch: "Sam is surprised. Sam is sad. Sam is hungry. Sam is mad!" Never fear, Sam's classmates all share their food with him. Bold, black-outline drawings, simple in composition and bright with colors, focus on the children, their emotions, and, yes, their lunches. The simple sentence structure and thumping rhythm will help young children read right through to the book's satisfying conclusion. A good choice for those just beginning to read. --Carolyn Phelan