Robert And The Lemming Problem

Robert and the Lemming Problem

From School Library JournalGrade 2-4-In this fifth installment about Robert, the third grader struggles with conformity. After being teased by a classmate because his sneakers are not cool enough, he switches to boots he has outgrown, and the pain keeps him from being comfortable when he serves as a school guide for a visiting author. That evening, Robert's feet are covered with blisters, and his father warns him about "lemming behavior" and blindly following the actions of others. After he and his best friend chew endless packs of bubble gum like everyone else at school in hopes of winning a contest, they finally decide that they have been wasting their money. Eventually Robert understands the importance of thinking for himself. At the end of the book, his parents reward him with a puppy. Fans of the series will know that he's earned this privilege, but newcomers may feel that it's a bit unexpected. However, children will enjoy the home and school settings, as well as the characters' believable interactions. Brewer's black-and-white cartoons add to the humor. Buy where the earlier books are popular.Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PACopyright