These two books feature a younger Amber Brown and take place before her parents' divorce and her best friend Justin's departure. The new format--large print, shorter stories, and sketchy cartoon-style illustrations on each page--and the focus on younger concerns will make these cheerful, humorous books appealing to newly independent readers.

Gr 1-3-This easy-reader goes back to when Amber Brown is turning seven and time is of the essence. She has mastered telling time and wants nothing more than a watch for her birthday. Her best friend, Justin, on the other hand, has no regard for keeping time. He tells her that he'll be at her house "in three minutes" but doesn't appear for half an hour. Amber does get her birthday wish and realizes that friends can have differences and still get along. She sees that being on time works for her and "Justin Time" works for him. The illustrations capture the mood of the story, which is playful and spirited. Beginning readers will enjoy sharing Amber's pre-birthday anticipation and older readers may want to go back and see the early years of the characters they know and love. Either way, this title will be a welcome addition to most collections.-Genevieve Ceraldi, New York Public Library Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.