When a new kid moves into the empty apartment in Periwinkle Tower, Mimi is giddy with excitement. Could she finally be getting the BFF she has always wanted? In fact, she is not: what she gets instead is Boris, an awkward, quiet, dinosaur-loving, eating machine. The more time Mimi spends around Boris, the redder her mood ring gets (that's red for angry). The worst comes when he has to help her make the decorations for the Christmas pageant d, of course, Boris wants to make a huge cardboard dinosaur with a sparkly body and gold tooth. As the year goes on, Mimi slowly begins to realize that Boris means well, and that it's better to be a friend than a bully. Lively spot art (where dinosaurs make frequent appearances) accompanies the short, readable chapters. This first installment of Mimi's adventurous antics offers a roller-coaster story filled with humour, good lessons, and new friendships.

Gr 1-4 The Periwinkle Tower in Pueblo Del Mar is home to an eclectic group of child residents. Mimi's voice leads the way in this episodic chapter book for early readers. Her adventures include an unfortunate haircut, driving a giant cut-out stegosaurus around town in her convertible, and a variety of holiday mishaps including an advent calendar, school pageant, and the annual Pueblo Del Mar Holiday Decorating Contest. Mimi's troubles begin when Boris moves into her apartment building. Boris loves caramels, and Mimi loves chocolate raisins; Mimi loves to wear spots, and Boris wears stripes. Although Mimi is irritated by Boris at first, the two are able to build a friendship. The chapters are short and bouncy, and the additional large typeface helps break up the text for newly emergent readers. Davick's illustrations add details to the story through simple cartoon-styled characters. VERDICT The simple silliness of Mimi's story should delight most young readers. Jamie Jensen, Wayne Cox Elementary School, Roanoke, TX