Black third-grader Millie Magnus can't wait for family field day at school. She has her friends, her pet chick (named Extra Spicy), her mother (the mayor), and her mother's know-it-all assistant to support her. The only thing preventing Millie from feeling great is the school bully, Buckley, who is white. Millie's story outlines what to do when a person is being bullied in an accessible way for young kids. Millie is a strong character who is not afraid to express herself but also knows the value of asking adults for help. A resolution is achieved after Millie learns what is causing some of Buckley's bullying behavior, reminding readers that sometimes people's actions are driven by circumstances we can't see. In addition to the main drama, Millie is also dealing with the loss of her father and shifting dynamics at home. Grayscale chapter art highlights the racial diversity of Millie's friend group and captures Millie's many emotions as the story unfolds. This first book in a new series is an excellent addition to early chapter-book collections.

Gr 2–4— Millie Magnus is a self-assured third grader with her own unique style and pet chick, Extra Spicy. When she and her friends are faced with a school bully named Buckley, Millie is able to turn to her nanny and her widowed mother for help. When Millie seeks her mother's advice, racism is touched upon in reference to voters (her mom is the mayor of Washington, D.C.). Millie, her mother, and nanny are Black. Buckley is specifically bullying Millie and friends about Family Field Day. Readers will commiserate with Millie as she struggles, first when her mother can't attend field day, and then when Nanny Josephine is injured, leaving Millie without a partner in the three-legged race against Buckley. Glenn's excellent grayscale artwork creates white space on pages in early reader style and brings Millie's story to life. VERDICT A cute social-emotional read for kiddos. Pair with Doreen Cronin's "Chicken Squad" series for more lively fun.— Sarah Sieg