Kids into books: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great

This week's title: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great

Author: Judy Blume

Illustrator: Colin Thomas

Publisher: Macmillan, $13.95

Age group: 6 – 12 years


I'm glad there's only one more week of school before summer vacation. Today was so hot! My clothes stuck to me and my brain felt all tired out. I didn't even finish my maths in school. So now I have to do it for homework.

I walked into the lobby of my apartment building thinking how good a big, cold drink would taste. I pushed the Up elevator button and waited. When the elevator got to the lobby Henry opened the gate and I stepped in. Just as he was about to take me upstairs Peter Hatcher and his dumb old dog came tearing down the hall.

'Wait up, Henry!' Peter called. 'Here I come.'

'Please don't wait, Henry,' I said. 'The elevator's too small for that dog.'

But Henry opened the gate and waited. 'This elevator can hold ten people or the equivalent,' Henry said. 'And I figure that dog is the equivalent of a person and a half. So with me and you and Peter and that dog we've still only got four and a half people.'