One of a kind

Now a seasoned first grader, Ava Lin returns to deliver new laughs and misadventures. Six-and-a-half-year-old Ava is good at many things: making lists, coming up with new games, and treating her classmates respectfully. She has a new opportunity to show off this last skill; her teacher has found a way to reward kindness in the classroom. Each time someone is nice to a peer, they receive a ticket in their bucket. At week's end, the student with the most tickets gets to select a prize. Ava is determined to win, especially once she spots a narwhal-shaped eraser in the bin; narwhals are her very favorite! At first, being extra kind is easy. Ava is polite on the playground, compliments her friends, and shares her treasures. Soon, however, her fixation on victory makes her irritable, and her ticket-collecting efforts stall. When her best friend, Kushi, offers to help with her plan to win over their classmates, Ava is relieved. The tickets come pouring in for Ava, but Kushi's hurt that Ava takes full credit. Will Kushi forgive her? Ava's world is full of silly humor and big feelings that will land with young readers navigating complex priorities of their own. Though occasionally exasperated with her antics, the adults in Ava's life are supportive of her imaginative, unconventional problem-solving skills. Ava and her family are of Chinese descent, while Kushi is brown-skinned; their class is diverse. This series continues to charm.(Chapter book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.