Stoop Sale Treasure (Hand-Me-Down Magic #1)

Gr 2-5--Best friends and cousins Alma and Del are excited that Alma's family has moved to be closer. Living together with their abuelita and extended family is going to be so much better than just visiting. The more Del tries to catch Alma up on all the things she needs to know about their neighborhood, the more Alma feels out of place and begins to miss her old lakeside house. When the girls find a pair of "magic" earrings at a stoop sale, the discovery tests their friendship for the first time. This series debut is a sweet tale about friendship, family, and being the new kid on the block. The chapters alternate between Alma's and Del's perspectives. The line-drawing illustrations throughout give a glimpse of the street where the girls live, the magic earrings, and some of the foods, like empanadas and gofio. VERDICT A good fit for larger collections. Put this book in the hands of kids who enjoy series like Annie Barrows's "Ivy and Bean" or Megan McDonald's "Judy Moody."--Kristin Williamson, Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma