Lulu and the Hamster in the Night - Hilary McKay, Priscilla Lamont

Always fresh and with a soupçon of adventure, Hilary McKay’s series about Lulu and her menagerie of rescued animals is a bright star among early chapter books. In the latest installment, Lulu brings home a neglected hamster just before a planned visit to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday. An escapade awaits Lulu and the Hamster in the Night (Albert Whitman, $13.99) in this comedy of secrets gone awry. Early readers will relate to the warm, winsome characters and believable antics that are hallmarks of the series. Ages 6-9. Mary Alice Garber