Big News!

Gr 2–4—This series opener introduces eight-year-old Emma, resident of Washington Heights, NY. Her most memorable trait, besides her Hispanic heritage, which comes up often in the book—especially when she speaks in short Spanish phrases—is her great desire to be famous. She mentions it often, sings it, and chants it. It is the driving force behind the plot of the book, in which Emma learns how to be a TV reporter and starts an investigation of how a worm gets into a burger in the school cafeteria. The adults, including her father and her teachers, seem irritated by her need to be famous, and it has a similar effect on readers. Emma is an intelligent girl who learns real skills and takes initiative toward a goal, but it is all overshadowed by her annoying personality and relentless quest for fame. The writing, also, contains too much exposition and not enough description. There are too many exclamations, too many explanations, and not nearly enough character development. The design and illustrations will appeal to children, especially the large eyes and the bright cover, and the book is formatted and designed well.