Watching her classmates Mallory and Anna show off their headbands with cat ears, Elizabeth longs for one of her own. She had one two weeks ago, but she kept taking it off ("Headbands squish my brains out") and lost it. When her mother declines to buy another, Elizabeth sulks, but not for long. An appeal to her grandparents brings the desired result: a present. A headband! With two ears and . . . two horns? Walking to the bus stop, she asks her older brother, "This is cat ears, right?" He shakes his head, "Cow ears." It's another miserable day for Elizabeth, until recess, when a conversation with Mallory makes them both happier. The perceptive writing captures some of the intricacies of family relationships as well as the powerful emotions of a lively second-grader. With an enjoyable story told in very short chapters and illustrated with one or more pictures on each double-page spread, this title from the A Is for Elizabeth series will appeal to a good many primary-grade kids who are beginning to read chapter books.

Gr 1--3--When her group of friends all come to school sporting cool cat-ears headbands, Elizabeth knows she must have one too. It's a cat-ears headband emergency! Unfortunately, no one else seems to think so, especially her parents and her brother Justin. Elizabeth tries crafting her own pair from a headband she already has, but it just ends up a disaster of glue and glitter. Then, her grandparents come over with a "just because" gift…a cat-ears headband! Or is it? It looks more like cow ears, but Elizabeth doesn't mind. She looks just great! VERDICT This simple chapter book will help bridge burgeoning readers to more advanced sentences while also instilling concepts of individuality and embracing one's differences.--Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston