Say 'Cheese' ¦ Sunny-side Up ¦ Pickle Puss

These books form part of 'The kids of Polk Street School' series. Though initially striking me as just 'skinny' (like the books Emma Arrow, one of the poorer readers of Ms Rooney's class, might have chosen) they were voraciously devoured by the first-year juniors assessing them.

This author reaches out to children and describes their lives entertainingly but in a way that never belittles the very real anxieties that beset this age group. Its difficult friendship, fears of rejection and failure and its struggles to come to terms with conscience and feelings of guilt are all sensitively drawn. They are quick to read, and tremendously 'collectable' - which only confirmed the seal of approval awarded by boys and girls alike.