Much of the charm of Waber's earlier book, Ira Sleeps Over, remains. Ira is a memorable character--funny, reflective, and smart in some ways and clueless in others. The illustrations reinforce the down-to-earth quality of the story and the everyday lives of the characters.

There's still plenty of humor, too. Even the picture of Reggie clutching the turtle tank and sobbing will raise a little smile, as the trio of adults behind him, with mouths in big O's, show concern.

The more serious subject, of course, makes IRA SAYS GOODBYE a less fun read than Ira Sleeps Over. This is a welcome book for adults wanting to ease children through a separation from friends, an increasingly common scenario in our mobile society. However, the treatment of the situation seems formulaic, and the plot, which has Reggie moving only about an hour away, seems to raise some unrealistic expectations.

There are a number of books for kids about moving--both fiction, as in Judith Viorst's Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move, and nonfiction, as in The Moving Book: A Kids Survival Guide, by Gabriel Davis. For a slightly different take on the effect of having a friend move away try Carolyn Crimi's Don't Need Friends.