Three Cheers for Catherine the Great! (by Cari Best)

Grandma, clad in scarf and housedress, is a model of generosity not just for her family but for the whole neighborhood. This warm story provides a glimpse into the lives of a Russian immigrant, her descendants, and her fellow apartment tenants. The writing is clear with a childlike tone. Russian words are included in the text.

Whimsical, folk art-style watercolors provide clues to the characters' personalities, customs, and everyday life: Russian nesting dolls sit on Grandma's dresser, and pictures of fur-hatted relatives and a dancing bear hang on the wall. The visual details create a sense of intimacy and invite readers to pause often and pore over them. A brief author's note and a recipe for borscht provide interesting touches to this well thought-out book.