Armful of Memories

Newberry Mole wants to get rich, so he sells his grandparent's heirlooms in a yard sale, but he quickly regrets his decision and tries to buy back these family treasures.

Ages 5-7. Newbery Mole wants to get rich, and his dream comes true when he fortuitously falls down a mole tunnel into his deceased grandparents' apartment, which is chock full of things he can sell. Tools, cooking utensils, even family photographs --Newbery sells them all and revels in his newfound wealth. One night he dreams about his grandparents, but he can't see their faces. Heartbroken, he hunts for the photos, finding them in the possession of a relative who has purchased them from a second-hand store. The relative makes Newbery pay for them, charging him more than he earned at his sale. It doesn't matter, though, because, "I may have no money but . . . my memories are my real treasures." Despite the heavy-handedness, the message is a good one, enlivened by Morse's bright, funny, winning artwork with accent on the well-drawn animals. For larger collections. Ilene Cooper
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