Gilbert, a hedgehog, is excited but fearful about starting first grade. He walks to school with his friend, Patti, who is quickly drawn to another female student. As the teacher passes out the spelling and reading books, Gilbert decides that, …first grade was going to be hard! Besides, there are so many rules to remember. At lunchtime, he sits alone, but Mrs. Byrd puts Frank, a raccoon, next to him, and the two boys find that they have a lot in common. As the students pursue various activities, Gilbert discovers that they all have their own talents, and that no one is good at everything. On the way home, Gilbert and Patti agree that Mrs. Byrd is nice and that they have both made new friends, although Patti reassures Gilbert that he is still her friend. With its charming, detailed watercolor illustrations, this story has significant child appeal. Youngsters entering kindergarten or first grade would enjoy listening to it and perusing the realistically styled pictures either one-on-one or in a group. A useful addition, but not a first purchase.–Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.