small motors (good for saving lost fish and stray boaters) -- to mention a few. The salesman knows just the right shoe. But there's a small problem.... Miles ends up with perfect footwear in this toe-tapping tale, but it's not what he expected. Written in jaunty verse, and illustrated with gleefully exaggerated artwork.  (less)

Prissy Toes herself, also known as Noreen Catherwood. It was bad enough that Calliope had to sit next to her in class. But to have to listen to her be umpire was too much.brbrCalliope sat cross-legged in the thinning grass alongside the kickball diamond. Twisting the untied lace of one of her red Keds, she eyed Noreen while awaiting her turn up at the plate.brbrNoreen stood behind the pitcher's mound in her shiny black shoes and lacy white socks. You didn't see that every day. Most kids wore sneakers to recess. And most kids didn't stand erect, nose raised ever so slightly. But that was how Noreen stood as she peered down over the pitcher's shoulder. You'd have thought she was a queen inspecting her troops.brbrCalliope smirked. Noreen, the teacher's pet who raised her hand to answer any question, who never lost her homework and finished every assignment on time--that was the girl Calliope knew from school. Such a girl was a stickler about the rules but she had to be a wimp on the playground. Calliope watched closely as Thomas swaggered to home plate.brbrTall and broad, Thomas was built like the rear wall of the school. He could kick the ball out of the playground. If he connected, that is. Thomas had a hard time raising his giant foot in time to kick the ball.brbrHunched forward, eyes focused on the big red ball in the pitcher's hands, Thomas looked determined today. And no wonder. It was the bottom of the ninth inning, one out gone and the game tied 3 to 3. If he kicked the ball out of the playground now, their team would win and he'd be a hero.brbrSwoosh! went Thomas's foot as he missed the first pitch. He missed the second pitch as well. The third pitch skitt?Р (less)

have Eric and Cam out of their skates and back in their sneakers in no time. With short sentences, plenty of repetition, and lots of clues, beginning readers will solve this easy-to-read mystery right along with young Cam. David A. Adler, the author of more than 100 books for children, lives in Woodmere, New York. Susanna Natti lives in Bedford, Massachusetts.  (less)