Clean House

From School Library Journal Grade 1-3?When Tess and her mother find out that Aunt Alice and Cousin Kate are coming to visit, Mom decides that their messy home is just not acceptable. The cat is on the table, and books, shoes, and toys are everywhere. Busy with work and school, it's hard for Tess and her mother to remedy the situation in just a few days, especially with the cat and dog constantly undoing their hard work. Finally, their guests arrive to a lovely house and a special lunch, but somehow things are not really comfortable. It's not until Tess overhears a conversation between Alice and Kate about how frantically they had to clean the last time they had company that she realizes that a perfectly neat house is not necessarily a friendly one. Everything works out in the end as Tess lets the animals back in and she and Kate drag out her box of toys. Clever pencil sketches complement the story. An easy, funny, enjoyable chapter book.?Jan Shepherd Ross, Dixie Elementary Magnet School, Lexington, KYCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From