In the summer of 1938, Stanley "Binky" Braverman is sent to his aunt and uncle's home until his new sister is born. At first he's miserable. He's force-fed at meals and made to wear itchy new clothes, learn math from Uncle Julius, and play cards with dishonest neighbor Leo. Binky yearns for home until a crowd of magical playmates leaps from the household's items: yellow bears from the syrup bottle, a banjo player from the match box, and so on. For the rest of the summer, Binky's tiny pals help him clean his plate, finish his homework, and catch Leo at cheating. The story uses the framing device of an older Stanley looking back, which feels unnecessarily contrived, and the vague message about imagination's power to transport is also weak. But mixed into the nostalgia are plenty of universal experiences from a child's viewpoint-- especially the ache to be powerful and determine one's own rules. Egielski's comic illustrations keep the focus on what will interest children most--the tiny, dancing, miraculous friends. Gillian Engberg Copyright c American Library Association. All rights reserved