Gr 3-5-Lowry has justifiably won Newbery Medals for two of her more serious works, but I say that the creation of Sam Krupnik is one of her highest achievements. In this second book in the series, the precocious preschooler creates homemade perfume for his mother's birthday. When his research reveals that she loves the smells of pipe tobacco, clean hair, and babies, he logically adds tobacco leaves, his own hair, and baby diaper droppings to his creation. Lowry perfectly captures the inside of a four-year-old's mind in a way that adds depth and insight. Logic As Humor Award: Sam does nothing without a good reason. He's a thinker and follows through on his plans. The fact that his logical thought process results in such outrageous outcomes is the genius of the book. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc