Judy Moody enters third grade with a dark cloud over her head. Her T-shirt is all wrong, and she has to sit next to Frank Pearl. Never mind that she has a terrific male teacher, and that her mom and dad are loving parents to her and to her (pesky) little brother. This year seems to be off to a poor start. Judy’s mood improves only slightly as she works on the long-term assignment of a collage about herself and bumps her way through several mishaps--minor to others, but major in her estimation. Move over Ramona Quimby! Here comes another independent spirit whose chapter-book story is written at just about the easy reading level, with words set in a large typeface relieved by pen-and-ink drawings on most pages. Will Judy Moody become a favorite to generations of newly independent readers? (Ages 6-8)