Samantha is eager to try her new roller skates, but her mother is too busy to help. “But Samantha cannot wait. Straps herself into a skate. Straps herself into the other. Tries them on despite her mother.” She starts out simply rolling down the hall, which leads to the door, then the sidewalk, and then the street. Soon Sammy is at the top of Hawthorn Hill, where the amazing view distracts her from what’s ahead—a very steep, very long, downhill slope. Sammy picks up speed as she descends, careening out of control and inadvertently picking up accessories from those she encounters on her way: a butterfly net, a baseball bat, a kite, and a bridal veil from a wedding in progress. After launching from a skateboard ramp, Sammy fortuitously sails through the air back toward home, arriving just in time to greet her mom, who’s now available to help her out with those new skates. “Sammy sighs. 'Oh, that’s okay. I’ll try them on another day.’” The roller-skating rhythm of the text is complemented by watercolor illustrations humorously capturing the erosion of Sammy’s confidence as her skating debut rockets out of control. Highly Commended, 2012 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 4–8)

A New York Times Notable Children's Book for 2011

Samantha can't wait to try out her new roller skates, but Mama's too busy too help her. What's a girl to do? Well, this girl isn't waiting. While Mama tends to other things, Sammy straps on the skates. First she glides down the hallway. Then she tries the sidewalk. Next, she ventures a bit farther down the street. She's doing great! But when she finds herself cresting Hawthorn Hill, it's too late to stop-- Samantha is on a roll!