MacLachlan, in her Newbery Medal acceptance speech, tells of her parents' influence on her and of their "belief that it is the daily grace and dignity with which we survive that children most need and wish to know about in books."

Perhaps the most outstanding quality of Sarah, Plain and Tall is its ability to speak movingly and honestly about what it means to belong to a family and to survive from day to day as a family.

Anna, Caleb, Papa, and Sarah all must work to make their lives together successful and meaningful. They make up their own games, tell their own stories, sing songs, and share in the work of the farm. The theme of sharing makes the book a positive reading experience. Its emphasis on ordinary people finding strength in ordinary relationships can only be encouraging to young readers, especially when the everyday...