Tom and the Tree House is Joan Lingard's second title in the Hodder Children's Story Books series. Lingard has had a long and varied career in children's books, and was awarded the M.B.E. in 1998 for services to children's literature. This series of short novels by fine writers for newly confident readers between 7 and 9 years offers slightly more demanding stories with chapters and stunning illustrations. In this book, nearly eight- year-old Tom, who has always known he's adopted, starts worrying about being loved. Things get a lot tougher with the arrival of a new "real" baby. Tom decides to move out and with the help of his Dad builds himself a new home in a tree. Things only start getting better when Tom, much to his own surprise, is the one to save the new baby's life. This simply told, moving story deals with a common problem in a sensitive, straightforward way. A long-lasting hardcover book with beautiful illustrations by Paul Howard. --Tamsin Palmer