Kessy loves laundry day, when he gets to splash in the washing pool and listen to Mama’s stories. So when Mama sends him to the store for soap, he worries about what he’ll miss. He hurries to the market and begins his journey back with the biggest piece of soap they had. But his return trip is marked by one interruption after another as he meets a succession of friends and relatives, each with a problem that soap can resolve. By the time he gets back to Mama and proudly hands her the soap, his big piece has been reduced to a scrap. While Kessy’s soap may be small, he has a big tale to tell in Carole Lexa Schaefer’s delightful story set in the Truk Islands of Micronesia. Stacey Dessen-McQueen’s illustrations, in oil, pastel and acrylic, are bright and lively, with a vibrant tropical palette. Highly Commended, 2005 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 4–7)