When Annabel, who wants to be a famous actress someday, has a part in a real play, she finds she must cope with a big dog and an unruly audience member. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

In Annabel the Actress Starring in: Hound of the Barkervilles by Ellen Conford, illus. by Renee W. Andriani, the third title in the series, Annabel joins the cast of her first professional production. But the role presents real challenges, including the fact that her co-star is a dog "almost as big as a Jeep" and the bunny pajamas her character is supposed to wear creates a "costume emergency!" Ages 7-10. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 2-4. Annabel, who appeared in Annabel the Actress, Starring in Gorilla of My Dreams (1999) and Annabel the Actress, Starring in Just a Little Extra (2000), enjoys her role as the butler's daughter in a local production of "The Hound of the Barkervilles." She's less enthusiastic about her role as caretaker for The Hound himself, an over-affectionate Newfoundland with a penchant for drenching her with drool. In dealing with a heckler during the play, though, Annabel learns to handle an audience and to appreciate her canine partner. With a light tone, a quick pace, and more than a touch of humor, this short chapter book will please young readers, whether or not they share Annabel's aspiration for a career on the stage. Andriani's amusing drawings enhance the book's appeal. Carolyn Phelan. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.