An artistic family

Are you interested in how kids in other countries live? Would you like to live in a family of artists where it's perfectly alright to spend a few months making a mural on the kitchen wall? Then you might like "Saffy's Angel," "Caddy Ever After," "Indigo's Star," and "Permanent Rose." Each book is written about the child in the title, although of course the whole family gets into the books, too. In "Indigo's Star," the Casson family has a few challenges: Indigo is being bullied by some of the other boys in his class and is afraid of heights (that's "acrophobia"); and Rose, who is painting the kitchen mural, is trying to find her place in her family -- and trying to understand why their father lives in London, not with them. Although the book is cheerful and the characters work out solutions to their very complicated challenges, everything is not wrapped up neatly at the end. Nevertheless, the Casson family is delightful, loving and funny. This would make a lovely read-aloud for a family with older children (3rd grade and above).