Claire Alexander

"Meredith Maggs hasn't left her house in 1,214 days. But she insists she isn't alone... She has her cat Fred. Her friend Sadie visits when she can. There's her online support group, StrengthInNumbers. She has her jigsaws, favorite recipes, her beloved Emily Dickinson, the internet, the Tesco delivery man and her treacherous memories for company. But something's about to change. Whether Meredith likes it or not, the world is coming to her door... Does...

When a mean classmate in preschool wrecks Lucy's artwork, she discovers that they can be friends once he stops being jealous of her

"Three families meet up in front of their high-rise apartment building, all with the same idea. The children can't wait to stimp-stamp-stomp through the muddy puddles until their boots overflow -- then snuggle with the grown-ups on the couch as their soggy socks dry"--