PRAIRIE PICTURES Shirlee Smith Matheson Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1989. 111pp, paper, $9.95 ISBN 0-7710-5857-8. CIP Grades 4 to 6/Ages 9 to 11 Reviewed by Alma Webster. Volume 17 Number 4 1989 July How families cope with frequent moves to live in rapidly expanding communities where housing conditions are far from ideal is the theme of this book. The author was born and raised on the prairies and has lived in twenty different places. She has an earlier published book, Youngblood of the Peace (Lone Pine Publications, 1986), and another entitled This Was Our Valley (Detselig Enterprises, 1989). In addition, she has written for anthologies, magazines and short story competitions. Each chapter deals with an episode in a year in the life of Sherri and her family in a booming village in southern Alberta. The problems of adjustment to the new school and making friends will be shared by many readers and appreciated by others. The unfriendly environment and community resentment of a rapidly changing rural location is realistically shown. The story is interesting, and the division into episodes along with the good print makes it easy to read. Girls in upper elementary school should find this book satisfying. Alma Webster, Edmonton, Alta.