It’s one project after the other for young and talented Abigail Breslin, who stars in the sweet family movie “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.”

The film has nothing in common with the commercial and shallow “Bratz: The Movie,” even though it probably targets quite the same audience. And it’s no wonder, as long as the action in “Kit Kittredge” happens in the early years of the Great Depression in Cincinnati, Ohio, dealing with subjects such as poverty or prejudice.

However heavy viewers might expect the atmosphere in the movie to be, the film actually manages to appear charming and delightful, rather than tragic or sad.

Set in Cincinnati, in 1934, the film tells the story of 9 year-old Kit who witnesses the ruin of the community she lives in, due to foreclosures and unemployment. The story then focuses on the mother-daughter relationship, after Kit’s father (Chris O’Donnell) leaves for Chicago in search of a job, while Kit’s mother (Julia Ormond) has to open the family’s home to boarders and sell eggs so that she can pay the bills.

An observant spirit, little Kit analyses the world around her, taking notes and writing articles such as "Portrait of a Boarding House," and aspiring to become a journalist. With this aim in mind, she submits her stories to the editor of Cincinnati Register and then she also starts investigating, together with her best friends, a series of hobo crimes that took place in the community. Her acute sense of justice and compassion drive her to prove that a hobo teen (Max Theriot) who was accused of the crimes, is actually not guilty.

Even though the story is pleasant and can be viewed as educational, the main delight of the film is the cast, who beautifully shape several interesting characters.

Besides Kit’s warm and endearing mother, played by Ormond, we enjoy the presence of an eccentric librarian, played by Joan Cusack, a traveling magician played by Stanley Tucci and a dance instructor very willing to find a husband, played by Jane Krakowski.

All these are boarders at Kittredge family’s home, and they all become friends with Kit.

A good feature of the movie is that it manages to transmit a message and tell an old-fashioned story without being corny, although one must admit it is quite predictable and sentimental.

Also, there’s no better child-actress to play Kit than Abigail Breslin. Why? Because Kit is a special character, which we do not encounter so much these days: a very observant, compassionate and smart girl, who is not passionate about clothes but about the world she lives in. And that’s the case with Breslin. Although she has been nominated for an Oscar at the age of 12 and played in 14 movies since 2002, the “Little Miss Sunshine” star has remained an adorable and intelligent kid, who is enjoying a normal childhood.

The 12-year old was named “Female Star of Tomorrow,” but, unlike other very young actresses, she did not allow herself manipulated by fame and success.

Produced by Goldsmith-Thomas Productions and Julia Roberts’ Red Om Films, “Kit Kittredge” was released by Picturehouse and written by Ann Peacock. It will be officially released on July 2.