Reviews: Preschool to Grade 4

K-Gr 3—The dynamics of sibling relationships are played for laughs with enormous success in this picture book about three sisters. Henrietta is usually the brunt of her older sisters' teasing. When they trick her into believing that she is a chicken by planting an egg and two feathers in her bedroom, she runs away to a nearby farm to find her real family. Accepted by the farmer and the fowl as one of their own, Henrietta makes her sisters squirm when they are sent by their parents to bring her home. The wacky plot is made all the more comical by the straightforward, almost deadpan, delivery. Durand's colorful cartoon illustrations add to the silliness with the antics of the farmyard residents and the girls' expressions (the egglike appearance of their wide eyes continues the chicken theme). When using this book as a read-aloud, be sure to share Amato's dedication, which notes her inspiration for the story.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

PreS-K—A simple rhyming tale of latent musical talent let loose. Each barnyard animal—except a green cat—finds its instrument and joins the hoedown. A large red hound strums a guitar as a small white Terrier blows on a harmonica. A duck pecks on a washboard, and a donkey taps on a bucket. Drawn in bright crayon, the characters are complemented by the green grass, a blue acrylic sky, and the outline of the yellow farmhouse. One page reads, "Tuck plays the guitar—/strum, strum,/strum! Nip plays harmonica—hum,/hum, hum!" To the right of the spread a spotted cow and pink pig seem to be repressing a jig ("The big cow Lou and the/little sow Sue wanted to/make some/music, too"). Emerging readers will find the large print accessible as well as the mirroring relationship between text and illustration. Preschoolers will delight in this read-aloud that has much potential for participation—spoons, knee slapping, and clapping. One caution: the foot-stompin' rhythm may leave some adults with a fiddle sound reeling through their heads.—Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA

K-Gr 2—Ollie, a small child with oversize hair and big glasses, plays the tuba. The only song he knows is an old sea chantey called "Asleep in the Deep." His mother is driven to distraction by his constant practicing. When he takes his horn outside, everyone in the entire community is annoyed, so Ollie retreats to the country, into the middle of an open field. Soon cows gather around him. The farmer claims the playing will sour their milk so Ollie must move on. He walks to the shore where he and his horn get into a boat and row far out to sea. When he gets out among the rocks, he discovers that the bell buoy is not where it should be, and the fog is rolling in. So once again Ollie begins bellowing out his tune and saves a cruise ship from hitting the rocks. The young hero is given a medal and a scholarship to a music school "that is so far from our town that nobody will be disturbed anymore." This title was originally published in 1950, and Yaccarino's new illustrations retain the look of that era. The colors are uniform and flat throughout, and Ollie wears a navy suit with short pants and a bow tie. The illustrator plays with size and perspective; the boy's horn is sometimes larger than buildings. The book is mildly amusing but not an essential purchase.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

PreS—Isobel refuses to go to bed. Instead, she wants to join her mother as she exercises, picks up toys, and reads. After each activity, the little panda is put back into bed, but she gets up again and insists on doing what her parent does. Finally, her mother is so tired that she lays down on Isobel's bed, leaving no room for her child. After Isobel wakes her, she is tucked into bed again and this time she goes to sleep. The pandas are expressive animals who live in a colorful, comfortable home. Cozy details abound in the soft textures and patterns, in furry slippers and fuzzy rugs. The repetitive actions of putting Isobel to sleep may reflect real life but make for a tedious story. With the great number of fine bedtime books available for young children, this book is an unnecessary purchase.—Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

Gr 3–5—Little Catfish was not yet born when his neighborhood thrived: cultural and political African-American icons once frequented the local theater, the Regal. Now the neighborhood is run-down and depressed. But his friend Mr. Odell, who operates the Regal, remembers when, as a boy, he had his picture taken under a tree with athlete, actor, and civil-rights leader Paul Robeson. Now the trees in the neighborhood are gone, and it is up to Mr. Odell to be "the tallest tree," a symbol of hope. Unfortunately, the local gang, headed by Lamar, resents the changes Mr. Odell brings to the neighborhood. This is a story of respecting the past and what it has to teach us. It is also a story of hope-determination and inspiration can overcome adversity. Many kids, particularly those who live in blighted urban neighborhoods, will be able to relate to Little Catfish (or Lamar) and may perhaps be inspired to investigate their own town's history. The ending is too pat—Lamar and his gang change heart much too quickly. Likewise, some readers may wish for more character development: one finishes the story wanting more information about the lives of Lamar, Little Catfish, and Mr. Odell. The good news is that there is a wealth of information in the back matter to encourage readers to explore the heroes of the past on their own.—Laura Lutz, Queens Borough Public Library, NY

PreS—Simple sentences in English and Spanish describe the experiences of being part of an extended Latino family. There are definitely some drawbacks, such as having to share hand-me-down clothes. Grandpa's lap also has to be shared, but Grandma's hugs are big enough for everyone. Toys aren't always shared and others are blamed when something goes wrong. But regardless, these cousins have a strong bond. Rodriguez's illustrations attempt to re-create the chaos that ensues when a large family gets together, but the figures often appear stiff and lifeless. The Spanish translation has some missteps, especially the sentence, "We sing and dance in make-believe parades." The Spanish translation renders this as "…desfiles de mentira," literally "parades of lies." Surely there is a gentler way to translate this idea. This book is ultimately too simple, and the illustration and design too pedestrian, to be successful. It just doesn't capture the message of solidarity or reflect a joyful celebration of family.—Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ

PreS-Gr 1—When a shocked Sophie finds that Charlie, her guinea pig, has escaped from his cage, she's unaware that the errant rodent has decided to make his fame and fortune in Hollywood. He flies cross-country first class, gets a part in a movie, and begins to lead the glamorous life of a star. Before long, though, he realizes that the glitz isn't for him and, homesick, he returns to his family. In this classic tale of the allure of bright lights, the sassy little rodent has chutzpah to spare. The candy-colored illustrations are lighthearted and have a sure, "stop action" frenzy; funny bits are woven into each spread, featuring the diminutive guinea pig amid the over-the-top splendor of a star's world. Adults may appreciate the situation and corny climax far more than children. Still, Charlie's insouciance may draw youngsters to this slight tale.—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

Gr 2–4—Over the course of 10 years, an enslaved girl works hard for two different masters. Priscilla, not even six when her mother was sold, shares a bond with Old Sylvia, who helps her remember her mother by making dolls from the hollyhocks that Priscilla's mother planted. The child's dreams of freedom unfold through descriptive language, and their intensity is strengthened by the freedom suggested by these delicate flower ladies gliding on water. While serving her first temperamental master, Priscilla meets a cheerful visitor named Massa Basil Silkwood, who takes an interest in her and does not "hold with slavery." When the first master dies, Priscilla stands on the auction block with hollyhock seeds in her apron pocket and is purchased by a Cherokee master. When the Indians are rounded up and marched along the "Trail of Tears," she again meets Silkwood, who buys her and sets her free. Raised among 15 adopted Silkwood siblings, Priscilla feels the safety of a true home where she and the hollyhocks are free to grow and bloom. Told in descriptive language accompanied by engaging acrylic paintings, this fictionalized story about a real child who found freedom in an unlikely way offers a unique perspective on slavery. No source notes are given, but an author's note adds details about Priscilla's life and the variety of hollyhocks that bear her name.—Julie R. Ranelli, Queen Anne's County Free Library, Stevensville, MD

PreS-K—This cheerful book about making one's own music is full of color and sound. When a little mouse escapes a cold winter's day by seeking shelter in a nearby house, he sets a "jazzmatazz story" in motion. He plinks on the piano, which inspires the dog to drum with his bowl and bones, the cat to play fiddle, the bird to "Tweetily-tweet," and so forth until the entire household and neighborhood have joined the jam session. Degen fills the white space on the pages with colorful zigzags, curlicues, stars, and other patterns to show how the music is connecting and joining all of the characters together. By the end of the book they have become part of a stained-glass window of merriment, united beneath the words "Doo-dat, diddy-dat,/Diddy-dat, Doo!" which is the refrain that bridges each new musician to the next. This is a spirited book that readers could have a lot of fun with. Combine it with Elizabeth Nygaard's Snake Alley Band (Doubleday, 1988) and Jonathan London's Froggy Plays in the Band (Viking, 2002) for a foot-tapping storytime.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA

K-Gr 3—Duck is a carved carousel animal whose wooden wings are not meant for flying. After the park closes for the night, she steps down from her post and roams around. One spring day, a lost duckling finds her, and they begin to spend all their time together. As Duckling grows, Duck teaches him what he needs to know, but she cannot teach him to fly—though she tries. She uses her scarf to secure him on her back and sets out to find real ducks. Duckling's small wings carry them both into the sky, but Duck's weight is too much for him. She lets go of the scarf, hitting the ground with a thud, and he flies away. The winter is long and lonely for her, but in the spring Duckling returns, still wearing the scarf. Before he rejoins his flock, he helps Duck climb onto his back and shows her how it feels to fly. Cecil's illustrations, as in the companion book, Gator (Candlewick, 2007), are done in oils. Duck, with her bright, striped scarf, stands out against soft green and gold hues. Many of the paintings are in circles of various sizes on a white background with a gold frame. What could have been a sentimental tale becomes instead a beautifully realized friendship story with a happy ending. Like Opus in Berkeley Breathed's A Wish for Wings That Work (Little, Brown, 1995), Duck at last flies because of her good heart and a friend who makes her dream come true.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Gr 1–3—In this fourth installment in the series, Cork (a muskrat) and Fuzz (a possum) are looking for shiny stones to add to their collections. Fuzz wraps a feather (from his feather collection) on his tail and begins sweeping away dirt, hoping to uncover some treasures. As they work their way down to the pond, Cork finds some pretty green stones. While they study them, the "stones" begin to hatch. They are soon surrounded by ducklings, and Mother Duck is not far behind. With the feather in his tail, Fuzz is mistaken for one of her babies and she pushes him into her nest and sits on him. It is up to Cork to find a way to free his friend and, accidentally, he does just that. As the story ends, readers watch the "two best friends, collecting laughs all the way home." These buddies are at their silly, illogical best, charming readers with their friendly competitiveness. This book is targeted at newly independent readers and has appropriately challenging words like "feather" and "whispered." The text flows smoothly and remains entertaining throughout. Delightful pen-and-watercolor illustrations offer plenty of context clues. Teachers will find this title a perfect choice for reading groups.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME

Gr 3–5—Sabuda works his pop-up magic once again, designing for each of the seven Narnia books a multilayered scene that unfolds and rears up dramatically as the spread is opened. Four spreads also contain a smaller pop-up behind a corner flap. The painted art is equal to the complex articulations, depicting Aslan and the rest of the cast as colorful, boldly drawn figures. Except for a few quoted lines, the text consists entirely of terse plot summaries, but more would have just been a distraction. Don't expect this title to last very long, but do expect plenty of "Wow!" reactions from viewers.—John Peters, New York Public Library

PreS-Gr 1—A boy describes what his father does all day as he drives a large red rig. The stark graphic-style art features glossy, candy-apple red for the truck and bold black and gray shades for the road and tires. Even though the minimal text expresses the warm, loving sentiment of a father and child playing at the end of the day, the strong angular lines in the illustrations leave viewers with a cold, detached feel. The text is printed in a large, clear font, with simple declarative sentences that will encourage youngsters to read for themselves. Supplemental fare where additional vehicle picture books are needed.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

PreS-Gr 2—The engaging protagonist introduced in Clean Your Room, Harvey Moon! (S & S, 1991) returns for a highly adventurous field trip. When his class visits the museum, Harvey decides to take his pet lizard along. Zippy escapes and leads the boy on a mad dash around the building and finally to an unexpected nap. When Harvey awakens in the dark, in scenes reminiscent of the movie Night at the Museum, he is chased by mummies, dinosaurs, and statuary until he finally finds a night guard to let him out. The media descend, Harvey tells his story to Hollywood screenwriters, and the resulting movie briefly alluded to in the conclusion features a few surprise twists. Cummings's bright, bold cartoon illustrations feature plenty of detail for kids to pore over and deftly convey a marvelous range of facial expressions. Preschoolers will enjoy the romp, while early elementary age children will read the short text on their own.—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 2—Gilbert and his family are back in this sweet Mother's Day offering. The young possum creates a card for his mother and makes her breakfast in bed, but when he delivers the tray, he sees that his little sister is already there, giving their mom a handmade card. Gilbert's not satisfied that he's done enough to let her know he cares, and later, when he sees Lola sitting on Mother's lap, he decides to take her to the store with him to buy Mother a present. Lola drips ice cream on her clothing, so when they get home Gilbert gives her a bath. And when she climbs onto the hammock to be with their mother, he coaxes her to nap in her own bed. Inadvertently, he has given Mother the perfect gift: time to herself, and she is grateful. And Gilbert gets what he needs—time alone with her. Father is often seen in the background patiently cleaning up after his son in the kitchen, straightening the bathroom strewn with his daughter's clothing, and, in general, quietly supporting his family. DeGroat's watercolor illustrations fill the spreads with cozy, homey details of a comfortable school, neighborhood, and house. Fans of Gilbert, as well as readers just meeting this family, will be pleased.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 1—With a week until Valentine's Day, Lily tries to cut out a perfect heart shape for her mother. It doesn't turn out quite right, so she hides it under her bed. Each day she tries again, and the pile of rejected valentines grows: they are too pointy or too round, square, curvy, skinny, fat, or lopsided. Finally, Lily gets an idea and links her creations together (they appear on a foldout) to present to Mommy for Valentine's Day. "'But none of the hearts is perfect,' said Lily. 'The heart inside you is,'" replies her mother. The language is simple enough for beginning readers, and the story will also work well for group sharing. The typeface changes to reflect the adjective relating to each valentine. Cartoon illustrations in pencil, watercolor, and gouache show Lily in a frenzy of activity. Her face is expressive enough for readers to follow her progress without the text. The experience of having an art project not turn out as planned is universal, and readers will relate to the protagonist's plight. A good addition to holiday collections.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

K-Gr 2—What little boy doesn't want a pet? Jack is no exception, and he begins to come up with some rather impractical choices to run by his mother. She never rises to the bait but instead tells him logically why each one might not be right for them. Mom explains how an elephant might be hard to take on vacation, how a lion might frighten the mail carrier, and how T. Rex has been extinct for some time now. As the long list dwindles, Jack has a brainstorm. "Let's get a dog!" Mom agrees and they head off to pick out a "lovely little puppy." Jack is winking at readers as they open the gatefold to see a huge, unkempt, somewhat wild-looking dog named Fang riding in the car. Everything about this book works. Its large trim size fits Jack's oversize imagination perfectly. The animals spill over the spreads, convincing readers that perhaps Mom was right after all. And who can say whether Fang is a puppy or not? Pair this story with Lynne Jonell's I Need A Snake (Putnam, 1998) to explore the idea of convincing someone of your idea.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Gr 3–5—The Facttracker, who "finds, collects, and keeps track of the world's facts," lives in a hilltop Factory in Traäkerfaxx. The town's residents make their living by selling these facts to people who want them. A "just small enough boy," an orphan, lives nearby in a doghouse donated by the mayor. He has no name because the bundle of facts about him that his parents had purchased when he was born rolled away, taking his parents with it. Immediately after the Facttracker and the boy befriend one another, the Factory explodes. The Facttracker's nefarious twin brother, Ersatz, arrives on the scene, convinces the townspeople to start a new economy based on selling lies, and builds a "Liebrary" to churn them out. With the Facttracker imprisoned by his brother, it's up to the boy to set things right. The author's tone and theme are reminiscent of Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth (Knopf, 1961), but without that novel's sparkle and wit. The chapters have amusing titles, and the narrator often addresses readers directly, but these devices don't redeem what is essentially a book with very little plot and action. In the end, Ersatz and his Liebrary are vanquished and the boy finds his place in the world, but readers won't much care.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

PreS-K—Seamore has a serious problem. He can't remember anything, including his friends' names and how to play the simplest of games. Tying reminder notes to his fins and tail doesn't help, so he decides to go off in search of his missing memory. On his journey, he meets a killer whale, a creature he fails to recognize because he can't remember anything from his "Hazards for Midsize Sea Mammals" lesson at school. For some unexplained reason, the whale befriends Seamore instead of eating him, and, just as mysteriously, the porpoise remembers his favorite games and plays them with the whale. He also gives the whale complicated directions to his home. The visitor is equally well mannered when he arrives, plays nicely with the other little porpoises, and decides to stay. Seamore is just as forgetful, but now the whale will be there to remind him of the important things. The lack of logic here will be questioned by even the youngest children, who might also ask why none of Seamore's porpoise friends helped him in the first place. Seibold's computer-generated art is bright, cheery, and child-friendly with clean, simple lines, but it fails to rescue this tale, which simply makes no sense.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

PreS-Gr 2—While Noah builds the ark, his grandson Aram plays with his dove, Tara. After the animals board, Aram cares for all the birds during the storm. Because the ark has little flying room, Tara spends most of the time in her loft. However, after the rainbow appears, Noah sends her in search of dry land. After several trips, she returns with an olive twig showing that trees have emerged from the water. As Noah's family scatters in search of new homes, Tara acts as a messenger so they can keep in touch. The mixed-media illustrations of the birds are particularly striking, depicting their activities inside the ark and their departure in a vibrant panorama with a "mighty whirring of wings." A final spread of joyful children running beneath a huge dove banner ties the story to the enduring symbol for peace. That connection is even more explicit in Isaac Bashevis Singer's Why Noah Chose the Dove (Farrar, 1974), illustrated by Eric Carle. For a granddaughter's perspective, consider Jan Brett's On Noah's Ark (Putnam, 2003), in which the girl's dove appears in numerous illustrations. Although not an essential purchase, Eitzen's version is a pleasant, straightforward variation of an oft-told tale.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

PreS-Gr 1—Alfred, a French bulldog, is unhappy with his round face and nearly nonexistent nose. Though he appears to possess virtually no nozzle, his tongue is quite protuberant, and it's a rare photo in which that pink appendage is not in evidence. Alfred is an affectionate dog that loves to play ball, eat popcorn, and patiently let his family dress him up in costumes. On a quest to be more attractive, the stocky pooch tries out a variety of rubber noses, including a duck bill, an elephant trunk, and a cow nose, which add humor to this slight but sweet story. Alfred's family eventually convinces him that he is just right the way he is. The full-color photographs plus the large-font text make this a good read-aloud choice for one-on-one or large-group sharing. Certain words are printed in various bright colors without any apparent reason, but that does not detract from the story. Children will love Alfred and laugh at his funny getups.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

PreS-K—James and Eamon spend a week at Eamon's grandparents' beach house. The boys go to nature camp during the day and delight Bill and Pam (the grandparents) at night with their antics. Bill makes an earnest attempt to interest the young boys in his own hobby—studying Antarctica and penguins. He wears a penguin shirt and brings out maps and globes, but it appears that James and Eamon are not listening. Frazee brings out the typical energy of a couple of boys who may scoff at nature and seem to prefer watching TV, but it is through her artful illustrations that readers catch glimpses of just how savvy and creative these kids can be. The youngsters' circular cartoon faces are distinguishable only because of their small tufts of hair—one curly, the other straight. Endpapers depict a humorous variety of drawn photos that could have been taken during the week. A penguin craft is explained on the final end flap. This intergenerational story will elicit howls of laughter and requests for repeated readings.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Gr 2–4—In this follow-up to The Trouble with Cats (2000) and The Trouble with Babies (2002, both Holiday House), Holly volunteers to help her stressed-out mother by throwing a birthday party for her rambunctious two-year-old brothers, Dylan and Jeremy, and 14 preschoolers. The party threatens to be a disaster when her best friends suggest a science theme with a sensory-deprivation chamber at the center of the festivities instead of a clown. The boys' beginning language skills are written phonetically—"'Want c'acker,' Dylan repeated. And duice'"—which adds some charm to the story while perhaps making it more challenging for younger readers. Winsome full-page illustrations appear throughout. This chapter book is a winning portrait of a family struggling with everyday concerns.—Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA

Gr 3–5—This book takes readers to camp and makes them want to stay there. Mallory has all of the fears of a typical nine-year-old going to a strange place for the first time. When she gets there, however, she discovers that parts of camp are fun but that learning to get along with her bunkmate is a big challenge. This ninth book in the series stands on its own. The plot is believable, and the language is well suited to the intended audience. Mallory's diary entries and black-and-white cartoons appear throughout. The action is well paced and while the focus is on the protagonist's interactions with her bunkmate, readers get a good feel for the whole camp experience. A lighthearted, enjoyable read.—Esther Moberg, Creswell Library, OR

PreS-Gr 3—A young ballerina attends a performance of Sleeping Beauty and receives a special birthday surprise. Tilly and her mother arrive early at the theater and meet up with Aunt Gina, a ballerina, who takes the girl backstage to stretch with the dancers, apply makeup, and even wear a pink fairy costume. Aunt Gina escorts her onto the stage where she marvels at the lights and scenery. Tilly joins her mother in the audience as the orchestra warms up and holds her breath in anticipation of the performance. She is captivated by the show and is especially proud of her Aunt Gina, who dances the lead role. Aunt Gina calls Tilly on stage at her curtain call and announces that it is the child's birthday. They dance and twirl and Tilly curtsies to the applauding audience as the orchestra plays "Happy Birthday." Geras's story imparts a great deal of information about ballet for beginning readers, and McNicholas's cheery illustrations clearly depict the costumes, the performance, and the theater.—Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI

K-Gr 3—Emily is angry when her dad tells her he can't help her build snow animals until later, and she vents her feelings by building an angry snow dinosaur. Grizzle demands more and more snow "food"—pizzas, hot dogs, roast turkey, piles of pork chops—and grows from a small Dilophosaurus to an Allosaurus, and finally to a giant, furious T. rex. When Emily's father finally comes out to play, Grizzle turns on him, seeing lunch. Emily throws herself on the creature, smashing it and "saving" her father. Watts's serviceable illustrations are flat and colorful, but the story is best when Gilmore employs her keen eye for detail; for instance, when Emily's dad faces Grizzle, Emily observes: "Dad's awfully small compared to Grizzle. And his shirt isn't tucked in, so his belly shows. I know he can't run in those slippers." The story will make a good discussion starter about the consuming power of anger.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

PreS-Gr 1—Few children will be able to resist the appeal of Christopher Rabbit and his newfound passion. From the minute Ms. Goat begins counting with the class at the start of the school day until he falls asleep in the evening, Christopher seeks out things to count. Children will be familiar with the items that he selects, which include toys; his family's boots, shoes, and sneakers; the number of times Beaver's stone skips across the pond; butterflies in the air; ants on the ground; and the friends he spies during hide-and-seek. As the day comes to an end, Christopher realizes that his last task is too big: "One, two, three…oh no!…It's impossible! There are just too many stars to count." He then settles down for the night with a final count of "one kiss" as his mother tucks him in. The simplicity of this charming story is what sets it apart from others that aim to introduce this concept. The text's deliberate pace is a perfect match for the pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations that allow Christopher's joy to dominate the spreads. His enthusiasm for his new skill is reflected in his expressive bunny ears. By downplaying the items and focusing on the act itself, Gorbachev has created a book that stands apart from the many others on the topic. Not only is it a wonderful read-aloud, but it also works well as a beginning reader.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

K-Gr 2—T. Rex never buys his mother a Mother's Day present. Instead, he likes to do something for her. Mama tries to head him off this year by saying that all she wants is a hug, but he is determined to do something special for her. Trying to outdo his previous presents of a disastrous wallpapering job and redecorating the living room with ferns from the swamp, T. Rex spies Mama's red convertible and decides to give it a makeover. He and his dinosaur buddies hammer, paste, and paint until the car looks completely different. Mama's shocked face softens into a smile when her son gives her a big hug and she remembers that, thankfully, Mother's Day comes only once a year. Davis's jaunty cartoon illustrations bring these less-than-extinct dinosaurs alive. This fun read-aloud will tickle young children as they prepare for Mother's Day themselves.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Gr 3–5—Lost Island holds secrets, and brothers Jeff and David and their cousin Claire are eager to explore them. Local legend says that treasure from an 1882 stagecoach robbery is buried on the island, and the boys' dad, who died recently, told them that he wanted to get to the bottom of a related gruesome crime. Suspense builds as the children become determined to uncover the identity of a skeleton that they stumble upon, all the while fearing that others are also in search of the treasure. This mystery adventure is well paced and has likable, engaging characters. The black-and-white sketched map in the front enhances the effect of the story. Short chapters and an enticing plot will keep readers, including reluctant ones, entertained.—Krista Tokarz, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH

Gr 2–4—Just Grace, so named by a hassled teacher who had four Graces in her classroom, is a precocious third grader with a gift: she feels empathy for those around her. In this third book about the endearing character, she describes her quest to convince her parents that she's responsible enough to get a dog. Along the way she solves a mystery, helps a neighbor save his sick dog, and makes friends with the left-out Grace L. Perfect for beginning chapter book readers, the text is broken up by headings, cartoons (drawn by Grace), lists, charts, and journal entries. It flows smoothly and easily. Youngsters will identify with the protagonist as she struggles to communicate via flashlight Morse Code with her best friend and creates a cardboard dog (on a skateboard) to prove she can take care of a real one. Everything rings true in the book—Just Grace's voice is real and childlike; she feels frustration with her parents and best friend, fears going to the principal's office, and is saddened by others in pain. Although this book can stand alone, readers will want to know all about Grace and will go back to the other titles in the series, while looking forward to more.—Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX

K-Gr 1—This beginning reader has vibrant illustrations, ample white space, and just two to four lines of simple text per page. However, it delights in ways beyond the practical benefits of a primer. The concept of this clever and rhythmically pleasing title is that bellies are universal. For example, "A sumos's belly/is big and fat./A ballerina's belly/is small and flat." The pictures of the huge wrestler and slender dancer are as entertaining as the penguins sliding down a hill to show off their "white bellies" and the perched owls showing their "night bellies." Harris also considers the usefulness of a large abdomen for closing a door, acting as a shelf, or, in the case of a lion, serving as an umbrella for cubs during a rainstorm. On a spread showing an extremely wide man, Harris writes, "a belly should never/get to the stage/when it can't even fit/on this double page." The pitch at the end for good nutrition is a tad preachy but easy to forgive in this otherwise funny, fast-moving, and original romp.—Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

K-Gr 2—Zoe, a young bunny, is excited to have the role of Cinder Rabbit in her school's spring play. That is, until she learns that as the star she will be required to lead the class in the Bunny Hop. Zoe was quite a confident little hopper until an unfortunate mis-hop left her in a mud puddle with class bully Winifred laughing at her. Now she can only walk or scurry, and the thought of hopping on stage leaves her petrified. On a trip downtown, Zoe is unexpectedly forced into action and is able to regain her hop; the quick thinking of a classmate helps her to re-create her success for the stage. This early chapter book is for any reader who has ever frozen in the face of pressure, or for those who face the taunts of a bully. It is sweet and fun, with bunny details liberally inserted throughout. Black-and-white illustrations on each spread expand on the characters—a bunny selected as the assistant director wears a bow tie, the teacher has a double-pierced ear, and Zoe's nemesis has a perpetual frown. Short chapters will allow beginning readers to finish in manageable segments, and the book's simple but consistent story arc will leave them cheering for Zoe's triumph in the end.—Heather M. Campbell, Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

K-Gr 2—During a snowy day trip to the zoo, friends Danny and Ettie observe two elephants and an aardvark and decide to create a story about them in a sketchbook. Acrylic illustrations, rendered in a painterly style, show Danny as he notices a red scarf in a tree and then incorporates the item into the simple story line—about traveling by plane with the animals to Africa. The childlike pencil drawings appear on a yellow background in Danny's notebook. Endpapers display postcards and other delightful scribbles and sketches. Even though the illustrations outshine the text, this picture book has broad child appeal and could be used as an inspiration to young artists and authors to begin developing tales on their own.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Gr 2–4—This collection of stories was compiled from other books published by Kingfisher. It includes a number of traditional tales, such as "The Three Wishes" and "Tom Thumb," as well as modern creations with all the fairy-tale elements such as Chris Powling's "The Baby Wizard." They fall somewhere between traditional and fractured fairy tales in the style of their retellings. The large type size and interspersed line drawings make the format ideal for children transitioning from easy readers to chapter books. However, many of the stories, though written by well-known authors, end abruptly and/or fall flat. For example, in Joyce Dunbar's "The Wonder Broom," a kitchen maid buys a broom that turns out to possess magic. It sweeps away the girl's mean boss and an old woman who tries to claim it and ends up back in Philipippa's hands all within a paragraph. And there the story ends. The selections feel forced into the format and seem to exist solely to provide reading practice rather than to entertain and entice children to want to read.—Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA

PreS-Gr 2—Expressionistic art and economical poetry combine smoothly to create an inspiring model of self-control. A young gender-neutral child with curly hair is in a BAD MOOD. An alter-ego beast grumps, groans, and growls, trying in vain to hide or escape from its own feelings. Only when the child/beast faces and accepts the feelings can the bad mood dissipate. It is significant that the temperamental beast is not portrayed as something bad to be defeated; as the child makes a conscious effort to chill, the bad-mood beast is calmed and, in the final scene, sleeps companionably by the child's side. Many "anger management" picture books advise letting it all out by running or screaming. This one is different; "Just go inside/Just let it slide," it says, modeling a more internal form of comfort. It's a kind of variation on Where the Wild Things Are—Max imagined temporarily becoming a Wild Thing, while this child embraces the constant beast within and calms it through love and acceptance. Thick, almost tactile lines of paint are slathered onto the pages with gusto, capturing a feeling of movement and strong emotion. Hand-painted lettering is incorporated into the illustrations so that words and images interact, as in the final "let it slide" where the S becomes a seat for the relaxed child. While abstract and symbolic, this book has a healthful and hopeful message that readers will connect with emotionally.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

PreS—This didactic story uses a simplistic plot to hammer home the theme that your outlook on life will affect the type of day you will have. The parallel tales of two "thinking, speaking, fully clothed, house-dwelling monkeys" are told side-by-side in six short chapters illustrated with stylized, acrylic pictures. Ed wakes up to a sunny day, is followed by friendly critters, finds a treasure, and is made an honorary king by some happy woodland elves before returning home. Meanwhile, Ted is greeted by clouds, creepy bugs, and slimy slugs; chased by several angry animals; finds a treasure owned by a troll who wants to eat him; jumps into a mucky swamp to avoid him; and returns home in shabby, torn clothes. But on the last page, their fates appear to change as Ed expects a bad day and Ted decides it will be a good day. The rather pedestrian plot is accompanied by boxed commentary in tiny print that is distracting. The one-dimensional story and stilted drawings are unlikely to hold a child's interest. Stick with Aesop's Fables if you are looking for stories with a moral.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

K-Gr 2—Pinkalicious, the insouciant little girl who loves pink (especially Pink Passion Fruit Paradise ice cream) is back and in trouble. The girls in her class tease her that pink is passé and babyish, and that black is the new in color. Although her family tries to cheer her up, Pinkalicious almost abandons her favorite color until a new girl in her art class helps her see that pink is powerful and perfect—particularly when mixed with blue to make purple. The lively cartoon illustrations spill across the pages mirroring the protagonist's feelings as she changes from a confident, imaginative child to a sad one who believes she is alone in the world and then back to her old spirited self, fortified by a new friend and a newly discovered color. As with Pinkalicious (HarperCollins, 2006), this story will be fun to use in a color unit and has the added attraction of dealing with feelings of not fitting in, which are common in a child's life. The book is a winner for most collections.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

PreS—This typically self-absorbed toddler is not amused by the pet names she is called—Buttercup, Cupcake, or Little Lamb. She is greeted each day with endearing phrases such as, "Time for breakfast, Giggly Goose" or "How's my Sweet Gumdrop today?" But as she romps around the house in her floral pajamas, the audience will soon realize her preferred name as she dons her golden crown and glittery jewels. Baby joyously leaps across a spread with clothes a-flying. Katz has drawn the human and stuffed-animal characters with perfectly rounded heads, and she uses other softly curving lines in rendering motions such as a curtsey and arm gestures. The predominate color is fuchsia, while other bright hues complement the rosy tones. The cover attracts attention because the crown and shoes are done in a glittery gold. Toddlers will ask for repeated readings of this cheerful view of a youngster's world.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Gr 3–4—Third-grader Kaline Klattermaster can't sit still. Sounds he doesn't even know he is going to make just pop out of his mouth. He starts out to do a task or his homework but then a single word or idea captures his complete attention and he's off in a daydream. In the real world, his dad has disappeared (Kaline's scatterbrained mother says only, "He's not here") and bullies are making school miserable. When his mother reads him a newspaper article about "grown up" tree houses, his imagination is off and running, creating a dream tree house filled with interesting objects, 100 puppies, and two cool older brothers who understand him perfectly. However, Kaline may need some real-world help to deal with his problems. His perceptions and actions are often hilarious, and the story offers a great look into the mind of someone who marches to a different drummer. No mention is made of a disability, but those familiar with ADHD might make a connection to Kaline's behavior. Fortunately he has parents (Dad has moved out but makes an appearance at the end) and a kindly neighbor who, while they develop different strategies for dealing with him, love him exactly the way he is. Kaline is a real, likable character and is reminiscent of a younger Joey Pigza. Readers will enjoy stepping into his imaginary world, empathize with his troubles, and cheer him on throughout the story.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

Gr 2–4—Nosy is a young pterodactyl and Banty is a young apatosaurus. Both of their families are scornful of the other and try to instill their distain in their offspring. After all, pterodactyls are superior because they can fly. And apatosaurus are better because they have four legs and are herbivores. In spite of their parents' objections and their obvious differences, the two young dinosaurs become friends and help unite their families in the face of a common foe—a T. rex named Hack the Ripper. The lessons about friendship, working together, and not prejudging others are not subtle, but the story is engaging and fun and readers will not mind the messages. Children are also likely to learn new words as Nosy's mother speaks with a highly inflated vocabulary. "We are, after all aeronauts of remarkable facility and versatility." Luckily, most of her words have to be explained/translated for the other dinosaurs. The black-and-white spot art captures the characters' expressions and, with the exception of the T. rex, appears almost sweet. The story is a good choice for dinophiles who have moved beyond picture books and are ready for easy chapter books.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

K-Gr 2—In simple rhyming text, a girl contemplates all that she will learn once her cat can talk to her. She knows that he wanders, and that he has secrets to share. She imagines him visiting faraway places, where he will witness local customs and answer burning questions, such as why the birds eat crumbs in San Marco Square, or if British cats do indeed drink tea. The girl may be an afterthought as her cat travels, but what he knows and internalizes is front and center in her mind. Brooker's illustrations, rendered in collage and oil paint, have the look and feel of a scrapbook. They fill the pages and are as big and bold as the girl's imagination. Maps on the endpapers show the imagined European voyages of the cat. "The Facts Behind the Story" presents some tidbits about some of the locales, but they seem unnecessary after such a fanciful journey. Rather, the book should be enjoyed as the whimsical daydream that it is.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA

PreS-Gr 2—Mother Goose fans will delight in this offbeat interpretation of the classic nursery rhyme. Instead of a devoted shepherdess, Lechner's Mary is a sassy redhead with an unexplained fondness for her desk lamp. The singsong text imitates the more traditional verse beginning with the lines, "Mary had a little lamp—/The bendy, gooseneck kind./And everywhere that Mary went/She dragged the lamp behind." Despite the confused disapproval of her friends and family, Mary takes the beloved object everywhere, even to her cousin's wedding. ("'We told her she could have a dog—/She wanted this instead!'") Much to her parents' surprise, Mary does not insist on taking it with her when she goes to summer camp. While swimming, canoeing, and having fun, she outgrows her attachment to the lamp. However, when she returns home, she finds a more satisfactory companion—a toaster. The eclectic computer-generated cartoon illustrations are composed of clever combinations of geometric shapes to depict the characters and setting. On one spread, the child walks her lamp down a busy street of multicolored buildings. Traffic stops, curious neighbors peer out of windows, and pedestrians stare at the girl and her unusual pet. For an extra chuckle, young readers will enjoy perusing the brief make-believe reviews from other nursery-rhyme characters on the back cover. This book may be paired with Janet Stevens's And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon (Harcourt, 2001), which plays with another nursery rhyme.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA

PreS-Gr 2—A cheery illustration shows Chinese parents and their three daughters looking out their window, while the simple text reads: "Is the New Year coming? I hope so! We try to welcome it in." Narrated by one of the girls, this buoyant book describes preparations for celebrating the Lunar New Year, as family members sweep out the old year with a broom, hang "spring-happiness poems," make "get-rich dumplings," get haircuts, and don new clothing. The lustrous gouache illustrations are saturated with bold primary colors and deftly convey the joyousness of the festivities. In one painting, a parade of children carrying lanterns lights the way for the New Year, while another features people costumed to represent symbolically the lions that will scare away "last year's bad luck" and the dragon that escorts in the New Year. A lovely spread with a foldout page shows the lucky dragon, which has been awakened by having his eyes painted on, surrounded by celebrants banging drums and gongs and blowing noisemakers. Information about the holiday is appended and the endpapers highlight different elements connected with it: a red envelope, firecrackers, a spring lantern, etc. A wonderful and much-needed addition to Chinese New Year literature.—Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA

Gr 3–5—This compact sequel to The Year of the Dog (Little, Brown, 2006) charts an eventful year, based on the author's own childhood. As the story opens, Pacy (who uses an American name, Grace, at school) is celebrating Chinese New Year with her family and friends. Their gatherings always center on food and the delightful stories her parents tell of their lives in Taiwan and of coming to America. As Pacy's dad relates the story of the rat and the Chinese zodiac, her mother notes that the Year of the Rat is a time for making changes. Change quickly becomes the hallmark of the protagonist's year: her best friend moves to California, and Pacy must adjust to a new teacher and new relationships. When a boy from China arrives at her school, her classmates tease him for being different. Pacy watches guiltily until she finds the courage to speak up for him. Lin's handling of the situation as related through a child's perspective is graceful and sensitive. Young readers will find this episodic, character-driven short novel appealing and relate to its authentically childlike Pacy, whose family's Thanksgiving feast includes both huo guo (Chinese hot pot) dishes and a small turkey. Lin's plentiful detailed line drawings add to the story's appeal. This heartwarming sequel will leave readers hoping for more about this engaging heroine and her family.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

PreS—When the sun rises, familiar farm animals greet the dawn in their own ways. Naturally, "The rooster said, Cock-a-doodle-doo!'" He is followed by nine others who make their respective greetings. "What they all meant was, 'Hello, day!'" As the sun sets, only an owl "whoo-ooos" to say, "Good night." The layout is straightforward and consistent. A full-page illustration faces the text. Each line of text follows the same pattern as the rooster. Using a combination of materials, Lobel has created "folksy" yet realistic pictures. Each animal stands in a colorful field or garden with the sun shining brightly. Babies will be attracted to the many vivid colors, while toddlers will readily identify the familiar animals and their sounds. The old-fashioned simplicity makes this a great first book, and the repetition and large pictures make it a perfect choice for storytimes.—Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

PreS-Gr 2—A story told in evocative free verse and graced with exuberant watercolors. A girl begins her narration when she was "no bigger than you are." She describes an old man who sits "in an old chair/on an old green porch" and tells tales of the time he found a falling star, and when he went for a walk and wound up at the end of the rainbow. The child feels certain that the outlandish stories must all be true. Where the text is restrained, the illustrations fairly holler with light and joy. During each of the Starfinder's stories, the palette begins with hushed expectation in black and white, gradually adding colors until the whole page is glowing. This is not to belie the power of Lyon's spare text—it is only in the tension between the carefully chosen words and vivid pictures that the stories' magic emerges. A lovely collaboration.—Rachael Vilmar, Eastern Shore Regional Library, MD

Gr 1–3—Stink is back. This time, he and friends Webster and Sophie are working on a cereal-box re-creation of the Great Wall of China when the youngsters discover some mysterious guinea pigs hiding in one of the boxes. They figure out that the animals escaped from the local pet store. Store owner Mrs. Birdwistle informs the kids that she has rescued 101 guinea pigs but can't keep them all. Immediately, Stink and company volunteer to help find homes for them. With funny, and at times quite witty, enthusiasm for the project at hand, Stink and friends help Mrs. B. clean and decorate an old camper that they dub "Squeals on Wheels," which serves as a mobile pet store. As in the previous books, McDonald uses simple, expressive language to keep the story rolling. Stink is a fun, easy-to-love character with an authentic child voice. The action takes off from the very first chapter and is well sustained throughout. Fans of the earlier books, as well as the "Judy Moody" series, will not be disappointed.—Bethany A. Lafferty, Las Vegas-Clark County Library, NV

PreS—Tucker adds a St. Patrick's Day story to his previous Christmas and Halloween adventures. At first, March 17 isn't so lucky for the perky white pooch who must endure a walk in the rain—BEFORE breakfast—and a black cat hisses at him. So he decides to roll in a bed of four-leaf clovers to change his fortune. A leprechaun who is watching works his magic, and Tucker finds himself the happy recipient of a falling scoop of ice cream, homemade dog biscuits, and a box of dog toys. And best of all—no bath tonight! This story doesn't have much of a plot, but it's hard not to like this cheerful pup who is determined to have a good day. Simple, bright pictures illustrate the canine's playful activities and will appeal to young children. Introduce fans of Clifford the Big Red Dog to this little charmer.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Gr 2–4—Martin has created a most unusual cast of characters in this series of four quirky stories about Lulu Atlantis, an independent little girl on a quest for True Blue Love after the arrival of a baby brother. She is accompanied everywhere by her loyal companion Harry, a daddy longlegs who sports a top hat and green shirt (with many sleeves) and freely dispenses loving advice: "Never make a skunk mad!" and "Go where life takes you." As she continues her quest, Sam the Baby becomes Sam the Toddler, and a series of entertaining episodes ensue. Lulu's voice is unique and funny: she tells a threatening Yogurt Skunk (so named because he had to be freed of a yogurt carton stuck on his head), "I've got a father who's always away, a mother who forgets I even exist, and an uninvited baby brother who hogs every minute of Mother's time! And I'm running far away…! I've got my hands full, buddy." Readers will also meet a philosophical Eggman; cranky, hard-of-hearing Grandpère Hy; and demanding Great-aunty Hauty. Snappy dialogue and just the right amount of tension move the plot along smoothly, and in the end Lulu discovers what her friend Harry has tried to tell her all along: "…to find True Blue Love, you would not have to search beyond your own backyard." This would be a delightful read-aloud for families or classrooms, but the length may be challenging for younger independent readers.—Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI

Gr 1–3—When a boy has a coughing fit while he is playing soccer with his friends, his parents rush him to the hospital where the doctor explains that he has asthma and gives him an inhaler. The doctor's explanation of asthma is accompanied by diagrams of the lungs. The parents drive the child back to the soccer field where one of the other boys, "the fastest runner on the team," reveals that he has asthma as well. The last few pages of the book give suggested precautions to take if one has allergies, how to find out how many kids in one's class have asthma, how to make an inhaler pouch, and guidelines for parents. The easy text, combined with soft, rounded figures in the colorful illustrations, results in a sensitively told story that offers encouragement to children suffering from this condition, complete with helpful advice.—Donna Atmur, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 2–4—A treasure map lands on his tree-house floor, interrupting young Billy's reveries about the nature of clouds, flying fish, and tides. Soon after, a pirate arrives, demanding porridge for breakfast. No matter that it's dinnertime, that the house isn't a ship, or that the pirate's "parrot" is actually a pig in disguise. In a short time, the house is indeed a ship, and Billy and his sister accompany the pirate to an island where they find treasure. There's barely time to enjoy it, though. The pirate insists that if he isn't well hidden by dark, he'll be attacked by pelicans. Plenty of beginning chapter-book readers will love the goofy fantasy world that the pirate seems to incite. The story moves right along, and children will appreciate the wealth of dialogue combined with ongoing action. While it may not rise to the top of the pirate heap, the popularity of the topic and the rollicking black-and-white full-page and spot art will ensure a satisfied audience.—Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE

PreS-Gr 1—Professor Bumble (a bear) and his friend Beluga (a tiny goldfish in a bowl) spend every Monday morning at their favorite swimming spot. One morning, Otter is there fishing and wants them to swim elsewhere. When the two protest, Otter grumpily leaves, warning them to beware the Monster of the Deep, who has three heads, five eyes, and a huge mouth—big enough to swallow a bear in one gulp. Beluga laughs it off and floats around in his bowl, but Bumble cautiously decides to stay on land and keep watch over his pal—which he does until the bowl overturns and disappears. When Bumble leaps into the water to save his friend, dressed in full bathing regalia (including two inner tubes, swimming mask, cap, and wings), confusion and terror reign. All is at last resolved: the two friends go home to have a safe swim in the bathtub, and Otter leaves the pond convinced that the monster he made up is real. The humorous cartoon watercolor illustrations depict the action admirably and portray Bumble particularly well. The endpapers show him in several poses: in the front he is putting article after article of his swimming ensemble on, and at the back he is divesting himself of each item one by one. Although the book is not unique, its child-appealing humor makes it attractive.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

K-Gr 2—A boy explains all the changes that have taken place in his family over the past three months. In several before-and-after pictures, he shows how neat and orderly his house and his parents used to be, and how messy and confused everything is now. It seems as if everyone has gone crazy—except for his cute baby sister, who just turned three months old. Stylized collage and mixed-media illustrations show the contrasts of the boy's life on opposing pages. The large block-lettered text is set against lots of white space to make the readability appropriate for beginners. Although most of the mixed-up situations are mildly humorous, the page where mom uses bug spray instead of hair spray may strike parents as being dangerous instead of funny. There are a lot of other new-baby books around, making this one an unnecessary purchase.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

PreS—An amusing vision of a life in utero may have trouble finding an audience. The androgynous "baby-in-waiting" is bored: "My choices are slim./There is no room to swim./I'm so tired of floating./I'd love to go boating,/But where's the canoe?/MA!/There's nothing to do!" After listing a variety of complaints, the narrator decides that it's almost "Show Time" and asks Ma if she's ready, describes some things that will occur after birth, and promises to see her and dad soon. Park's rhymes scan and read aloud well. The brightly colored illustrations start on the endpapers as the mother—shown from neck to just below her very pregnant belly—prepares the nursery. Featuring a very bald baby who is mostly head, the pictures alternate between views from inside the womb and scenes reflecting the many play fantasies listed. The large text font adds movement as it wiggles and spirals across the pages. This humorous story may work while discussing where babies come from with preschoolers or for pregnant moms to read to older siblings. However, its best audience seems to be the expectant mothers themselves, and it is likely to appeal more as a shower gift than as a children's book.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

K-Gr 3—Henri is a professional egg painter, but he feels uninspired about decorating any more Easter eggs. Henrietta cajoles him to get to work, suggesting that he will be disappointing the children otherwise. However, the artistic bunny believes that they are as bored as he is with the same old lovely eggs. Then he has an idea, and when he finishes painting them, the eggs are definitely different. The art ranges in inspiration from an unknown ancient Egyptian's Portrait of Queen Nefertiti to Paul Klee's Legend of the Nile. The eggs are so special that Henri insists that, instead of hiding them, they be placed on pedestals. As the children come upon his work, they stare in wonder: the exhibit is a success. The large illustrations are bright and expressive with perspectives that invite readers into the action. A foldout shows the 16 original paintings and provides brief information about the artists. The liberties Henri has taken include a Tahitian bunny in the tradition of Gauguin and Keith Haring's figures adorned with bunny ears and tails. This fun eggs-hibition will delight the eyes and imaginations of young artists.—Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA

K-Gr 4—In this addition to Plourde's stories about Mrs. Shepherd's class, Ima Kindanozee is keeping her science-fair project a secret. Her classmates are furiously applying the finishing touches to their work, but Ima can't wait to quench her curiosity about everyone else's research and fires away questions about model brains, dinosaurs, rockets, and other elaborate contraptions. She can't keep her hands to herself and sets in motion a series of premature launchings, explosions, and other mishaps that require the teacher to repeatedly stall Principal Helm, who wants to come in to judge the entries. Plourde evokes pitch-perfect classroom chaos with sound effects like "creak-groan-crash" and "rap-tap-smack" and with tactile images like "sticky-icky-goo!" Frazzled Mrs. Shepherd, rendered comically through Wickstrom's cartoon illustrations, eventually opens the classroom door, at which point Ima confidently assumes the role of tour guide. Her own project, finally unveiled, is nothing more than a huge pile of notes. Clearly, the child prefers inquiry and investigation to actually making something. In this sweet story where each science-fair participant is praised specifically, Ima finally exercises her own talent as a school newspaper reporter. The idea that everyone has unique strengths will resonate at science-fair time and during other competitions throughout the year.—Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

K-Gr 2—Making maple syrup is a Brockwell family affair, involving grandparents, children, and grandchildren. Even the youngest contribute to the annual gathering at the grandparents' sugar bush. Beginning with tapping the trees, collecting the sap, and transporting it to the sugarhouse through to boiling and straining, grading and bottling, the whole process is fascinating. The final activity is making "sugar on snow," which young readers in snowy states will surely want to try, if they haven't already. This gentle story has a straightforward text and folksy, colorful gouache illustrations. While the art adds to the tone and details of the narrative, the stylized faces have a wooden, almost puppetlike appearance. This style does not in any way detract from the overall value of the book, which also subtly introduces woodland flora and fauna. A glossary and two pages of maple syrup lore are appended. This book would be a great addition to units on seasons, farms, or plants and trees. Combine it with Kathryn Lasky's Sugaring Time (S & S, 1983) and Jesse Haas's Sugaring (Greenwillow, 1996) for a seasonal treat.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME

K-Gr 2—Timothy Smallbeast longs to be big and strong, so he drinks "fortified" milk, exercises, and "thinks STRONG thoughts." However, it is only when he wears his favorite pajamas, repaired by his mother with "PATCHES of POWER and the BUTTONS of BRAVENESS," that Timothy becomes the superhero of his dreams. Using his abilities, he catches a falling elephant, carries a mountain of packages for an elderly woman, rescues a princess, rights a sinking ship, drags an alligator back to the zoo, and carries a huge bear into the "deep dark forest." When he tries to pull his sock monkey from under the sleeping bear, though, his pajamas rip and his power disappears. But never fear—all those recipients of his help now come to Timothy's aid and deliver him and his stuffed toy safely back home. The watercolor illustrations vary from small vignettes, to vertical and horizontal paneled scenes, to full pages and spreads. Especially dynamic are the depictions of tiny Timothy carrying a bear so huge that he encompasses two pages, and the close-up rip of his pajamas (you can almost hear the material tear) as he tries to pull sock monkey from under the bear's giant paw. Youngsters who long to be strong and powerful will enter into this fantasy with gusto.—Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT

PreS-Gr 2—Muri is a little mouse with scads of brothers and sisters, and he often wonders which of them is Mama's favorite. First he thinks that it must be the baby, because she gives her extra cheese, but when Muri tries to behave like a baby, Mama just scolds him. His older brother gets special attention when he is sick, but when Muri complains of a stomachache, all he gets is herbal tea for dinner. His wise mother sees what's going on, and invites him to go for a special walk with her. When she saves him from a cat attack, Muri finally realizes that Mama loves all her children equally. Burg's scratchy watercolor illustrations are expressive, but busy. Though Muri's concerns are universal, his realization feels forced and does not logically proceed from the plot. Ultimately, the story seems unfinished without a real "aha" moment.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

K-Gr 2—Informed that she's on her own for the morning, Lulu, aka Ladybug Girl, and her basset hound glower mutinously at her room full of toys and clutter ("There's nothing to do") before heading outside. There, in her first dazzling act of heroism, Ladybug Girl removes a rock from the path of a long line of ants. With loyal Bingo at her side, she bravely goes into shark-infested waters (a puddle), builds an impenetrable fortress (a crumbling stone wall), and briefly considers how small and insignificant her brother and the other big boys (who won't let her play baseball) seem. When Mama calls her home, she "flies down the hill with her wings bobbing behind her." "Feeling as big as the whole outdoors," Ladybug Girl hurries home to tell about her busy morning. Readers' eyes are inexorably drawn to Lulu's red ladybug costume, which sets off the subdued earth tones, both in and outside of her house. Winning touches include Bingo's floppy ears almost audibly flapping in the mid-morning breeze and Lulu's steely gaze throughout her adventure. Simple sentences throughout the story usually express just one thought or directive at a time, usually in just one sentence per page. A super book for lap-sits and storyhours.—Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC

K-Gr 3— A winsome story, full of lore and legend. Tupelo, a dog, is in search of a home with her sock toy, Mr. Bones. Fortunately, she meets up with the Bonehead gang, canines who, wishing upon the Dog Star, bury their bones and hope for the best. A tenderhearted hobo, Garbage Pail Tex, cares for the pack, riding the rails and finding homes (new and old) for his friends. The book opens with a time line of famous pups such as Argos, Odysseus's pet who waited "147 dog years for his master to return." Fans of the author's Carmine (Houghton, 2005) will immediately recognize the playful watercolor and mixed-media illustrations. As the dogs settle down for a long night's rail ride, Garbage Pail Tex conjures up the heroic tales of Lassie, Dorothy's Toto, and Superman's Krypto; and ends with a lullaby, "Oh give me a bone/and a yard I can roam…." No lean kibble, this book is packed with such meaty morsels as a map of the heavens, a note on the constellation Canis Major, cartoon collages, and a faux film-clip insert of Lassie. This is a richly rewarding book about the power of wishful thinking and kindness toward those most vulnerable. Tupelo is a sweet howl.—Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA

PreS-Gr 2—A well-intentioned but pedestrian rhyming text introduces children to the polar bears' world, from a mother raising cubs to threats posed by global warming. The oversize format features watercolor Arctic scenes that are at their best when shared with a group. The pages leave an overly busy impression, partly because of Walton's detailed style but also because they are printed on paper that features a subtle snowflake background and border. Both the intricate, entwining, plantlike snowflakes and the individual paint dabs representing falling snowflakes catch the light in varying ways, which at times obscure the animals. The author issues a call to action: "across the land/of the midnight sun/the ice is melting…/oh, what can be done? (well, lots can be done…/just turn the page)." The final "Learning Page for Helping the Bears" features three scientific sources, three global-warming organizations, and a list of suggestions that repeat themselves (readers are twice told to turn off the lights and watch less television) even though the section has only four paragraphs.—Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Gr 1–4—In this election-year addition to his "LaRue" series, Teague pits the clever canine Ike against the "Law and Order" mayoral candidate, Hugo Bugwort. Using a prose collage of newspaper articles from the Snort City Register/Gazette and Ike's slightly slanted letters to his human, a hospitalized Mrs. LaRue (who was injured when a food cart was knocked over by on-the-loose dogs), the story follows unsupervised LaRue's exploits as he steals hot dogs, sausages, and ice cream, and Bugwort's increasingly angry responses as reported in the paper. "'This town is literally going to the dogs,' said the man. 'I intend to stop it.'" LaRue decides to enter the campaign, beginning by sabotaging the candidate and, in an amusing twist, ultimately rescues him and reverses his opinions about Snort City's canine menace. Teague's bold, colorful illustrations feature comical characters and lots of detail.—Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI

PreS-Gr 2—A father sits at the bedside of his child who is afraid to sleep and tells the youngster about a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. According to "the turtledove song," when you go to sleep "your Guardian Angel will come to you in your dreams and take you…up to Heaven to reunite you with Papito Dios, your Heavenly Father." When you return, you will feel "refreshed, rested, and as powerful as the wind." A note at the book's conclusion indicates that the author based the story on his own experiences. Unfortunately, the text consists of a tedious dialogue that pretty much says the same thing on every page: "My mother sang me a lullaby when I was a little boy...." In Ramírez's folk-art illustrations, the bold thick lines and stylized portrayal of the characters do not convey the sense of life and rebirth that is clearly Villaseñor's intention. More problematic is the fact that there is really no story here. The wordy text when compounded bilingually creates an almost insoluble design problem and the pages are often cluttered. The lullaby is conveyed through the dialogue only and neither lyrics nor music is included. A disappointing effort.—Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ

PreS-K—A mother and father rabbit demonstrate all the things that they do with their baby: there is holding, hugging, squeezing, and kissing, but that's not all. Baby bunny needs to be spoken to, tickled, fed, washed, and dressed. Though the parents are busy with their infant, big brother is not left out. He observes and also participates in some of the care. Listeners will pick up the pattern of Walton's lyrical text and chime in with repetitive portions. "We rock with the baby. We bounce with the baby. We jump with the baby. We dance with the baby." Miglio's cheery illustrations of a loving family are much lighter than those in the collaborators' So Many Bunnies: A Bedtime ABC and Counting Book (HarperCollins, 1998). In this newer book, the illustrator again gives attention to patterned apparel. Part of the fun is turning the pages to see how the characters are dressed. Brother's pajamas have a baseball motif, baby's pants have a ladybug print, and mother's garments use floral designs. This likable picture book works well one-on-one or as a group read-aloud.—Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH

PreS—Ward's text is full of comfort and support for a loved baby, reassuring readers that the featured animal mother will always protect her child. The rhyming text identifies different characteristics of each desert parent, like the one who finds shade for her youngster in the hot sun, another that gathers twigs to make a nest. Each spread includes a full-page illustration of the animals in their habitat, facing a smaller picture showing what a human mother would use in the same situation, such as a sun hat. This book is a true partnership between text and art—Long's illustrations extend Ward's verses from being just about the animal world to being about all mothers. Her pictures are full of detail, making the desert landscape lush and full of life, and showing the habitat's true beauty. Unfortunately, none of the animals are identified in the text or in a key, making this lovely book most appropriate for children familiar with the desert locale.—Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ

Gr 3–5—While Oggie's teachers have described him as "quirky" and "one-of-a-kind," his peers are less than complimentary about his hand-crocheted shoelaces and wardrobe from his parents' secondhand store. It is easy to see that the fourth grader is destined to become famous for some offbeat skill. Oggie's talent happens to be "charving" cheese slices, which is a cross between chewing and carving. His ability to charve the outlines of different states could land him on an "American Idol"-like television program called "Hidden Talents," but before the audition, he captures the interest of Donnica Perfecto, who has great ambition but no claim to fame. She decides to steal her classmate's unusual talent; when that doesn't work, she takes over as his manager. Pushed to the limit, Oggie finally makes some decisions about what's important to him. The protagonist's endearing cluelessness and spoiled Donnica's over-the-top conceitedness are well described, making this a fun, high-interest read.—Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA

K-Gr 4—The creators of the comical Falling for Rapunzel (Putnam, 2003) present an equally funny spoof of "Sleeping Beauty." Prince Charming is out searching for beasts to slay when he hears a loud and strange sound emanating from a castle. Sure that a dragon lurks within, he climbs through a window, only to discover a snoring princess. Three fluttering fairies inform him that she will awaken only for a prince and tell him to "give the girl a little lip." The clueless hero responds by hollering, "WAKE UP, LAZYBONES!" As Beauty sleeps on, he does more silly things like jumping on the bed and shooting her out of a cannon, before the exasperated fairies exclaim, "How can you be so unromantic?...wake her with a/KISS!" The prince responds, "One hundred years of morning breath./Wow! That could be the kiss of death!" Filled with puns and lively wordplay, the rhyming plays off traditional plot elements, and readers familiar with the original will enjoy making comparisons. Colorful, waggish illustrations, done in acrylic paint and collage, enhance the amusing story. Angular faces have exaggerated features: Beauty's lips form a heart shape and the prince's eyes—large circles with tiny dots—manage to be very expressive. The flashy cover will beckon children in, and the fun-filled story will appeal to girls as well as boys (especially those who, like the prince, are still in the "girls are yucky" stage).—Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA

K-Gr 2—When Jeffrey sits down to write a story for his homework assignment, he is faced with a blank sheet of paper and a raging case of writer's block. He starts to doodle instead, eventually drawing a pudgy sloth. The animal comes to life and begins to taunt him about his writing skills. It doesn't take Jeffrey long to realize that the lazy animal just doesn't want him to write about anything strenuous for the sloth to do. He beats the creature (and his own inner critic) at its own game by sending it on an arduous fictional journey in search of the world's coziest blanket. By the time he finds it, Jeffrey's homework, and the story, is finished. The theme of the book, that one's imagination can lead to unexpected places, is not new; nor is the notion of drawings taking on a life of their own. Jeffrey and Sloth is a good read-aloud to introduce units on creative writing to children. The acrylic and colored-pencil cartoon illustrations of the sloth's imperative journey add an element of silly fun, though the text crowds them on some pages.—Rachael Vilmar, Eastern Shore Regional Library, MD

PreS-Gr 2—Zitkala-Ša recorded this Yankton Sioux story more than 100 years ago, but this tale of mice caught unaware is still satisfyingly scary. Out on the deep, dark prairie, a large group of mice is having a wild party inside an old buffalo skull. The small creatures, in festive paint and costume, are dancing, singing, and eating with abandon, and they have neglected to put anyone on security detail. Out of the dark emptiness stalks a wildcat that waits until the height of the music to suddenly appear, abruptly ending the festivities. This story was created to remind Yankton Sioux children to keep an eye out at all times, and it still does that. Zitkala-Ša is a wonderful storyteller—even with some old-fashioned language, the narrative tension builds deliciously to the scene of the fleeing mice. Nelson's illustrations add to the tension between the creeping wildcat and the celebrating mice. Even the dark is a character here—children will almost need to squint through the shadows to see the animals at night. In the pictures of the party, by contrast, the glowing light and excited mice seem to vibrate with action. This tale would be perfect in a scary storytime, told with the lights down low.—Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ

PreS-Gr 2—Barnwell, from Sweet Honey in the Rock, wrote the lyrics to the song "We Are One," extolling the virtues of community, faith, friendship, and peace. Pinkney's lovely watercolor-and-gouache paintings bring to life the simple, heartfelt text. Together, the author and illustrator have created a book filled with delightful spreads of families of different races and ages—"Mothers of courage, Fathers of time, Daughters of dust, Sons of great vision"—watering flowers, picnick-ing, and enjoying one another's company. Sweet without being sappy, spiritual without being religious, this is a book that parents will enjoy sharing with their children again and again. A CD of the song recorded by Sweet Honey in the Rock is included.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

K-Gr 1—These brief texts attempt to address complex topics for early readers. With a single declarative sentence on most pages, the books show how animals, people, and plants make use of various aspects of the environment—water, land, rocks, etc. Unfortunately, the word "environment" is only defined in the glossary. Each page includes a well-chosen and composed photograph. The last two to four pages of each book present a current issue using more extensive paragraphs and smaller type. In the first book, Wisconsin's growing wolf population is addressed and an assortment of animal facts is listed. The second title describes ways people both help and hurt the environment. In the third, the problems caused by shrinking forests are discussed. Reducing such broad topics to less than 24 pages requires tough choices, and the resultant presentations are adequate but not engaging. The small size of these books limits them to single or small group use but the complexity of the topics begs for adult guidance.—Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI

Gr 2–5—What child doesn't love a knock-knock joke? Tell one to a group and the audience will respond with more. Share some of the jokes from this collection and your patrons will be clamoring to check out this sequel. The book follows the same format as the earlier title (Cricket, 2003) with all-new material under 15 thematic headings. Riddles at the end of each chapter encourage original answers, which is one thrust of the book—getting kids to make up their own jokes. An introduction plus the "11 ½ Tips" will inspire readers to look at everyday events with an eye for humor and offer some suggestions on keeping children's attention, jokes to avoid, stage fright, and more. Black-and-white drawings introduce each chapter and spot art is sprinkled throughout the book. Most collections should make room for this one.—Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI

K-Gr 4—As she did with The Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Princess and the Pea (both Putnam, 2007), Isadora has taken a tale of European origin and set it against a generic African backdrop, with no country, tribe, or culture specified. This is problematic as such treatment does nothing to enlighten children about the rich diversity that exists on this vast continent. This is a separate issue from the quality of Isadora's illustrations, which meet her usual standards. Using oil paints, printed paper, and palette paper, she has created dramatic, textured collages, intense in color and rich in detail. The spreads reflect an increasingly dark and angry sea as the wife's demands become more and more outrageous. The text is spare and minimal, with none of the lyrical language found in other retellings, such as Randall Jarrell's classic (Farrar, 1980; o.p.) with breathtaking illustrations by Margot Zemach. Younger readers may find this version more accessible, but all of the drama is in the art.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Gr 1–6—This is indeed a Jewish Bible, written by Jewish authors, and successful in its inclusion of many popular stories retold in a lively, child-friendly style. Realistic and colorful pencil-drawn illustrations add to the telling, and as a treat for curious minds, the small photographs on the sidebars are really interesting. Readers can get a quick idea of what lentil stew probably looked like ("Esau and Jacob"), the ancient gift of a nose ring ("Isaac and Rebekah"), or archaeological ruins such as the present-day remains of Hezekiah's Tunnel. A corresponding Hebrew translation of each chapter heading opposite the English titles helps authenticate this as a Jewish Bible. The volume would be most appropriate for family use due to the addition of a professionally produced story CD encased in a plastic sleeve within the front cover, which is engagingly read by a pleasant-voiced narrator.—Lisa Silverman, Sinai Temple Library, Los Angeles

Gr 2–4—This luminous picture book describes the Colombian author's childhood and influences. Brown does a wonderful job of articulating García Márquez's complex literary style (called magical realism) in a way youngsters can grasp. Even better, she shows how his imagination was nurtured and encouraged from a very early age by the things around him. The text is written in blocks of English and Spanish with words of both languages sometimes incorporated into the page design. Colón's brilliant watercolors float off the page, anchored by his penciled outlines; his use of swirls and scratches gives depth to the clothing and backgrounds of each illustration and captures a sense of García Márquez's creative imagination. Brown calls this book a character study, but it will be at home in many places in the library, including bilingual, picture book, or biography sections.—Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ

PreS-K—A gray-haired, rosy-cheeked Old MacDonald starts off by introducing his young-looking wife, with "a kiss kiss here, and a kiss kiss there…." Then it's off to the fields, barn, and pond to meet his dog, sheep, horse, hens, goat, ducks, cow, and pig. There is no cumulative refrain until the very end, when after all the animal sounds comes a "Waa waa" that puzzles the animals and readers until a page turn reveals—lo and behold—"Old MacDonald had a baby. Ee-i-ee-i-o!" Cabrera's bright, splotchy illustrations follow the text, with full spreads devoted to each verse. Young children can read along easily enough and can probably add their own verses to the mix. Purchase if there is a need for another version of this classic ditty.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Gr 3–6—This title has child-friendly recipes and good tips to help kids understand and appreciate cooking. However, though the book claims to promote healthy eating choices, recipes call for ingredients like marshmallow crème, frosted flakes, and cheddar-cheese sauce. Additionally, the poor-quality stories between the recipes are not for children—they are written for adults nostalgic for their own childhoods, or who enjoy reading about how much parents love their kids. There are places where children are encouraged to write in the book: a "Top Ten Favorite Foods" list, a scrambled word puzzle, and a matching game. Purchase Rachael Ray's Cooking Rocks! (Lake Isle, 2004) instead.—Laura Lutz, Queens Borough Public Library, NY

Gr 2–5—Capaldi uses Montezuma's own words to tell this gripping story of a Yavapai boy who was captured by the Pima in 1871 and grew up to become a prominent doctor and Native American spokesperson. Solidly researched, the well-written text follows Wassaja (later renamed Carlos Montezuma) as he was sold into slavery and purchased by a kind Italian photographer. He demonstrated such a gift for learning that he graduated from the University of Illinois at 17. After becoming a doctor, Montezuma searched for his parents and siblings and learned the sad truth about their lives and deaths. A full-page author's note addresses "Dr. Montezuma—The Activist," including his "Let My People Go" speech to the U.S. Senate in 1916. The illustrations are stunning, with multiple perspectives and rich gold and brown tones. Superimposed over basket imagery, side panels feature photographs and supplemental information. The detailed bibliography lists books, Web sites, letters, and speeches. This title should be promoted for Native American, multicultural, and biography units.—Barbara Katz, Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, TX

Gr 1–4—This picture-book biography deals with a transformative moment in the life of Phillis Wheatley, the first African American to publish a book of poetry. In 1772, 18 members of the intelligentsia from the Massachusetts Bay Colony (including the governor) gathered to question the 17-year-old slave to ascertain the authorship of the poems she claimed were her own. An epilogue explains that no record remains of what transpired, but a document signed by those present was published with her collection of poems the following year. Clinton imagines Wheatley's thoughts as she proceeded through Boston, flashing back to her nights of intense preparation; childhood studies of English, Latin, Greek, and the Bible with the children of her master; and her arrival on a slave ship at age seven. Qualls's uncluttered acrylic and collage compositions employ strong diagonal lines, swirling ribbons of thought, and a combination of opaque images and outlined, transparent figures over washes of color to create visual interest. A warm sienna, contrasted with cool blues, grays, and browns, dominates the artist's palette. A formal tone, an occasional quaint turn of phrase, and a typeface with an irregular impression create the flavor of a time past. Clinton and Qualls offer an elegant introduction to an important individual, albeit without including any samples of Wheatley's poetry or a bibliography. Readers interested in more will appreciate Robin Doak's Phillis Wheatley (Compass Point, 2005) and Catherine Clinton's A Poem of Her Own (Abrams, 2003).—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

K-Gr 3—"Look at me!" Hanni, a Seeing Eye dog, explains who she is and her responsibilities as she introduces readers to her partner, Beth, who is blind. Vigilance is stressed throughout the book, and when Hanni talks about "keeping us safe," readers know that she is speaking as part of a team. Although there is plenty of information about what a Seeing Eye dog does—and does not do—when at work, this is predominantly a story about relationships: Hanni's relationship with Beth, with other dogs, and with the world at large as she navigates her partner through it. The pictures are painted in oil and have a soft focus. There are two sets of notes at the end—one from the point of view of Hanni, which describes her training as a puppy, and one from Beth, which explains how she became blind and her decision to get a Seeing Eye dog. These are accompanied by black-and-white line drawings that are much more playful in tone than the rest of the book. A list of online resources is appended. The book is also available in braille. An upbeat and inspiring selection to be used along with Glenna Lang's Looking Out for Sarah (Charlesbridge, 2001).—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA

Gr 1–4—An uplifting, lyrical story of how wolves were returned to Yellowstone Park after having been aggressively hunted throughout the United States. By 1926, there were no more wolves in the 48 states; the directors of the national parks wanted only "gentle animals." When people realized that nobody had ever been attacked by a wolf, 10 Canadian wolves were released into Yellowstone in 1995, and their numbers increased. Minor's realistic illustrations in natural tones give depth to the sense of joy one experiences through seeing the wolves and other animals restored to a balance of nature. The art, some full page, some full spread, captures life in the park, with its bears, birds, bison, and beavers, its bees, butterflies, and dragonflies. Almost every paragraph ends with the simple but effective refrain, "The wolves were back." Although this is not a detailed account of how the animals live, it is full of facts that children will enjoy as they reflect on the flora and fauna of the area, and on the need to protect our wildlife. This would be a great book for reading aloud, as well as for independent enjoyment.—Esther Moberg, Creswell Library, OR

Gr 1–3—All four of these titles oversimplify complicated topics. The presentations consist of 10 pages of text with corresponding color photos. Entire topics, such as each branch of the U.S. military, are covered in seven to nine sentences. Boldface type indicates terms that are included in the glossary, but there is some inconsistency from title to title. Phonetic pronunciations do not always agree with Merriam-Webster. Most of the captions are repetitions of the texts. Kevlar, used in body armor, is described as "stuff" rather than fabric or material. The Coast Guard's motto is called a "saying." Readers are given the impression that all one has to do to join the military is to show up at boot camp and go through the "hard training"; and in order to stay safe, the bomb technicians ride in a bomb truck. The space shuttle Columbia did not crash as stated here. No mention is made of the Apollo launchpad fire in the chapter on space program accidents. A slim index and a link to the publisher's Web site are included in each title. Look further if there is a need for materials on these topics at this level.—Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS

K-Gr 3—Jenkins avoids anthropomorphizing in this simple introduction to four rare apes—chimps, bonobos, orangutans, and gorillas—and provides basic facts about their daily eating and sleeping habits. The highly textured and naturalistic pencil and oil illustrations deftly blend subtle color and back-and-white scenes and are made for group sharing. However, the book suffers from the use of too many fonts of varying sizes without logical reason, from a bold 1 ¼ inch to a very small cursive. The book concludes by comparing humans to the four others and explains the negative impact that we've had on their survival. A final map that shows where the great apes live and how many survive provides needed context for young readers. A 10-item index makes this book marginally useful for reports; students will need to use the Web addresses of three conservation organizations as a starting place to learn more.—Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

PreS—The team that created Don't Say That Word! (2007) and Take Me Out of the Bathtub (2001, both S & S) is back with their most vulgar effort yet. Billed as a hilarious book to help toddlers learn how to "get up and go," this rude primer delivers 14 new lyrics, accompanied by equally tasteless pictures, to popular tunes such as this gem (sung to the tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down"): "People poopy/Squooshy brown/Throughout town/King and clown/When they go, they flush it down/So long, poopy!" Yes, parents in the midst of the toilet-training wars need all the help they can get to inspire their tots to get past the diaper stage, but it's hard to imagine a loving parent serenading her child (to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame") with: "Go do poop in the toilet/Go do pee in the bowl/Don't have to wait till the whole thing's filled/Just go a little, we'll all be so thrilled/So please poop poop poop when you feel it/Just sit and let pee-pee flow/You're so big/And the potty is/Where all big kids go!" So just who is the audience here, the parents, the potty-training set, or the primary-grade boys who haven't graduated from fart jokes yet?—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Gr 2–4—Kerley brings another historical figure to life. Alice Lee Roosevelt was President Theodore Roosevelt's only child by his first wife, who died two days after her birth. From the start, Alice's behavior was unconventional, and that pattern was to continue throughout her colorful life. Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers. Fotheringham's digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text. The energy in his pictures is palpable as when Alice is turned loose in her father's library and five Alices dart about followed by lines that trace her frenetic path as she reads eclectically and voraciously. The illustrations not only enhance but are frequently the source of humor: "Alice tried to be helpful. She watched her younger brothers and sister so her stepmother could get some rest." The picture depicts Alice and her siblings careening down the White House stairs on sleds. Alice blue, the color named after her eyes, swirls throughout in a subtle tribute. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into both a bygone era and one of its more interesting denizens as well as a surefire antidote for any child who thinks that historical figures are boring.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

K-Gr 6—Libraries wanting to augment their Greek mythology collections will find Kimmel's retellings of a dozen of the best-known stories a worthy addition. Compressed enough to be read as bedtime stories, yet realized fully enough to satisfy school assignments, these are myths that continue to resonate across the centuries. Midas's overweening greed, Icarus's youthful impetuosity, Arachne's heedless pride, and Narcissus's vapid self-absorption are but a few of the human flaws brought into conflict with the agendas of gods and goddesses. Montserrat's strongly composed, full-color illustrations employ design motifs from Greek pottery and textiles and frequently capture the wry humor of Kimmel's narratives.—Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY

PreS-Gr 2—Countless series of books on animals have been published, but this one is a little different. The facts are presented as though the animals are describing themselves in the first person. Although the creatures "talk," the authors maintain an objective approach and avoid fictionalizing: "I am a sea otter. My fur keeps me warm in the ocean. I dive to catch crabs and clams. Then, I float on my back and use my tummy as a dinner table!" This style makes the series a great choice for reading aloud to individuals or groups of preschool children, and beginning readers will be able to handle the texts. On each spread, a page of short sentences faces a full-page, full-color photo that is exceptionally clear and attractive. This is true throughout the series, but those in Ocean are particularly remarkable. Most libraries will want to make room for these titles on their crowded animal shelves.—Melinda Piehler, Sawgrass Elementary School, Sunrise, FL

PreS-Gr 3—Billed on the back cover as "for the next generation of naturalists," this title follows the first year of life for a young Dall's sheep born in the Alaskan mountains. The husband-and-wife team documents the trials and tribulations of a particular lamb born with a weak leg. Written with a storylike tone and style, the simple yet informative details of the Dall sheep's life are presented in a warm voice sure to please youngsters. An index and "Did You Know?" section conclude the book, with additional facts regarding life span, average size, migration patterns, and diet of the Dall's sheep. The page about mating ("The big ram smells the ewe often. When the ewe is ready to make a baby she has a special smell. That's when the father and mother join together…") is low-key and naturalistic, but may generate questions. Overall, a fine presentation.—Cathie Bashaw Morton, Millbrook Central School District, NY

Gr 3–6—This carefully researched book offers more depth than many biographies targeting this age group. Readers learn about Einstein's background, achievements, beliefs, and personal characteristics. For example, the independent-minded young man left high school to join his parents in Italy, despite their disapproval, and he attended only college classes that interested him. To his credit, Meltzer explains Einstein's theory of relativity in fairly simple language. He also shares how the physicist's theories paved the way for scientific advances such as space travel and computer chips and how the elderly Einstein campaigned for peace and equality. Although the writing is superb, there are no chapters to break up the text, which might discourage reluctant readers. Furthermore, one wonders about the intended audience because the font size is larger than average but the material is complex enough for upper elementary students. The black-and-white photographs help readers visualize Einstein as a scientist, musician, and family man. Overall, this biography will be a welcome addition to most collections.—Barbara Katz, Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, TX

PreS Up—These beautifully illustrated volumes interpret well-known passages from the Holy Bible: New International Version. Moser sets Psalm 23 in the Caribbean. The herder, a cheerful island boy, watches over his flocks of sheep and goats in pastoral island settings; the luminous watercolors, which feature carefully placed symbols of the Holy Trinity such as doves and butterflies, evoke the same feelings of peace and serenity inspired by the words of the beloved poem. In Creation, Spirin's elegant watercolors enhance the sense of grandeur inherent in God's momentous accomplishment. Each spread is dedicated to one day, beginning with the creation of "the heavens and the earth" and concluding with the seventh day of rest. The jewel-toned paintings are framed within half circles or domed rectangles that resemble church windows. The detailed opulence of the illustrations brings to mind the pageantry and splendor of the Renaissance era. The portrait of Eve crowning Adam with a wreath of flowers in the garden is especially lovely. Each title includes a letter from the artist reflecting on his relationship with the verses. Both of these selections would be fine additions to most collections.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA

Gr 1–4—Award-winning photographer O'Neill introduces readers to coral reefs, kelp forests, and the ocean bottom. Especially stunning are the photos of the Hairy Frogfish, an incredibly camouflaged member of the Anglerfish family that prowls off the coast of Florida. Nevertheless, the colorful creatures of the coral reef are the stars of this book. The author's strong support of conservation comes through loud and clear in his narrative, and photographs amplify this message by showing the amazing life-forms that could be lost. Shark highlights several species, including the breathtaking Scalloped Hammerhead of the eastern Pacific. Views of the creatures' prey provide variety, and particularly eye catching is the picture of the giant Napoleon Wrasse snapped with the lens partly above and partly below its shallow habitat. Without underplaying the fearsome and highly developed hunting skills of sharks, O'Neill stresses the importance of predators' roles in maintaining the balance of ocean life. The spectacular full-color images in these works make them beautiful additions.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Gr 2–5—Pfeffer combines basic science with cultural traditions and celebrations to describe this seasonal event. A simple explanation and equally clear graphics serve to contrast the light of summer solstice with the darkness of winter solstice and also to demonstrate the fact that both the vernal and autumnal equinoxes occur when day and night are of equal length. Bleck's cheerful cartoon illustrations are well matched to the text and sport suitably bright hues. Springtime festivities within Chinese, Persian, Indian, and Mayan cultures are explored, with reference to ancient mythology and architectural structures. The significance of special holiday foods is also discussed, including pancakes for the Russian celebration of Maslenitsa, fresh berries for the Cree Native Americans, the symbolic seder plate for Jews at Passover, and eggs for Easter. The back of the book offers a craft activity or recipe for each holiday mentioned. Useful for seasonal units, the book offers a list of print resources and Web sites but could be considered an additional purchase for libraries that have Ellen Jackson's The Spring Equinox (Millbrook, 2002).—Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

PreS-Gr 1—These beginning readers simply list the different activities that one can do on various outings. Each book follows the same format. First, there is a spread that shows words and small photographs. In the simple text that follows, pictures are substituted for the nouns. On each spread, one sentence faces a full-page, full-color photograph of children involved in the activity. The purpose of the books seems to focus more on children learning through visual cues that words stand for concepts rather than conveying information about the beach, the zoo, or the farm.—Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA

PreS-Gr 2—In each of these titles, pages with a single sentence in a large font alternate with good color close-ups of representative species in their natural habitat. The minimal texts describe some of the featured invertebrates' basic physical characteristics and behavior. Short picture glossaries are also included. Although the writing is clear, no details are given on any of the topics introduced; as a result, the books are flawed by oversimplification. For instance, Crawl asserts that "Ladybugs have two wings," but the accompanying photo depicts the insect's forewings as well as the wings used for flying; since neither set of wings is identified, readers are likely to be confused. In the second title, the statement that "Spiders have eight eyes" is misleading. While most spiders do have eight, some species have six, four, two, or even none at all. Also, "Spiders spin webs" is not true of all species. Earthworm states that "Earthworms eat through dirt," but it doesn't explain what they eat-organic material in the soil. While there are few titles on these animals for this age level, the information provided here is too slight to give beginning readers even a basic understanding of these creatures. Judy Allen's Are You a Ladybug? (Kingfisher, 2000) is a better introduction; it describes the insect's life cycle and some characteristics of different species.—Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

Gr 2–5—This addition to the series was written by a woman who was born in Pakistan, and is illustrated with colorful photos. Each letter of the alphabet is associated with a word in Urdu or English that has something to do with the country's history, culture, or geography. Appropriately enough, the letter A is for the word for welcome, Asslam-U-Alaikum. Other entries include E for Eid, I for Indus, S for Shalwar-Kameez, and Y for Yaar (Urdu for friends). The author notes in her introduction that Pakistan is in fact quite diverse, as it is divided into a number of provinces with different languages, clothing, and customs, and this diversity is reflected in the choice of illustrations, which depict scenes throughout the country, both urban and rural. While this book wouldn't necessarily be a first choice for reports, it is a good introduction to the country, and the beautiful color photographs and graphic design make it attractive enough for browsing.—Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

Gr 2–3—Rosenberg dishes up an assortment of fascinating facts to delight readers. Ack! discusses underground insects and animals, including corpses. Blecch! covers cold germs spread by classmates, bacteria at the water fountain, and the sweat shed in gym class. Eek! describes some perhaps-not-so-palatable ingredients that may be found in common foods (like insect fragments in peanut butter), and cultures that include cats, dogs, and guinea pigs in their diets. Eew! discusses blood, poop, puke, and so on. The humorous texts include a variety of fonts, sizes, and hues, which may be overwhelming at first glance but are easy to get used to. Silly computer-generated cartoon illustrations are intermingled with occasional photographs. Children who are still in awe of body functions and find creepy crawly things neat will be squirming for these titles, which may whet their appetites for additional information.—Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX

Gr 2–5—This fictionalized picture-book account of the composer's life is narrated by the young Vivaldi, beginning with his birth in Venice in 1678 during an earthquake. When his mother saw her newborn struggling for breath, she promised him to the priesthood, if only his life were spared. His father, a violinist, taught the child to play, acknowledging his love of music. At age 15, it was time to begin studying for the priesthood. Though he begged to pursue a career in music, his mother stood firm, and he eventually became known as the "Red Priest" because of his hair color. When he rushed from Mass to write down some musical notes, the Cardinal relieved him of his duties. He was ordered to teach violin to a group of orphan girls, who held concerts in the chapel. Vivaldi wrote The Four Seasons for them. The realistic pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations portray Venice's canals, the crowded piazza, San Marco, and interior scenes of the boy at home with his family. One dramatic spread of the countryside features Zephyr, Notus, Boreas, and Eurus-the four seasons, each blowing from a corner. An afterword, "Fact & Fiction," identifies the historical facts of the subject's life, including his decline in popularity and death, "poor and forgotten." The narration is straightforward and sometimes humorous.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

Gr 3–6—Essentially, this is a reprint of the 2003 HarperCollins edition, under the respected aegis of the Smithsonian, with a new cover photo, a square rather then rectangular configuration, a new title page, and a less elegant but easier-to-read font. The fantastic color photos of the original edition are all here, as is Simon's crisp, informative text. Team this handsome work with Nic Bishop's simpler (but equally eye-catching) Nic Bishop Spiders (Scholastic, 2007), Margery Facklam's attractive species-specific Spiders and Their Web Sites (Little, Brown, 2001), and/or Michael Elsohn Ross's investigatory Spiderology (Carolrhoda, 2000) for a nifty look into the eye-full, leggy world of arachnids. An attention grabber.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Gr 2–4—In each of these general introductions, a full-page, sharp, color close-up of one or more of the featured insects appears opposite a page of large-print text. Many of the photos, particularly in Ants and Bees, are so highly magnified that antennae segments, hairs, grains of pollen, etc., are clearly visible; a microphotograph of a representative insect's head and/or mouthparts is also included in each title. The texts, bland by comparison, briefly describe major body parts, behavior, habitats, life cycles, diet, and natural enemies. Picture captions offer additional facts. While clearly written for the most part, all three volumes are marred by oversimplification and an imprecise choice of words. For instance, Ants refers to the insect's palps as "…four tiny sticks near its mouth"—a bizarre description of mouthparts. Ants and Butterflies describe larvae as "worms" (in Butterflies they are "…small worms called caterpillars"), but this is misleading as actual worms belong to completely different phyla. The glossary definition of insects, repeated in each title, is also misleading; "small animals that often have six legs and wings" implies that the number of legs varies. Ting Morris's Ant and Butterfly (both Smart Apple Media, 2004) and Joyce Milton's Honeybees (Grosset & Dunlap, 2003) cover similar material in more detail. Although they lack the photographic close-ups found in Slade's books, they provide a clearer picture of insect life.—Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

Gr 3–6—This photographic testimony to Keller's life is best-suited for piquing readers' interest about the remarkable woman. It chronicles her life through 72 thoughtfully chosen photographs and documents, each with brief captions that serve as a logical progression of her life from infancy through her 80s. While many of the biographies about her include photographs, Sullivan's selections and the chronological flow allow students to visualize the determination and perseverance that characterized Keller's life, and to appreciate the amazing scope of her accomplishments. The layout of the book is beautiful, with simbraille (a print representation of braille characters) used alongside each page number and caption heading. The author's focus is primarily on the work that Keller did as an adult, inspiring people around the world through her public speaking and political activism. While basic information about her childhood is included in the captions, this book does not go into detail about the remarkable transformation that Anne Sullivan wrought in the troubled and angry child. Students looking for a source that combines abundant photographs with a more detailed narrative can be directed to Leslie Garrett's Helen Keller: A Photographic Story of a Life (DK, 2004). Sullivan's end matter includes a list of several organizations that are carrying on Keller's work, and the incorporation of contact information for great-grandniece Keller Johnson Thompson, who currently serves as Ambassador for the American Foundation for the Blind, gives a satisfying feel of continuity.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Gr 3–5—Amid an overabundance of soccer books, Thomas offers a special hook that makes this title stand out: facts that fans will relish knowing and sharing with their friends. For example, he begins with a section on soccer-ball construction that has intriguing information about color and water absorption of balls. (This simple fact alone could encourage a good science-fair experiment.) Another section talks about growing and cutting turf for World Cup game fields. Here, Thomas suggests an activity with grass to try out. There are discussions about the changes in cleats and materials used for uniforms over the years, "mental toughness," and the various playing styles in different countries. The text is broken into readable blocks with a variety of colored backgrounds. Colorful photographs and digital art depict both genders enjoying the sport. A welcome title where soccer is popular.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

Gr 3–6—This picture-book biography focuses on George Washington's life as a farmer, inventor, and scientist; however, the author also draws many parallels between his role as farmer and as leader. Washington's goal to make his estate self-sufficient carries over to his goal to make the new country independent. Thomas's enthusiasm for her subject is evident in her storytelling-style text. She not only used primary sources in her research, but also included several quotes from Washington's diaries and letters. These quotes are written in large script and inserted appropriately within the text. Johnson's oil paintings support the text while adding a feel of the 18th century. The balanced placement allows both the art and narrative to shine. The author includes useful back matter on visiting Mt. Vernon and an especially enlightening note on "George's Thoughts on Slavery." Endpapers show a map of Mt. Vernon taken from a drawing transmitted by General Washington. Students will find this title useful for reports, but will also find it a great nonfiction read.—Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Gr 3–5—This title poses 21 questions about these perennially popular creatures and answers them with a simple text accompanied by crisp photos and/or attractive artwork. Colorful backgrounds surround the text and provide extra visual spice to the many pronunciation balloons and links to inviting Web sites. A Mesozoic time line is provided, as is an interview with Dr. Matthew Carrano, a field paleontologist who is a curator at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Published under the aegis of the Smithsonian, this is not as challenging as Luis V. Rey's Extreme Dinosaurs (Chronicle, 2001), but will surely appeal to most young dinophiles and add a fresh, toothy Tyrannosaurus cover to those well-used 567.9s.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Gr 1–4—The elder Toledo is a contemporary Mexican artist from the Zapotec tradition, and his daughter has fashioned a fable from a series of his drawings. In a far-off time when both people and animals lived on and on, Death decrees that the Earth is becoming too full and determines to do something about it. She invites people and animals to jump rope with her, and those who exhaust themselves die while she keeps on skipping. The plan works for a while, beginning with a little man whose shoes Death appropriates for herself after he expires. Many animals skip rope and die, until Grasshopper gets the better of Death. This pourquoi tale explains why Grasshoppers jump so much and why Death is so light-footed. The text includes little jump-rope rhymes that Death recites to his victims. Amado deserves credit for not trying to translate the Spanish literally, but to create an English text that works on its own. While Toledo is a fine artist who works in multiple mediums, his work would be much more at home in a gallery than it is in a children's book. The illustrations are absolutely too frightening for most youngsters. This book would be most appropriate for collections of Mexican fine art.—Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ

Gr 2–5—A Western rancher once again exposes readers to life on the American high plains. This time she shows a way of life that many people think belongs in another time and another country—transhumance, the seasonal migration of animal herds. Through beautiful photographs and easily understood text, she explains how and why sheep migration works. She also covers the seasonal chores and cyclical changes in the herd and includes both large and small operations. As in her other books, Urbigkit shows variations on the lifestyle—from sheep herders using modern trailers to transport their animals to shepherds who travel on foot or horse. The information is basic and authentic. Readers who appreciated A Young Shepherd (2006) and Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs: How They Guard Sheep (2005, both Boyds Mills) will enjoy this additional aspect of sheepherding. It's also a good supplemental source for social-studies units.—Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

Gr 1–4—Readers accompany the fabulous Farley Family on their circuitous car and plane trip across the U.S., from Maine to Hawaii. Mom, Dad, Freddie, Fran, and Fido appear on each pastel-colored page chronicling the fun-filled activities available in each state and learning unusual facts. Readers learn that Maine is the earmuff capital of the world and that Albert Einstein's brain is preserved in Princeton, NJ. Each fact is presented in a separate area of the page, with accompanying cartoon art, resulting in a busy but energetic layout. The states are discussed in the order in which the family visits them. Children are also encouraged to do some additional exploration by looking for a little figure of Bigfoot scattered throughout. A colorful map at the beginning serves as a table of contents and shows the location of the states and the family's route. The concluding pages list the states in alphabetical order and give their capitals, dates of statehood, rank in entering the Union, area, bird, flower, insect, tree, motto, and nickname. This book is loads of fun and is certain to stimulate interest in the U.S.—Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, NJ