Preschool to Grade 4

PreS–Through bouncy verses, children follow a toddler’s antics as her grandparents, parents, a brother, and a pet dog celebrate everything about her, from her eyes to her tummy to her toes. “Baby’s got ears,/cute little ears./Smaller than bunny ears./Stick out kinda funny ears./Hearing everyoney ears./Baby’s got two./Who loves baby’s ears?/Me! I do!” Cheery watercolor and gouache artwork breaks the spreads into full-, double-, and quarter-page images. Despite the use of “baby” in the title, toddlers are the more appropriate audience for the book’s pastel color palette and playful details. This is a lively lap-reading experience for the very young and their grown-ups, likely inspiring a dose of tickling in the process.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

PreS-Gr 1–In a mysterious location, pandas live at the base of a tall cliff, while polar bears reside at the top, so they never meet. Then a curious polar bear cub falls off the edge into a mud puddle, giving him pandalike markings. He meets a “splotchy” cub and they enjoy playing together, until the polar bear’s muddy spots are washed off after a swim. The polar bear worries that the bear, which he learns is a panda, will not want to be friends now that their differences are known. To the contrary, the young panda is fascinated by the polar bear’s stories of snow and, as he describes his habitat, he grows homesick. Working together, the two build a ladder out of bamboo, allowing each to visit the other’s home, which readers learn on the last spread is in a zoo. The muted watercolors of spot art and spreads perfectly evoke the playful energy of the young animals in their respective environs. The lesson that we can get along despite our differences is presented in an age-appropriate and lighthearted manner in this simple and delightful tale.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

PreS-K–As a mother ghost is trying to get her youngster to bed, every line and ritual used by humans is turned upside down. The ghostling is scared of the light and is told, “Now dream a little nightmare while the ghoulies dance and sway./Dream a dream of darkness where the wild monsters play.” The little ghost is afraid that there’s a boy hiding in his closet, but Mom assures him that children are only make-believe. After the usual hugs, kisses, and assurance that “I love you,” the youngster finally falls asleep. The digitally colored bamboo and ink drawings are simple and large. The daytime scenes are pink, and those set at night are often purple. The dream scenes are filled with rather scary creatures of all kinds. The story might be scary for the littlest ones, but kids old enough to understand the wordplay might enjoy it.–Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Gr 2-4–Ace Lacewing is back to solve another mystery. Scratch Murphy, the owner of Six Legs Park, is knocked unconscious by a falling toolbox–presumably the property of a disgruntled carpenter ant–and wakes to find his flea bag empty and his money gone. Ace discovers that his client has a lot of enemies, including a fly-by-night roach in the banking business; Scratch’s twin brother, Scritch; and a weevil with over-the-top parenting skills. Ace’s blue-eyed gal Xerces and Police Sergeant Zito “The Mosquito” are with him every step of the way. When the solution hits Ace “like a flyswatter,” a run for the money ensues through the Termite Tower of Terror, Anteater Falls, and House of Mirrors. Ace’s first-person narration and snappy dialogue are true to the hard-boiled detective genre, as is the cast of characters. The illustrations, done in pencil and digitally colored, fairly glow. The many insect references (“Flypaper Awareness Week” and “Keep Your Antennae and Legs Inside Ride”) in the colorful spreads are a true delight. Mystery fans and insect enthusiasts will enjoy a one-on-one reading with plenty of time to savor the clever wordplay and insect-related details. They will also want to find Ace’s first adventure, Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective (Charlesbridge, 2005).–Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

PreS-K–Monty, a little elephant, has been told by his mother to always stay with the herd and to never forget that she loves him. She tells him about the forget-me-nots that bloom after it rains on the African plains and help elephants remember. When Monty strays to investigate a blue pail that he thinks might be a forget-me-not, he gets lost. He encounters a flock of flamingos, a mob of meerkats, and a colony of termites, all of whom inform him that rain is coming and he should go home quickly. The lonely elephant then remembers what his mother had told him and continues to search until he is reunited with his herd. When he awakes the next day after the rain, the plains are covered with blue flowers, which the elephants eat, and Monty never forgets again. The story is slight but serves as a vehicle for the large, brilliantly colored cartoon illustrations of the veld and its inhabitants, highlighted by a lovable Monty.–Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

Gr 1-3–A story set in Canada during the early 20th century, based on the recollections of Cutler’s father. Wanting to contribute to his Jewish immigrant family’s livelihood, 10-year-old Ben takes a job as a hatmaker’s delivery boy. Given a rickety bicycle, he is instructed to take a basketful of hat linings to the other side of town. Unable to cycle up the steep hill, he waits for a streetcar and surreptitiously grabs on. When he tries to let go, he loses his balance, along with all of the deliveries. As he lies injured in the “trash-filled” street, the angry conductor disdainfully labels him a “Guttersnipe.” Ben has an epiphany while watching the colorful silk circles whirl through the air, “bright as hope, shining like promises.” Ever resilient, he realizes that there would be “other jobs, and other chances…. This was not the end. This was only the beginning.” This sentiment has the tone of an adult, in hindsight, making sense of the event. Barbara Greenwood’s Factory Girl (Kids Can, 2007) explores overcoming adversity in a more authentic child voice. McCully’s detailed ink and watercolor illustrations capture tenement buildings, garment factories, and crowded streetscapes. An additional purchase.–Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

K-Gr 2–The Lostlet, the Strangelet, and the Oddlet are suffering identity crises, walking around in circles, puzzling over their existence. Along comes a boy who is lost himself. The three have apparently never seen a human before and huddle around the youngster as he cries and says he’s run so far that he can’t find his way back. He misses his home and his mother. “'I want some love,’ he sobbed.” The creatures have no concept of love. They offer up their prized possessions in hopes of comforting him. Their golden leaf, white pebble, and pink shell make him smile for the first time. When he hugs them, they declare that’s what they’ve been longing for, and they change their names to Huglet, Snuglet, and Foundlet. They frolic and suddenly are home–in time for supper. The last picture shows the boy and the trio sitting around a table at a beach house with Mom in the background. The illustrations are the best part of this book. Benson’s large, stylized pictures depict a beach and a forest of spiky blue cactuslike trees. The creatures are whimsical, but do not resemble any known animals. This is a book without an audience. The usual picture-book crowd is not big on existential angst, and the pictures are too childlike for kids old enough for such philosophical thoughts.–Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Gr 2-5–Eight-year-old Dessert, a lover of all things sweet and delicious, is trying to follow her third-grade teacher’s advice to march to her own drummer. But it is not as easy as it sounds. Her first task is to convince her parents that dessert should be eaten before dinner, but they have other ideas. And when her mother forbids her to touch the irresistible homemade double-decker fudge bars in the refrigerator, Dessert cannot resist, and winds up eating all of them. Now she must find a way to make it up to her family, and so she cooks up a scheme that involves helping out at her family’s restaurant. But when her class nemesis arrives at Fondue Paris, all of her grand plans may fall apart. This is a delectable story narrated by a plucky young heroine. Davenier’s clever illustrations, reminiscent of Hilary Knight’s work in Eloise, add to the charm. This book will be especially popular with fans of Clementine, Junie B. Jones, and Ramona.–Jessica Marie, Renton Public Library, WA

Gr 3-5–In Shadows, Molly continues to do her patriotic duty by collecting scrap paper and costume jewelry and visiting the local veterans’ hospital with the Junior Red Cross, but she and others around her are growing weary of the war. Her father has returned uninjured but he isn’t his old, cheerful self; her favorite JRC leader mysteriously quits; and someone is interfering with Molly’s collections for the paper drive. Multiple red herrings interspersed throughout the story keep readers guessing until the somewhat tame denouement, and the “Looking Back” section fills in some details on life during the end of World War II. In Loon, Samantha and her adopted sister visit their Grandmary’s summer house. Samantha loves Piney Point and can’t wait to show Nellie around. Shortly after her arrival, she is dismayed to learn that her grandmother is considering selling the property after experiencing numerous maintenance problems with mysterious origins. Suspicious fires, sabotaged canoes, and other dangers give this mystery more drama and urgency than others in the series, but readers not already familiar with Samantha will have difficulty placing the setting and time period based on the book’s details. The “Looking Back” section helps to clarify some details about the attempts in the 1900s to develop this land in the Adirondacks.–Natasha Forrester, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

PreS-Gr 2–These whimsical wordless picture books star a likable pup with a brown spot over one eye and floppy ears that stand up, down, or out to the sides to express a variety of emotions. Polo lives in a cozy duplex inside a large tree that fills up most of a tiny island. In the first story, the pooch’s solitary lifestyle is interrupted when Lily, a rabbitlike character cruising along on a flying cloud, accidentally crashes into his window and the two spend a pleasant day together. In the second book, Polo’s fishing expedition turns into a Zen adventure, as he is shipwrecked on an island where he meets a mystical koala and journeys home via a flying rug powered by a magic flute. The action is conveyed entirely through the cartoon artwork, presented on single pages and in panels. Employing bright crystalline hues, sharp black lines, and delightfully delineated details, the playful illustrations clearly convey the specifics of the story lines while establishing a fanciful world in which wondrous things are believably commonplace. The wordless format encourages kids to take an active role in the storytelling, identifying the important plot elements, discerning the sequencing, and verbalizing the action. These books will captivate youngsters’ imaginations and nurture literacy skills.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2–This picture book presents 13 short rhyming stories about Billy and Milly. Most of them are four words long; some, only three. Every word in each selection rhymes. “Gnat/Hat/Splat!/Flat.” The bright cartoon illustrations done in mixed-media collage are the keys to understanding the stories and the humor. Page turns often play an important role in creating a dramatic ending. Both clever and slapstick, this book can be read for pleasure or used as a jumping-off point for thinking about rhyme, language, and story.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

PreS–“When Sun slips over the edge of the world/And Moon sails up to the stars,” an obviously pregnant Eskimo mother and her young child paddle along the seacoast and observe different ocean creatures. Each spread features a large illustration of a particular mother/baby animal pair (or group)–otters, walruses, dolphins, polar bears, etc.–settling down to sleep, with a smaller illustration of the duo looking on from their boat. Brief, descriptive sentences end with the refrain: “To Ocean’s child we say good night./Good night, little orca {puffin, etc.}, good night.” The artwork is done in the same finely crafted, softly colored graphic style that Diaz used in The Pot That Juan Built (Lee & Low, 2002) and César: Si, Se Puede!/Yes, We Can! (Marshall Cavendish, 2004). He has projected swirly reflectionlike patterns in the water that seem to bounce off clothing, boat, and sea animals, along with representations of plant life and bubbles. Unfortunately, the rhythmic cadence of the unrhymed text and repetitive refrain is not maintained throughout. Also, references to both the woman’s unborn child (“…asleep/In a sea of her own quiet dreams”) and to the child with her as “Ocean’s child” seem a bit abstract, given the authors’ and illustrator’s careful choice of animals appropriate to the setting and accurate depictions of their sleep habits.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

PreS-Gr 1–Fucile makes a hilarious debut with this picture book. After playing all kinds of games, reading comic books, and baking “enough cookies to feed a small country,” two boys agree to do “nothing” for 10 seconds. When Sal, the older child, tells Frankie that they are going to sit in chairs and pretend to be statues in the park, the younger boy’s imagination runs wild and ruins the moment. He envisions a flock of pigeons clustering about his stony self and shoos them away. This only frustrates Sal, who tries again and again to think of ways for the two of them to remain absolutely still. Frankie is unable to get this right, always imagining something that causes him to move, from a small dog relieving himself on the boy’s giant redwood self or King Kong climbing his Empire State Building self and stealing his eyeglasses. In the end, when Frankie can no longer hold his breath or keep from blinking, Sal gives up. Relieved, Frankie has a suggestion. The story is told mainly through the zany artwork. Clear, cartoonlike illustrations alternate between generous spreads and vignettes set on white backgrounds. Done in ink, colored pencil, and acrylic, the pictures capture the universality of the moment through the boys’ animated body language, Sal’s imperious glances, and Frankie’s increasing exasperation.–Adrienne Wilson, Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monroe, CT

Gr 1-5–One fall day, Miss Smith takes her class to the public library to meet the librarian, Virginia Creeper. The scene is set as they enter the building, which looks a bit like a haunted house. The librarian reads spooky stories from Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook, which brings the characters to life. Soon the children are surrounded by frightening figures such as Frankenstein, Count Dracula, Captain Hook, and the Jabberwocky. They enjoy themselves so much that the youngsters forget what time it is and then must rush to finish each story so the characters can go back into the book. In all the chaos, it seems one story was overlooked. So far, Zack is the only student to notice a creature lurking nearby. Falling leaves and pictures of ghosts, pumpkins, and witches complete the autumnal scene. Halloween can be inferred, but it is not mentioned by name. Each page is full of clever details, and the characters have unique characteristics, from the librarian’s bright purple hair and dress, to Miss Smith’s stand-up red hair, to the book characters playing out their roles. The students in particular are expressive. One page shows them with their mouths open while the Headless Horseman looms above. The story captures the joy of reading and is sure to be a hit.–Lori A. Guenthner, Baltimore County Public Library, Randallstown, MD

K-Gr 3–Growing up above his hardworking family’s tailor shop in Buffalo, NY, young Tad is surrounded by loving Polish relatives. On a busy Saturday after work and a lunch of golumki, fried mushrooms, and homemade bread, Grandma reminds the boy it’s time for his nap, but Tad declares he is too old for one. Aunt Hattie suggests that they take a rest in his room and enjoy their favorite game–the travel game. To play, the pair needs a globe and the book 1001 Pictures from Around the World. As they spin the globe, Tad’s finger lands near Hong Kong. Aunt and nephew read about their imaginary destination and set off on a wild adventure involving a seven-story white pagoda, water taxis, and tigers. The ending–Aunt Hattie napping on Tad’s bed while he helps his family in the shop below–will probably come as no surprise to children. Alley’s cheery and busy street, home, and shop scenes in ink, watercolor, and acrylic are filled with the sorts of details that are fully appreciated over multiple readings. Children will be charmed by the warmth and humor of Grandits’s wonderful tribute to family memories and the power of imagination.–Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

Gr 2-3–“What’s the matter with the new boy?” wonders third grader Dyamonde Daniel. Free always looks angry and never talks in class, only communicating in grunts. Dyamonde knows what it feels like to be new: her parents’ divorce caused her to relocate from Brooklyn to Washington Heights. Yet her friendly overtures are rebuffed each time. When Free scares one of the little kids in the lunchroom, Dyamonde has had enough and confronts him about his grouchy behavior. It turns out that the classmates have much in common, including their unusual names and a longing for their old schools and friends. Dyamonde, smart, assertive, wild-haired, and “skinnier than half a toothpick,” is a memorable main character, though she sometimes sounds too mature for her years. Yet her actions and feelings ring true. Christie’s illustrations flesh out the characters, and along with patterned page borders, contribute child appeal. This is a promising start to a new series of transitional chapter books; suggest it to readers who enjoyed Karen English’s Nikki & Deja (Clarion, 2008), another early chapter book about the ups and downs of friendship between two African-American students.–Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

K-Gr 2–Some stories about kids and grandparents are all sweetness and light. Not this one. This boy’s grandpa “yells at the newspaper. He yells at the TV. He even yells at his own dog.” Visiting him for two weeks is a trial, at least until the two go fishing and an unanticipated dip in the pond shows that laughter can sometimes cure even the grouchiest relative. Remembering what young boys are like helps, too. MacDonald’s wonderful watercolors have his typical ’50s look, and include comic scenes such as false teeth left to bite anyone who might sit on a hassock and the boy innocently driving his toy trucks off the back of the couch right onto sleeping Grandpa’s head. The pictures are a great match for the text, where the modern elements sit comfortably alongside the old-fashioned ones. Children will enjoy the idea of old folks learning from young ones.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Gr 3-5–When the Great Depression hits, 10-year-old Allie Sherman’s family moves from New Haven to Stamford, CT, where her father has found a job. Once there, she meets Martha, who attends the local parochial school and warns Allie about Mimi, the “crybaby” across the street whose father is a “bookie.” While Martha spends time with her friend Cynthia, Allie befriends Mimi. By the novel’s end Allie learns what makes a true friend when she realizes that friendship with Martha will always be limited since she is willing to accept Cynthia’s cheating and mean-spiritedness. Allie also comes to realize that people can change, even adults. The story comes full circle with a satisfying, generally plausible conclusion as summer is about to begin again. Rich details bring the period to life, from books shared to the nauseating Lucky Strike cigarettes smoked by adults. This is a gentle story with the sensibility of a novel written in an earlier time. Characters are well presented, and secondary figures have telling details. For example, Allie’s mother responds quickly and angrily when her child is called a “dirty Jew” by Martha’s friend, though it causes an argument with her husband. This can be read independently or shared as a read-aloud.–Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library

K-Gr 2–The three mouse friends are back in a story about Dolores’s new and unfortunate allergy. When she eats cheese, she sneezes and breaks out in itchy spots. “Dolores could not imagine life without cheese. It was her favorite thing to eat!” Can she quit it cold turkey? Even with the town’s “Everything Cheese Festival” coming up? Soon Dolores learns that she can go on after a setback, and also that, when it comes to making lunches, a little creativity goes a long way. Fans of the other books about these appealing rodents will find the same rhythmic ease in the writing, and the same light touch with a message. Walrod’s colorful cartoon-style artwork adds lots of humor and personality. Allergy sufferers will find this reassuring in a nondidactic way, and all kids will smile, even without saying cheese.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Gr 1-3–Vibrant folk-style illustrations in rich colors enliven a rhyming text that portrays the journeys made by descendants of the Incas traveling to celebrate Inti Raymi, the Inca New Year, in Cusco, the ancient Inca capital. On the winter solstice, when the sun is farthest from the Earth, the people gather to insure its return and the success of their crops. “Up and down the Andes, there’s excitement in the air,/And everyone is on their way to Cusco’s central square./The children all are actors and they’ve come from far and near/To celebrate the festival that’s held in June each year.” The object of the celebration, the sun God himself, shimmers off the page in glowing shades of gold, and the faces of the participants are mesmerizing. The story is followed by an explanation of this celebration and other Peruvian festivals. The formidable Andes Mountains are captured in brilliant greens, and facts about them are included. This joyous story celebrates not only an annual holiday, but also the heritage reclaimed by the Andean people of Peru.–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

PreS-K–A turquoise, beetle-shaped robot joins his brightly hued coworkers in seeking a missing friend and repairing the broken “Big Cooker Robot.” Though his small face lacks any features, R Robot’s valor is evident as he enters the enormous Cooker. He uses the light from his spare head that he always takes to work to find and remove the clog–the missing robot. Busy, full-page spreads in energetically colored acrylics are backed by splotched spray-painted backgrounds. Kuszyk’s industrial art includes comedy when the variously shaped machines team up to solve problems of height, heavy load, or repair. The mostly simple-sentence text is an ideal complement to the topic and illustrations. Given the recent popularity of robot stories, this will be a hit with children.–Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Gr 2-4–This early chapter book consists of three stories. In the first, Poodle goes to the beauty salon to have her fur done and is pleased with the results. She does not think Hound will appreciate her beauty, so she has a lonely tea at the Ritz and waits to be admired. When she returns home, Hound does notice and wisely tells her, “Nothing is ever wasted on a friend.” Next, Hound is counting the stars and comparing the brightness of the planets when Poodle appears and distracts him. Finally, he puts aside his telescope and listens to her story of snakes and monsters on the moon. They spend the rest of the night “whispering of stars and moons and planets with strange rings.” In the final story, Hound is planting a vegetable garden. They learn about bugs from Poodle’s library book, and by planting flowers that attract the good ones, Hound has the best garden ever. If Poodle is bossy, often bored, and more than a little vain, Hound makes allowances. Illustrations in watercolor and pen show a feminine poufy white poodle and a “not exactly pretty” Hound going about their activities and clearly enjoying one another’s company. Reluctant readers will be part of the larger audience who will enjoy these adventures.–Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Gr 3-5–In this comical sequel to The Mammoth Academy (Holt, 2008), Ice Age friends Oscar and Arabella (both woolly mammoths) return for their second school term only to find themselves in prehistoric peril when the human pupils from the Cave Skool start vandalizing the Academy. Those wild and dangerous cave kids have relocated to within snowball-throwing distance of the Academy and are terrorizing the mammoths and their friends, not to mention making a filthy mess of the icy plains. In the meantime, the professors are trying to maintain an air of normalcy, encouraging the students to work on their art projects and dances in preparation for the annual Founder’s Fiesta. Finally a humongous storm strikes, trapping the students inside and leaving them vulnerable to attack by the hungry humans, who invade the school prepared to feast on mammoth, only to be stymied by a gigantic woolly surprise. Opening pages provide a quick pictorial introduction to the characters. Particularly amusing are the slovenly, club-wielding human pupils who misspell everything and are all named “Ugh.” With loosely drawn black-and-white illustrations on every page, this wacky chapter book is fast paced and funny, perfect for kids looking for a light summer read.–Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

K-Gr 3–In the tradition of Peter H. Reynolds’s The Dot (2003) and Ish (2004, both Candlewick), a clever stick finds its voice through art. The stick had always been smart, making up poetry, thinking of mathematical equations, and appreciating the beauty of nature. But since it couldn’t speak, it could not share its wisdom with the animals and plants. Then one day, it realizes that when it drags through the sand, it can draw pictures. In a flurry of self-discovery, the stick creates a magnificent mural that makes all of the forest creatures cheer. And although the masterpiece is erased by the rainfall that follows, the stick knows it can always make another one. This pleasant little allegory features sweet nature-friendly pictures that aptly illustrate the story. It would be best appreciated by quiet, thoughtful children.–Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Gr 2-4–Set in a small town in the Australian bush, these books introduce best friends Bonnie and Samantha and their shared adventures and passion for horses. In Switch, a farm horse belonging to Sam’s father and a wild horse, or brumby, mysteriously switch places–and only Bon and Sam discover the truth. After Sam’s policeman father unexpectedly mounts the newly domesticated animal to gallop off and rescue a toddler from an oncoming train, Sam divulges the horse’s true identity, but he doesn’t believe her. One year later, the girls encounter the former farm horse in the bush, happily acclimated with the brumbies. In Circus Horse, Bon, having practiced some trick riding for the local talent show, secretly takes the place of an injured rider in a visiting circus. She manages to turn her near fall into a clownlike part of the act, much to the enjoyment of the unsuspecting audience. While both plots in these short chapter books require some suspension of disbelief, overall they are an engaging window into rural life Down Under and the friendship of two enviably independent girls who are knowledgeable, skilled riders. Lighthearted ink and watercolor illustrations charmingly convey the Aussie terrain and the cast of human and equine characters. However, some of the more finely detailed drawings and small-font captions could be visually challenging for some young eyes. A short glossary of unfamiliar terms is a vital addition for American readers. Additional purchases where there is strong interest in horse stories for newly fluent readers.–Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT

Gr 2-4–This second story about Alvin Ho, the boy who is afraid of almost everything, is another delightful look into the life of the timid youngster. In this installment, his fears center around a big upcoming event: camping with his dad. Once again, Look’s dialogue is spot on: she captures the silly, impetuous, jump-from-one-idea-to-the-next quality of a second-grade boy. Alvin’s adventures (like getting trapped in a dishwasher box while pretending to be Houdini, and learning secret camping tricks from his uncle) are charmingly genuine and fun to read. Look’s pitch-perfect descriptions and phrasing add to the overall humor and heart of the story (about his sister, Alvin says, “She’s like a stoplight in the middle of my life and there’s just no avoiding her.”) and her sensitivity to what it means to be a not-quite-normal little boy is right on target. Whimsical illustrations pop up mid-page; Pham’s expressive characters capture the essence of the story. A “Very Scary Glossary” of Alvin’s fears and favorite things is included at the end. There are certain stories kids read and just feel good for having read: this is one of them.–Nicole Waskie, Chenango Forks Elementary, Binghamton, NY

PreS-Gr 1–Told mostly in basal reader style but with a more complex vocabulary, this story introduces Baby. “See Baby. See Baby smile for the first time. See Mommy and Daddy tell everyone the exciting news!” Simple yet exaggerated cartoon art with speech-bubble dialogue belies this deadpan text to create the story’s comedy. Baby goes on to crawl, talk, walk, make friends, and finally depart for his first day of school. (“See Mommy and Daddy cry like two babies.”) The sunny pictures and comic details help to mask the occasional spots where the text flows less easily. While children, especially those getting ready to start school, will enjoy Baby’s antics and milestones, the real audience for this story is parents.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Gr 1-4–In the first volume in this early chapter-book mystery series, Milo reluctantly teams up with classmate Jasmyne to find her older brother’s missing lucky socks. Dylan’s the star pitcher for his high school baseball team and just can’t play without them. With the help of a detective-in-training kit that Milo sent away for, he and Jazz figure out who stole the socks. In the second volume, the private eyes receive more tips from Master Detective Dash Marlowe and figure out what is causing Jazz’s new pet pig to get sick. Each volume ends with additional “brain stretchers” and mini-cases direct from Dash Marlowe. The stories are quick and satisfying, and challenges at the back of the books contribute to the enjoyment. Wummer’s pencil and ink illustrations add a humorous touch and are perfect for the stories.–Bethany A. Lafferty, Henderson District Public Library, NV

Gr 2-5–In 1907, a 14-year-old boy named Cromwell Dixon took to the sky in a flying bicycle that he designed and built with the help of his mother. Nez re-creates his amazing feat in this lively account filled with informative and fascinating images. Despite disappointment (an early prototype caught fire) and mistakes (a too-heavy vehicle), the teen persevered. He eventually made a glorious showing in his flying bicycle, soaring above the highest buildings in his hometown of Columbus, OH. Later that year, Dixon entered his Sky-Cycle in the St. Louis Airship Carnival, taking home a prize. The time period is depicted with often-amusing illustrations that exude an old-fashioned flair while also inviting inspection. A one-page biography tells of Dixon’s lifelong endeavors. Young inventors as well as aviation aficionados will be intrigued, but this fictionalized account is also a great example of the importance of determination, derring-do, and imagination.–Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA

PreS–Over the years, Lucy’s toy bear has gotten pretty dirty and sticky, but he’s comfortable with his smudges. When he is accidentally taken to the Laundromat and washed along with a pile of family clothes, he becomes too clean. He falls out of the clothes basket on the way home, but Lucy fails to recognize him when she tries to find him. The lovable bear determinedly sets about getting dirty again and all ends well as he bravely extricates himself from his predicament. This is a new edition of a 1966 story with fresh illustrations in bright watercolors that have a lot of child appeal. It would definitely be a good selection for a preschool storytime.–Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

K-Gr 1–This is one of those books that delights the eye but falls short in the storytelling. Marvelous multimedia collages charmingly illustrate a red ball’s travels and many incarnations, completely overshadowing the contrived text. As Boing Boing moves across the pages, transforming from a tire to a spot to a balloon, there is a great deal of imaginative visual play at work, enhanced by enchanting details formed from paper, prints, fabric, photographs, and yarn. Unfortunately, the plodding narrative hangs like a weight around this book, describing Boing Boing’s adventures with forced enthusiasm and little else. A fun book to look at, but an additional choice at best.–Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 4-7–The girl and dog from Skelly the Skeleton Girl (S & S, 2007) are back for another spooky story. This time, the inhabitants of the haunted house are missing several items–Femur’s bone, Skelly’s buttons, some spoons, an umbrella, dishes, and a rusty anchor. They hear strange noises in the attic and discover that a mouse dressed as a mad scientist has used their belongings to invent a cheese-making machine. He invites them to share his creation, and they all make a new friend. As in the first book, Pickering’s mixed-media illustrations feature a black and purple color scheme with Tim Burton-esque characters and a setting that may appeal to children who like to get a little bit scared. Although there isn’t much of a story, this book will probably appeal to fans of the previous outing.–Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

K-Gr 2–When Mr. and Mrs. Oliver discover a baby monster on their farmhouse porch, they raise the orange-furred, purple-horned creature as their own son. Olly turns out to be incredibly precocious, outgrowing his cradle in half a day and progressing from kindergarten to college in less than two weeks. Soon he is taller than the Olivers’ house and of great use on the farm. His biggest challenge is learning how to play with children, but, once he learns to be gentle, his back becomes a jungle gym and his tail a waterslide at a lakeside park. At his one-month birthday and adoption celebration, he meets Elly, a fellow monster taller than he is. In this old-fashioned story, traditional roles abound, from Mr. and Mrs. Oliver’s conventional attire and duties to the gender of the nurse, principal, janitor, and teacher. There is little conflict here, and the only thing monstrous about Olly turns out to be his size. While children will enjoy the humorous watercolor cartoons of him as he negotiates a world too small for his stature, the story is not memorable. If your collection needs an additional title with kinder, gentler monsters, then this one’s for you.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

K-Gr 2–Children will enjoy comparing this parody page by page to Margaret Wise Brown’s The Runaway Bunny (HarperCollins, 1942). When a little mummy gets in trouble, he begins an imaginary game of chase with his mother. Distinctive headgear and occasional bandages identify the two through their spooky transformations. When her child becomes a serpent, gargoyle, or huge bat, the mother becomes the sea monster, dragon, or ancient cathedral necessary to be with her child. Only when the little mummy becomes a boy (actually a bunny) who “takes karate and learns to play piano” does his mother have to use her “most savage, awful, terrible, bloodcurdling shriek” to save him. She bursts into a room, which Clement Hurd might have painted, and terrifies the parents while the green goon from Rex’s Goodnight Goon (Putnam, 2008) peers through the window. Little mummy thinks it’s all a scream and decides to be his mother’s “rotten little mummy” forever. Rex uses pencil drawings colored in Photoshop for his lively cartoon illustrations. Librarians might pair this story with Brown’s classic or with Robert San Souci’s Cinderella Skeleton (Harcourt, 2000) for a spooky take on another classic tale and an eerie, laugh-filled storytime.–Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Gr 3-6–In this second story about Ottoline, who lives with her faithful, hairy best friend, Mr. Monroe, readers are visually thrust into her Big City life, as she befriends Cecily, who is quite a storyteller, and decides to accompany her to the Alice B. Smith School for the Differently Gifted. There the students, each with an outlandish and noteworthy pet, seek out their talents in origami curtain-making, plate-spinning, tea-sipping, and other “different” arts. Ottoline flounders, unable to find her special talent, but is drawn to the mystery of the curse of the Horse of Hammersteins. In the end, she proves to be a fine sleuth. From the pagination symbols to the postcards Ottoline sends and receives from her Roving Collector parents, each illustration is ornately drawn in ink, akin to the style of Edward Gorey, but sunnier. The layout flaunts myriad combinations of picture and text. This is an outstanding example of a picture book-cum-graphic novel, in which Riddell dazzles readers with visual detail and comical oddities and language that is rich, zany, and imaginative. It will satisfy visually needy and visually discerning readers.–Sara Paulson-Yarovoy, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

PreS-Gr 2–This modest story describes Allan the kitten’s first train trip, accompanied by his parents. He soaks up all the sounds, smells, and sights as the train travels over bridges, through a tunnel, and past a cow pasture. The family arrives at the perfect destination for the train-loving feline, Trainland. Here the story abruptly ends with Allan riding an old-fashioned steam locomotive, leaving readers wondering what else he will find. The book has a more defined plot than Rockwell’s Trains (Dutton, 1988; o.p.), which introduces modes of train travel, and a few color concepts are included. Unfortunately, the flow of the story is interrupted by the continual change of the text’s placement. Sometimes the words are printed within the illustrations, at other times the text stands alone on separate pages, and in one instance it is on the white border above a picture. The vibrant, stylized artwork overflows with bold colors and has the look of animation cells; it also includes interesting details not found in the text. The striped endpapers are eye-catching. An additional purchase for libraries needing more picture books about trains.–Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH

PreS-K–Sergio has big dreams of being a star soccer player. In reality, though, the young penguin often stumbles and falls running after the ball and does not attain the success he yearns to have. Then his mother suggests that he try playing goalie. The game against the big, bruisin’ Seagulls becomes his test of talent. Beginning soccer players will relate to Sergio’s frustrations and admire his resolve. Rodriguez uses an attractive, yet simple palette of aqua, golden yellow, rust red, and penguin black, and the colors stand out sharply against the white background. Action is created with varying perspectives on the ball flying at the lone goalie. Pair this title with Brigitte Weninger’s Davy, Soccer Star! (NorthSouth, 2008). Fans of Sergio Makes a Splash! (Little, Brown, 2008) will relish it.–Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

PreS-Gr 2–In this installment, spunky and imaginative Gracie presents her equally exuberant grandmother with a surprise–an itsy, bitsy seed. But what will it grow into? As the plant gets larger and larger, Grandma incorrectly guesses that it is a banana, lemon, fried mackerel, balloon, jungle, cow, or ghost tree until she spots a large red dot growing at the top and shouts: “A big tomato!” “What else?” Gracie shouts back and suggests that they use it to make tomato soup. The simple yet expressive text, in a large, bold typeface, perfectly complements the wacky, exaggerated, dazzlingly bright colored ink and marker cartoon illustrations. Youngsters with a taste for the offbeat will embrace this book, which could easily add energy and spirit to a plant-, food-, or grandparent–themed storytime.–Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

Gr 2-4–Bennie, Jessie, Violet, and Henry Alden are helping a neighbor remove some slippery stones when they discover a strange inscription. The mystery-solving siblings jump at the chance for another adventure and discover right away that Amanda has a secret of her own. They don’t press her to reveal it and instead pursue additional clues. Hoping to find the mysterious gold mentioned on the stone, the busy sleuths unearth even more questions. Everything seems to be coming together when they overhear conversations that lead the children to believe that Amanda’s friends are trying to steal the treasure from her. Red herrings abound, which are sure to keep readers interested and on their toes. The story is wrapped up neatly, with a few surprises. A few full-page drawings are scattered throughout. A quick read, with special appeal for reluctant readers.–Julie Shatterly, South County Regional Library, Charlotte, NC

PreS-K–Guileless Minerva Louise is back for another adventure. As always, everything she sees is interpreted from her point of view as a chicken. The children who are getting ready for Halloween are referred to as “the farmers.” When they place fake tombstones in the yard, she thinks they’re planting a rock garden. She thinks bat-filled cobwebs placed in the corner of the porch are new curtains. The skeleton hanging on the door holding a scythe is a farmer with a shovel, one who is too skinny to dig anything. But when the children start trick-or-treating, the chicken gets really excited. She thinks they’re bringing feed bags to the door and getting corn. She grabs an empty cupcake paper from the table, joins them at the door, and gets some candy corn just like the kids. The illustrations are crisp and clear with flat colors, outlined in black. Fans of Minerva Louise will love this title. –Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

PreS–Although a rabbit, a cricket, a robin, and an owl all encourage a shy baby lamb to interact and explore, he continues to hide behind his mother. At last, a tiny field mouse asks him to play and, surprisingly, he says yes. As they frolic in the grass, the lamb takes his first steps into the world. The soft acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations seem to pop off the page with many shades of spring green, blue, and lavender. Including large images of the animals, the pictures work with the brief text to create a great sense of immediacy. This gentle, reassuring tale tells youngsters that they can explore their world at their own speed. The eye-catching spreads and simple language make this book a natural for toddler storytime.–Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

Gr 1-2–Spirited Keena Ford, who lives in Washington, DC, goes on a field trip with her second-grade class to the Capitol. During the outing, Tiffany pulls Keena’s scarf off, revealing an accident the child had in a snipping-the-air-with-scissors session. Representative Thomas shows Keena that he has a toupee so she’ll know she’s not the only one with hair trouble. As the class is walking down the steps, Keena is determined to get to the back of the line, the most fun position, and stomps on a foot in her way. It belongs to Representative Thomas. Keena writes an apology to him and learns a few lessons, including an effective approach in dealing with Tiffany. Keena tells her story in journal format, and includes information about the Capitol, senators, and representatives in an entertaining manner. Distinctive illustrations depict a quirky African-American girl and her episodes. A solid series for early chapter-book readers.–Debbie S. Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI

Gr 2-3–Third-grader Max is adjusting to his parents’ divorce, which includes a new school and a new house without his dad (although the man has never been emotionally present). The boy relies on King, a regal and loyal, but imaginary, dog, to deal with these challenges. In fact, Max has created an entire fantasy existence for himself that he calls “Adventure Time.” In it, he performs heroic feats of daring with King by his side, thereby escaping the realities that trouble him. On one of these jaunts, the owner of a nifty little shop grants Max a wish that crosses over into the real world with consequences from which the dreamer learns and grows. Perhaps the most important change is Max’s newfound willingness to accept the unpredictability and messiness of life, a change that is presented in a thoughtful twist in the evolution of his relationship with King. The shopkeeper, too, is an interesting manifestation of the troubled youngster’s mental process of working out his conflicts. Tolan’s vivid, clean writing is deceptively uncomplicated and the many issues touched upon are handled well. This book will resonate with kids while providing parents a great jumping-off point for conversations about how to overcome some of life’s obstacles. –Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

K-Gr 3–Izzy and his family get ready for the Jewish New Year ceremony of Tashlich, when people toss pieces of bread into a body of water to represent throwing away their misdeeds. Izzy, Miriam, their mom, and their community make a sincere effort to reflect on their own behavior, to apologize to those they have wronged, and to offer forgiveness to those who have wronged them. The setting is based on the annual tradition at Manhattan Beach, CA. Poetic text and flowing autumnal illustrations support the contemplative nature of the tale. Emotions ring true: Izzy nervously puts off difficult apologies, but experiences a “clean, wide-open” heart once he has spoken up. At the same time, the characters are real and human: despite their efforts to be good, Izzy and Miriam quarrel, as siblings will. A short author’s note provides background about the holiday, but the story will be best appreciated by children already familiar with these traditions. However, the universality of emotion and the quality presentation make this book a good choice for multicultural New Year celebrations.–Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children’s Library at Congregation B’nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Gr 2-4–Franklin Lorenzo Piccolini is a fourth grader with a big imagination and an alter ego named Frankie Pickle, an amalgam of pop-culture icons from Indiana Jones to Batman. His messy room spawns an adventure that ends when the filth is too much even for him. Wight matches a silly story to black-and-white cartoon graphics in a chapter-book format. Readers who have graduated from Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” and “Ricky Ricotta” series (both Scholastic) will be charmed by this longer story.–Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Charlotte, NC

Gr 1-4–In this narrative poem packaged as a picture book, the eight-year-old narrator ruminates about her life, describing the various houses that she has lived in. Her family is about to move to a fourth one, and she is not happy. Wong balances the girl’s reluctance with her grandmother’s humorous realism and artfully weaves both voices into the narration. Whereas her parents are busy envisioning their new dream house, the child yearns for the familiar: waking up to hash browns, waffles, and a chocolate shake at Grandmom’s. Finally, motivated by her grandmother’s assertion that, “It takes time time/to settle into a house/to learn to love it right/to make it feel homegrown,” she stitches together memories of her grandmother’s house to create a vision of her own ideal abode and accepts the idea of moving. Lewis’s watercolors are exquisite when depicting nature, and are warm in tone, but in the end, uneven. In fact, the layout on one page is quite confusing as it combines small paintings detailing unsavory aspects of houses they see on their “House Hunt Sundays” with the divergent, crowning description of beloved Grandmom’s house, without any kind of visual or typographic transition. Helpful for kids who move a lot, this is a solid example of descriptive writing. Unfortunately, the overall feel of the book is sugary.–Sara Paulson-Yarovoy, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

PreS-Gr 1–Despite the pairing of formidable talents, this book will likely have a limited audience. The purposeful plot is driven by its message: a scarecrow that experiences the freedom of a wind-blown night decides to return to his post (literally) after witnessing the farm boy on his knees, praying for the straw man’s success in guarding the crops. There is little action, except for the protagonist breezing along past a dimly lit tractor, weathered barn, and cows at rest. Each of Ibatoulline’s gouache and watercolor scenes is technically brilliant and atmospheric, but there is a disconnect with the sequencing and passage of time. Opening pages depict the corn silhouetted against a sky that is pink at the horizon and hazy blue on the upper borders of the spreads (twilight?). Subsequent spreads are a mixture of deeper blues, then a return to pink light, a misty gray, rose again, and finally almost turquoise; the effect is disconcerting. The sentimentality climaxes when the scarecrow peers through the darkness into the boy’s bedroom, which is drenched in an orange glow. Yolen’s unremarkable poetry reads: “The scarecrow heard/With painted ears,/And wept a pail/Of painted tears.” Adults may find this story of “faith and duty” uplifting, but kids will prefer the nocturnal farm adventures found in Bill Martin and John Archambault’s Barn Dance! (Holt, 1986).–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

Gr 1-3–As usual, Tony is not doing his homework. Instead, he dozes off while reading a comic book. While he sleeps, the pencil, pens, etc., on his desk come to life and decide to write a story for him. There is much banter and arguing as each one is critical of the other’s contributions, but gradually everyone’s efforts are melded into a final product. Their exuberance awakens Tony, who discovers the story, but seeing only splotches and messy corrections, tosses it away–only to sit down and compose one with an identical theme. The plotline is amusing as the characters interact, but it’s Egielski’s retro-style illustrations that steal the show. Using brightly hued watercolors and pen, the artist brings the items on Tony’s desktop to life one by one. He then reverses the process as Tony awakens and the items go back to their inanimate state. The pictures are rich in detail and energy, and children will return to the story many times to enjoy them.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Gr 3-5–These attractive works cover the geography, history, people, customs, and economy of each country, providing enough material for reports. India and Egypt update Elaine Landau’s 1999 and 2000 books with the same titles. All three have large-size print and colorful pictures. Each book contains a section about current political challenges such as the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India; the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq; and life for some factions under President Mubarak in Egypt. The texts open with a “Find the Truth” challenge, which states that “Everything you are about to read is true except for one of the sentences on this page….Find the answers in this book,” enticing students to read with focus. Suggested books and Web sites appear to be for older readers, but supplement the country facts well. Replace the older “True Book” titles with these editions.–Monika Schroeder, American Embassy School, New Delhi, India

K-Gr 1–Children in kindergarten will enjoy these books as read-alouds (large, clear color photos make the volumes appropriate for group sharing) while those at the end of first grade will be able to read them independently. The writing is straightforward and reassuring, and the content provides a realistic view of what youngsters might experience in each environment. In School, for example, the author discusses the activities of a typical day as well as feelings of sadness or loneliness that may occur. Hospital discusses sickness, admission and surroundings, fasting for surgery, and blood tests. Baby explains that new siblings keep parents very busy, but that they will still have time to do special things with older children. House mentions the possibility of feeling strange in the new environment, but also discusses how quickly the child will adjust and make new friends. Although Barber mentions the potentially scary or unhappy aspects of these experiences, the books are optimistic overall and set the stage for meaningful discussions. There are several simple sentences on each page, printed in fairly large type. These excellent resources offer meaningful information on attractively designed, colorful pages.–Lynda Ritterman, formerly at Atco Elementary School, NJ

Gr 3-6–In a series of spreads, a lively text briefly describes basic anatomy, methods of locomotion, communication, distinctive characteristics, and more about two dozen insects. Directions for close to three dozen simple experiments or activities are included, followed by an explanation of results; most employ inexpensive materials. While there are a couple of weak entries, most are well designed. An example of the latter: a section on termites gives directions for rigging a model termite mound (using a large garbage bag and a toilet paper roll) to show how the nest’s internal temperature is controlled. Miscellaneous facts are offered in three separate sections, plus sidebars scattered throughout. A mix of cartoons and realistic drawings of insects, body parts, and steps in experiments accompanies the text on every page. The clearly written text is marred, to a degree, by anthropomorphism (for example, “Male crickets sing love songs to their would-be honeys”) and a few minor errors (lice are included in a list of arachnids, and the Megaloprepus coerulatus is a damselfly, not the dragonfly with the largest wingspan, as stated). Most of the scientific terms are defined as they appear. Caroline Bingham’s Buzz (DK, 2007) covers most of the topics in greater detail and has superior graphics. Still, considering the large number of pertinent activities Insecto-Files offers, it will be a useful additional title despite its flaws.–Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

Gr 3-5–These titles each contain eight fairly healthy recipes that most children can prepare on their own. Adult supervision is noted when needed. Sandwiches and Vegetarian Food are the better titles. The former includes great after-school snacks that are a snap to prepare, and the latter stresses the need for a balanced diet. Recipes such as “Chunky pasta” will appeal to many readers, not just vegetarians. A few of the recipes in Cookies are bland and boring, such as the “Fruity oat bars” and the “Victoria layer cake.” Full-color procedural photographs complement each recipe, but there is no nutrition information.–Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY

Gr 1-6–This enchanting collection of folk tales and creation myths from different cultures encourages readers to live a more harmonious life with nature. A story from Aboriginal Australia describes how the Sun Mother created each part of the Earth from grass to trees to animals to human beings, instructing the first people to “look after the land for your children.” A Nigerian tale illustrates how one woman’s greed and carelessness concerning natural resources led to her disgrace. Five other selections warn readers of selfishness, exemplify nature’s balance, and praise individuals who have given of themselves nobly in order to protect the environment. Well chosen and crafted with broad appeal, the tales are woven with subtle morals and wisdom. Each story is introduced by a brief overview about the featured locale and culture (source notes are appended) and followed by a related, easy-to-replicate activity or craft. Full-page and spot illustrations and colorful decorative borders reflect the spirit and origins of each offering. Done with collaged papers with acrylic and printed backgrounds, the stylized images depict colorfully clothed people, delightful animals, and delicately rendered flora. Add this handsome book to folk-tale sections and thematic collections intended to encourage children to be good stewards of our Earth.–C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY

Gr 2-5–Three dozen tales, compactly retold and boldly pictured, are spread across the wide pages of this large, slim collection. Cech uses restraint in embellishing or expanding the small tales, presenting them in traditional brief form with the moral stated at the end. The language is contemporary with just a few colloquialisms that will seem amusing or dissonant according to the reader’s taste. “Rooster was strutting his stuff in the barnyard….” “The young men will fall all over themselves asking me to dance with them.” “Dog was having a great day.” Appearing in facing pairs, each story is told in a column of text on the outer edge of the page. Deep-hued acrylic paintings filling the remainder of the space feature elongated, stylized figures of humans and toothy animals. Some of the plain-spoken lessons are a bit flat while others are more pungent. “Work together and you’ll be stronger.” “If you dance your own dance, you’ll never be out of step.” A page of small vignettes offers a visual key to each of the tales, and Cech concludes with the requisite note on Aesop and some history of the fables. With many more tales than usually contained in picture-book renderings, this attractive newcomer will be welcome in libraries needing more Aesop.–Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

K-Gr 4–In this retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ tale called “The Dancing Shoes,” several significant details have been changed. In Cech’s story, the king owns up, in the end, to the fact that he has not allowed dancing in his kingdom since his dear queen died, and his eldest daughter expounds, “Our souls just wouldn’t be still until they had their fill of dancing.” In the original tale, “The princesses had dancing shoes, which they wore when the king had grand entertainments…,” and their overprotective father locks, bolts, and bars the door to their sleeping hall each evening. The young ladies escape to the subterranean castle via a flight of stairs hidden under the oldest girl’s bed. In Cech’s tale, there is nothing secret about the staircase. In place of the dire ending of the original tale, each of Cech’s princesses soon marries the prince who escorted her to the enchanted castle each night, and all live happily ever after. An author’s note loosely relates pieces of the story to the hero tales of Gilgamesh, Orpheus, and Odysseus, and to the Indian tale called “Dorani” and the English “Kate Crackernuts.” Corvino has used acrylic and watercolor paints and inks, with pencil detail–particularly on faces–to create lovely illustrations in the classic fairy-tale style. This adaptation is a worthy purchase for most collections, and the upbeat retelling makes the tale accessible to children as young as five or six years.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Gr 3-5–In each of these titles, 13 one- or two-page chapters begin with questions such as “What Is a 'Living Fossil’?” (River), followed by brief, clear answers. Additional intriguing facts (“Anteaters have no teeth” in Soil) are included in small “Did You Know?” bubbles. Text is accompanied on every page by clear, captioned photographs; colorful, well-labeled illustrations; or realistic paintings. Each book contains two “see-through” pages that must be held up to a strong light for viewers to see the complete painting. Though the material is appealing, the inclusion of some animals is questionable. City, for example, highlights raccoons, dingoes, alligators, and polar bears. These volumes have high visual appeal but are not well organized.–Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN

Gr 1-3–Die-cut holes–starting with a big round one on the front cover–track the Moon’s phases as seen in the northern hemisphere. While Crelin explains what’s happening in verse (“The Moon’s first phase, we call it NEW–”/when Moon’s between the Sun and you./Her sunlit side is turned away,/and we can’t see her, night or day”), and then (superfluously) again in prose at the end, Evans’s digitally enhanced linoleum-block prints depict two children watching the sky or going about their daily or nightly business in a variety of urban and outdoor settings. Though the text could have used better proofreading (“crescent” is misspelled twice), the special design elements, heavy paper stock, and rich coloring add up to a sumptuous presentation. Consider this volume as an enhancement for more conventional treatments such as Suzanne Slade’s The Phases of the Moon (Rosen, 2007) or Franklyn Mansfield Branley’s classic The Moon Seems to Change (HarperCollins, 1960; o.p.).–John Peters, New York Public Library

Gr 2-4–Each of these vague overviews describes a landscape and the adaptations characteristic of the creatures that live there and outlines some conservation techniques that are being used in that environment. Desert discusses, on a spread each, animals such as rattlesnakes, coyotes, and lizards, and where they are found in this country. Tundra includes polar bears, snowy owls, and arctic foxes. Wetland describes where such biomes are located in America, and looks at otters, muskrats, and beavers. The books include full-page color photographs. Unfortunately, the few sentences to a paragraph about each animal, and the information about the biomes, are not enough for reports. The books in Wil Mara’s “Animals Animals” series (Benchmark) are better choices.–Cynde Suite, Bartow County Library System, Adairsville, GA

Gr 3-4–These innovative selections each include step-by-step instructions and full-color photos to illustrate the crafts. Projects have a broad cultural representation and are not gender specific. Materials are easily obtained. Masks includes an Aztec skull, a Bwa sun mask, a Greek Medusa, and a Viking mask. Musical Instruments features castanets, bongo drums, and a jazz washboard. Puppets includes a Venus flytrap and a Chinese dragon. A Didgeridoo pencil case and an MP3-player case are among the projects in Purses. Similar to existing series except that content is more culturally specific, these books are great for classroom and individual use.–G. Alyssa Parkinson, Highland Township Library, MI

Gr 3-5–Each volume starts with a general overview and full-page map of the country and continues with chapters such as “Farming and Fishing,” “Transportation,” “Education,” “Government,” and its “Place in the World,” which discusses the country’s relationship with other nations in the region and its membership in international organizations. The attractive layout includes color photographs and charts of current statistics as well as maps illustrating main farming regions, natural resources, or the literacy rates of girls and boys. The texts are clear and succinct. Each chapter lists online further reading, and a “Database” chapter at the end gives almanac statistics. Good resources for reports and geography lessons.–Monika Schroeder, American Embassy School, New Delhi, India

K-Gr 2–In 27 simple poems, Foxworthy takes readers on an adventure down Silly Street and back. “In the heart of the city/Is a place people meet./It’s this and it’s that/And it’s called Silly Street.” Each selection describes one of the street’s highlights, from Mel’s House of Clocks that only sells socks to the “Daily Parade” to “The Best Sandbox Ever.” The singsong verses are good fun even if the rhythm sometimes falters. Colorful and detailed cartoon illustrations help bring many of the sights to life.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

K-Gr 3–This introduction acquaints readers with the basic terminology, beliefs, and practices of this holiday that commemorates Ibrahim’s obedience to Allah and the end of Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The captioned color photographs show Muslims from Egypt, India, the Middle East, Malaysia, the U.K., and the U.S., but exclude Europeans. The book contains some errors, e.g., it states that “God appeared to Ibrahim in a dream,” but according to Islam God does not appear to anyone. Ibrahim is said to take Ismail to the city of Mina, but there was no city at that time, just desert. The book also states that Id-ul-Adha is a time when Muslims ask God to make them kinder and stronger, whereas the celebration is actually about obedience to God. The phrase that translates to “peace be upon him” appears in Arabic script after each mention of Ibrahim, but no translation is provided. Apart from the errors and omissions, this is an informative book on a seldom-covered holiday.-Fawzia Gilani-Williams, An-Noor School, Windsor, Ontario

PreS-Gr 3–McDermott continues his series of trickster tales with a simply told story about Kamapua’a, a popular figure in Hawaiian mythology. This little pig has a loving, nurturing human grandmother who wraps him in soft leaves and sings him to sleep with an empowering song about magic. “'…if trouble comes,’ she tells him, 'just slip away.’” Pig-Boy’s hunger is immense. He eats all the roots in his grandmother’s taro patch, then eats the king’s chickens, divides himself into a hundred little piglets, and slips away. He looks to the goddess Pele for help, and when she rejects him, he shape-shifts into a pig-nosed fish and evades her, as well. Captured by the king’s men, he again uses his powerful magic to escape and return to his dear grandmother. McDermott has omitted the torrid sexual relationship between Kamapua’a (in human form) and Pele that is an integral part of the traditional tale. Although this somewhat weakens the plot, it has allowed him to create a charming story that is clearly meant to be shared by adult and young child. Boldly colored gouache paintings on textured paper are softened with pastel and detailed with colored pencil. The purple trickster pig stands out against backgrounds of emerald green. People and chickens wear yellow-gold and orange, and the sea is a deep, bright blue. A note about the Pig-Boy character is included. This fine introduction to a classic Hawaiian trickster should have a place in most collections.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Gr 3-6–These books feel hastily cobbled together, with basic material that is repeated nearly verbatim throughout the volumes, stock photographs that are used multiple times, and a layout that is almost identical in each book. The facts spread over six volumes could be easily condensed into one, as a large part of the information is about the president and his campaign. The volumes on the daughters, and even the one on Michelle, don’t contain enough new information to warrant separate titles and are filled with sidebars of nominally related facts, such as a box about other presidents from Illinois in Malia. The text is littered with slang such as “dissed,” “stoked,” and “chill,” providing a contemporary bent, but one that could become outdated over the years. There’s nothing here to give staying power to this series, but libraries looking for immediate information about the current president may find Barack adequate for report writers and interested students.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

K-Gr 2–A comparison of this book to earlier “I Spy” publications shows that virtually every illustration in it appeared in those titles. One redeeming quality is the new text and a nod to phonics. An introduction for parents and teachers includes suggestions on how to use the book to help children learn to read. Marzollo’s familiar rhymes feature consistent phonetic sounds for letters that have more than one. For example, the “c” page colors in red only the instances in which “c” sounds like a “k.” The hidden items in the colorful photos, full of kid-friendly objects, are easy to locate. This is for a slightly younger audience than the previous books in the series, but those children might be better served by Roxie Munro’s Mazeways (Sterling, 2007).–Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI

K-Gr 2–The books in this level of the series claim to present “more challenging ideas, a broad vocabulary range, and expanded sentence structure.” Sword in the Stone and Golden Arrow are choppy. The more complex sentence structures implement the use of simple words effectively but, when interspersed with the many short sentences, result in a disjointed feel. Black Knight and Tricky Butcher flow better and have more character development. Still, all of the tales are stripped down to bare bones and lose much of the backstories, adventure, and charm. Mato has the boys lost and stranded on the top of the tower, then flashes forward to their adulthood, leaving readers to wonder how they got out of their predicament. Layout is the same in all of the books: text at the top of most pages and colorful illustrations filling in the rest of the space. The best use of these titles would be as introductions to the legends for slow or reluctant readers. Children already at this reading level might be better served by picture-book versions of the tales, such as Robert San Souci’s Young Arthur (Doubleday, 1997). It’s a bit more difficult, but it has a more engaging story.–Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

K-Gr 3-These books give attractive, albeit brief, overviews of the history and customs surrounding two major Hindu holidays. The layout includes full-color photographs and sidebars that will keep young readers’ attention. Divali contains a chapter about the significance of the holiday for Sikhs. However, restricting the text to four to seven sentences in each chapter doesn’t leave much room for the many different traditions observed during these holidays in the various parts of the subcontinent. These visually appealing titles are additional purchases for multicultural and holiday collections. –Monika Schroeder, American Embassy School, New Delhi, India

PreS-Gr 3–Short, simple rhyming words and phrases, printed in large type on realistic illustrations, describe the amazing life cycle of the honeybee. The vibrantly colored scenes center on a beehive hidden in a tree trunk and the grass and gardens surrounding it. Brief paragraphs in a smaller font provide more information about the insect’s depicted activities. Arbo’s incredibly detailed, lifelike close-ups of female worker bees performing the “jobs” through which they rotate during their short lives greatly enhance the text. Two pages of information about honeybees are appended. Deborah Heiligman’s Honeybees (National Geographic, 2002), illustrated with simple folk-style gouache paintings, also stresses the many jobs of worker bees. In The Life and Times of the Honeybee (Houghton, 1995), Charles Micucci offers pages filled with tables, charts, and diagrams that overflow with interesting tidbits for readers seeking greater detail. A wonderful choice for sharing aloud, Mortensen’s finely crafted book makes a solid addition.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Gr 2-6–What would it be like to travel to Mars, explore the red planet, and return to Earth? O’Brien has created a realistic account of such a journey with informative text and polished digital art that sparks the imagination. Adults take a backseat in this adventure, as the narrator speaks directly to readers about what they could expect to see and do. Rich illustrations depict a young boy as the traveler, space vehicles, and rusty red landscapes with depth and detail. Following a four-month trip on a Nuclear Thermal Rocket, the boy joins scientists, engineers, and pilots living in a habitat on Mars complete with a greenhouse. As for finding life on Mars, it is explained that microscopic organisms are more likely than little green men. But who needs aliens when you have robots watering the plants and roving the surface? Additional facts are listed at the end of the book.–Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO

PreS-Gr 3–Palatini and Moser have taken a spare Aesop fable and expanded it into a riotous treat for eyes and ears while still keeping the essence of the original. Fox eyes the grapes hanging from a vine high in a tree and thinks that he can get them easily: “I am sly. Clever. Smart. After all, I am a fox.” So, armed with paper and pencil, he draws his Plan Alpha and tries it out–no grapes. He asks Bear to help him out with Plan Bravo and Bear starts to say something, but Fox interrupts: “Bear, Bear, Bear. …Your job is brawn. Not brain. You leave the thinking to me.” “If you say so,” says Bear. After the third, fourth, and fifth plans fail, involving Beaver, Porcupine, and Possum, Fox gives up and departs in disgust with the usual rationale: “lousy, rotten, stinkin’ grapes.” “If you say so,” say the other animals as they feast on the fruit thrown down to them by Possum. Moser’s wonderful watercolor illustrations of the doubting animals executing Fox’s convoluted plans are rich in humor. They are silhouetted against plenty of white space, with the grapevines and tree dominating each large spread. Matched by a text that rolls off the tongue and is full of action and repetitive phrases, the book is a delight.–Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

Gr 2-4–Glossy spreads introduce 13 exotic animals including the civet, dingo, hagfish, and okapi. A funny, fanciful poem about the creature, illustrated with an anthropomorphic painting, is presented on the left-hand side along with several brief paragraphs of factual information. An attractive, realistic painting depicting the critter in its natural habitat appears on the right. The book ends with a list of hidden objects for readers to find in the main illustrations and engaging enrichment activity ideas for teachers. Though not in-depth, the text is lively and interesting, and the poems (some of which take liberties with spelling and grammar) are fun to share aloud. The intermingling of fact and fancy makes this a good book for helping children to differentiate between science and literature. A supplemental purchase.–S. McClendon, Friends School of Atlanta, Decatur, GA

K-Gr 2–These clear and graceful texts provide an overview of the featured subject, followed by its life cycle with the progressing months highlighted in circular arrows. Each book concludes with a full-page, four-part diagram of the cycle, showing, for example, the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages of ladybug development. Crisp, close-up color photos appear on every page. Each book contains a link to the publisher’s Web site, which maintains a list of current online resources. While all three titles will be useful for reports (though Apple and Oak Tree lack expected details on photosynthesis), young readers will probably gravitate toward Ladybug more readily than to the other books, and will be pleased by the fascinating close-ups they find there.–Farida S. Dowler, formerly at Mercer Island Library, WA

Gr 1-3–Beginning with mother and newborn, Wendorff’s simple texts disclose what the young eat and what they can do as they grow. The cub and fawn are playful, whereas the eaglet is careful not to risk falling before it becomes a fledgling and learns to fly. Color photos, one full page per spread, have been appropriately selected from various picture archives, making for an attractive format and an easy way for new readers to pick up a few tidbits about these animals. While they don’t offer enough information for reports, these beginning chapter books, with one or two large-type sentences per page, might attract browsers.–Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

Gr 2-5–This collection of more than 100 poems features comical wordplay (“Oh, Brother” opens: “If r were taken out of brother/Your brother would just be a bother…”) as well as lots of fun riffs on Mother Goose rhymes and fairy tales. Many are about family, friends, and school. Anyone familiar with Wilson’s picture books knows that she’s a good writer with a fresh eye and a knack for child appeal. Those qualities are very much in evidence here. The humorous, light tone is similar to Jack Prelutsky’s work, although Wilson has a serious side, too. For example, “Golden Eggs” shows a goose wearing a necklace labeled BLING; she’s looking at an empty cradle, and the poem reads, “She’d rather have/One fluffy chick/than a million golden eggs, you see.” Blitt’s line drawings are a great match for the verses. They are funny, dynamic, and full of personality. Plenty of white space adds to the accessible, inviting look. All in all, a great choice for read-alouds or individual enjoyment.–Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Gr 2-5-Although Wong’s days were filled with backbreaking work as she helped in her family’s San Francisco Chinese laundry, her daydreams were replete with visions of life as a film star. Anna saw every movie she could, and eventually, despite her parents’ opposition, she became a movie extra. As a young woman in the 1920s, beautiful and unusually tall, she was given supporting roles, but, distressed by the stereotypical characters Chinese actors were forced to portray, she decided to pursue her career in Europe. When she returned to Hollywood in 1935, she discovered that nothing had changed. After a visit to China, Wong returned to the U.S. with a renewed determination to eliminate the old Asian stereotypes that had become film standards. Her efforts yielded her some wonderful roles and helped open doors for other Asian-American actors. This is an excellent introduction to a one-time celeb little known to today’s children. Yoo explains Wong’s circumstances with clarity and portrays her hardships and triumphs in concise, easy-to-follow prose. Lin Wang’s acrylic and watercolor illustrations are the perfect complement to the well-written text, precise in their realistic detail and particularly adept in their portrayal of both facial expressions and textures. They provide a vivid portrait of Wong’s changing lifestyles, from that of her impoverished childhood surroundings to the elegant luxuries that her fame made possible. Readers will be entranced by the actress’s rags-to-riches story, and her efforts at confronting racial discrimination will resonate with all ethnic minorities. An author’s note fleshes out the biography, making this a fine choice for both school and public libraries.–Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, formerly at LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI