Preschool to Grade 4

K-Gr 3—This story concentrates on how the relationship between a child and her grandfather, who has Alzheimer's disease, changes but remains loving and strong. When Grandpa comes to live with her family, Callie's parents make a chart so everyone can remember their responsibilities. Grandpa's jobs are to garden, knead bread, and peel potatoes. Callie impulsively adds, "Make music," thereby establishing a bond that will link the two of them even as her grandfather's memory worsens. When he can't remember a song's lyrics, he and Callie cheerfully make them up. The passage of a year realistically depicts Grandpa's changing medical condition. Even when he must go to a nursing home, however, Callie and Grandpa play the piano and sing together. The illustrations, rendered in oil paint, are lit with a warm glow that captures the family's feelings. Grandpa's face shows his confusion as well as his enjoyment of the music. By concentrating on the girl's perspective, the book presents a simple but powerful message for children who may face a similar situation. The story does not deny the sadness of Alzheimer's, but demonstrates a way to continue loving the person the relative becomes.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Gr 1–3—Zoe Rind worries that the watermelon seed that accidentally fell out of her mouth and landed in her mother's lemonade glass is growing inside her mother. She wants to confess to her parents but decides not to when they tell her that there is a special seed growing inside Mommy, and they want her to be surprised. Needless to say, the little girl is happy and relieved when she meets her new baby sister. Kids will enjoy the watermelon references in the Rind family names and the new baby's moniker, Melonie. Halsey complements this amusing story with a clever mix of watercolor and collage art. All of the details contribute to the presentation, from the illustrations on the endpapers, title page, table of contents, and chapter headings, to the choice of dark pink and green as the predominant colors in the artwork. Capping off this charming story is an informational section with watermelon-growing tips and four recipes for adults to share with children.—Marilyn Ackerman, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Gr 1–3—Only two kids in Roscoe's class are lucky enough to own the new fashion fad, sneakers with built-in walkie-talkies. Then an out-of-the-blue package arrives for Roscoe from Great-aunt Imogene, and he joins the cool set. When his friend Gus can't get new shoes because his old ones are not worn out, Roscoe sets to work on his pal's seemingly indestructible footwear. Then, just when Gus's mother relents, the school outlaws the sneakers, and Roscoe ends up in time out for destroying his friend's old ones. End matter includes an entertaining list of things Roscoe wonders about before falling asleep and a preview of the next book in the series. Applegate perfectly captures the voice of kids in this fast-paced, funny title. Children will love the short chapters, kid ingenuity, and comical illustrations.—Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI

PreS-K—Wanda, with her wild red hair and cheerful attitude, is not troubled by her generous helping of freckles until some boys make fun of her. Embarrassed, she tries lipstick and paint to cover them, then toothpaste to lighten them. After she gives the matter more thought, however, she decides that it's the boys' problem, and that she feels fine about her freckles. The premise is promising, but the text does not live up to the flamboyant, lively illustrations. Graham uses bright chalk pastels to show Wanda's hair curling energetically off the pages, to caricature the boys with extra-large taunting mouths, and to put a lot of patterning and texture into the backgrounds. Everything in the pictures seems to be in motion. The narrative, however, is lackluster. When a dog licks Wanda, its owner, a "little old lady," says, "I'm afraid he likes you…. You can't blame him…everyone must like you." That event is the turning point for Wanda. She remembers that she has friends who like her the way she is, but readers do not see them. In her dream that night, the teasing boys have large spots on their faces. While adults could use the story as a discussion starter about acceptance, on its own it is unsatisfying.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Gr 3–5—Elly Knottleweed-Eversprightly hates being a fairy. She wants to leave the Mossy Blossom Academy for Young Fairies, where she is always in trouble. Because she has been expelled from two previous fairy academies, Mossy Blossom is her last chance. If she fails here, she will not get her "wish fulfillment license." In Badger's fairy world, fairies are human-size and live in houses just like people do. When Elly accidentally meets the human girl next door, they each become the other's answer to a wish. Elly helps Jess create a "magical" science project, and Jess repairs Elly's wand. The purple text and cartoon illustrations done in various shades of lavender are basic and repetitive. The book's ending is abrupt, even for the first in a trilogy. Additional, at best.—Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

PreS-K—A boy, aided by a very patient cat, gives a shout of gratitude to his many body parts that get him through the day. Starting with his feet and taking inventory all the way to his heart, he shows readers each part's basic value to him: "What great hands! Thank you, hands,/for gripping/and throwing/and patting and holding./And for hugging." Large, bright spreads created on paper bags with paint, collage, and red crayon outlines keep the story energized and are perfect for sharing aloud. Homey details abound as the child hugs a cat, kisses his parents, and listens to the activities outside his room. Eventually the text broadens its focus from a celebration of body parts to acknowledge the greatness of the universe and life itself. A concluding section explains how the book was made and how children can create their own books using the same materials.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

K-Gr 3—The winning stars of A Visitor for Bear (Candlewick, 2008) make a return engagement, this time in early-reader format. Grumpy old Bear is totally uninterested in celebrating his birthday, but his cheery friend Mouse doggedly dons several comical disguises to trick and cajole him into enjoying the festive trappings of a party invitation, balloons, and a present. It is all to no avail, until Mouse leaves a beautiful homemade cake on Bear's doorstep; it's hard for him to ignore his favorite flavor and the fact that no one has ever made him a cake before. Mouse, hiding in the cake, brings back the balloons, the party hats, and the gift, and Bear's birthday is celebrated, at last, in fine and joyful style. Whimsical full-color ink and watercolor illustrations hilariously depict the yin and yang of enormous, cantankerous Bear and tiny, merry Mouse. A sprinkling of colorful, out-of-the-ordinary vocabulary words and phrases adds welcome spice to the narrative. Fluent early readers will be pulled into this title by the appeal of its universal subject, entertaining characters, and the satisfying story with just the right amount of tension unfolding in four short chapters.—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT

PreS-K—Three rambunctious young dinosaurs poke, tickle, and push their mother in an attempt to rouse her from sleep. When she finally wakes up after they roll her into a muddy pool, bounce on her belly, and splash her in the face, she playfully chases her youngsters, much to their delight. On full spreads featuring watercolor cartoons on jungle backgrounds, Bendall-Brunello's text is mostly composed of three-word phrases describing the young dinosaurs' actions. While children can identify with trying to wake a sleeping grown-up, they may find it hard to believe that mama dinosaur sleeps through it all. Stick with Jane Yolen's How Do Dinosaurs… titles (Scholastic) for more crowd-pleasing dinosaur fare.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

PreS-Gr 1—The best part of this book is the cover, which has a cutout resembling sharp teeth through which readers can see a hungry shark surrounded by frightened fish. In rhyming text, children learn about the creature that just ate but wants more, the "shark in the dark." Many kinds of fish are highlighted as they see their potential attacker. While they are escaping, they chance upon a friendly squid that comes up with a plan to make sure that the shark never eats in their neighborhood again. The last page shows an illustration of all the fish forming a whale, and the text states that working together is the best way to solve a problem. Young children will probably love looking at the appealing cartoons, and the text will pull them right into the story. However, Lio Lionni's classic Swimmy (Knopf, 1963) tells the same story.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

PreS-Gr 2—Blake means his title literally—this winsome story focuses on three young Tasmanian devils who enjoy mischief, and well, screaming. Burnie, Winnie, and Big Stanley wait each day for their mum to return to the den with food or toys for them to tear apart. But when she doesn't return one night, they set out to find adventures of their own. Eventually they find their mother trapped in a cage, and they do what young Tasmanian devils do best: rip it apart. And the family is back together once again. Blake loads his light-filled paintings with natural details and realistic expressions. By focusing on universal themes of family and youngsters tasting independence, he makes the story heartwarming and accessible without anthropomorphizing the animals. This book would make a lovely supplement to units on Australia or wildlife around the world.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

PreS-K—In a style reminiscent of Lucy Cousins's "Maisy" books (Candlewick), Braun shows a wide-eyed black cat in a red scarf playing with a box. The omniscient narrator carries on a one-way dialogue, describing imaginative Meeow's actions and intentions as he transforms the box into a bright red fire engine. Prompts such as "Be careful, Meeow!" and "What can Meeow be making?" encourage listeners to identify with the cat. The book is simple and direct, and pulls together all the ingredients (box, red paint, green scissors) in the same methodical way that toddlers hard at work would. Uncluttered pages and primary colors make this a highly attractive book, as does the tactile jacket that allows readers to stroke fuzzy Meeow.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA

Gr 3–5—Floramel, a cow, lives in a meadow near a cliff overlooking the sea. She is lonely, and curious about the world. When a flock of cattle egrets lands near her looking for a place to feed, she talks the leader into assigning a bird to her as her grooming companion. Esteban stays behind and describes the world beyond, and gradually a close friendship develops. Esteban even brings a conch shell to his companion and she learns to make music. After he migrates with his flock, the cow becomes listless, abandons playing the shells, and grows quite thin waiting for her friend. When he returns without the flock and the two are reunited, Floramel begins to play her music again, and the townspeople gather to hear. As word spreads, the musical cow is declared a national treasure. The text consists of a sequence of exchanges between the creatures and features characters that exhibit human traits such as concern for others. The theme of friendship will resonate with children, and reluctant readers will find the short chapters and predictable-yet-satisfying ending appealing. Full-page, black-and-white sketches begin each chapter.—Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA

PreS-K—In Cabrera's twist on this nursery rhyme, a sweet blue-gray bunny in a magenta dress leads four mischievous chicks to a birthday party. The bunny buckles her shoes, runs out the door, jumps over the gate, and meets the big fat hen. She also digs and delves, finds pigs a snortin', has her friends all a-waiting, and finally has a party. What makes this version stand out is that it counts up to 20. In addition, the four chicks hide on each page, asking readers in a somewhat imperfect rhyme to find them if they can. The cheerful oil paintings, done in bright Easter egg colors, will fit nicely into a spring collection or display. Kids who love to count will find the book fun, and librarians will enjoy sharing a new version of this familiar poem in storytimes. However, since the concept has been done many times, it's an additional purchase.—Adrienne Wilson, Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monroe, CT

K-Gr 2—Henry, a seven-year-old mouse, receives a weekly allowance of $5 for helping around the house. He spends it on toys, snacks, and fun. When he sees a $30 Super Robot Dude and really, really wants it, Mom suggests that he could save his money for it. Henry saves some, and spends some, and when he's almost at his goal, he uses most of his earnings to buy a birthday present for his mother. The cheery illustrations show a busy family of gray mice with deep-pink ears. Henry's spending and saving are highlighted in a "flow chart" at the tops of the pages with six places for $5 bills (filled in or empty depending on how rich Henry is at the moment) and a Super Robot Dude. Finally, when he has almost all of the necessary cash, Grandma comes to visit—bearing a Super Robot Dude. This is not necessarily the message one wants to give young readers. Learning to save money and to postpone gratification doesn't mean that you will get what you want another way and still have all that saved money, even though Henry does use it to buy ice cream for a family treat. However, this simply told story is an acceptable choice as a basic introduction to money management.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

PreS-Gr 1—With faces reminiscent of the Easter Island Moai statues, 10 quirkily attired sheep cavort under the watchful eye of Doug the Sheep Dog. A wolf living nearby in the Dark Forest decides he needs sheep and tempts one with a piece of candy to follow him. The rest of the flock follows. Doug notices the eerie quiet and abandoned toys where the sheep usually hang out, leaps into a closet, emerges as a costumed hero—Super Sheep Dog—and super-bikes to the rescue. At wolf's house he finds that the capering sheep aren't meant for stew, but only to help the seriously insomniac wolf count himself to sleep—which he can't do because the flock is having such chaotic fun they won't stay still. Doug gets his wild bunch counted and in line, and the wolf snoozes with his stuffed bunny toy. The orange-and-brown-drenched paint and collage illustrations sport a retro look, hilarious asides, and characters packed with personality. With only a few words per page, the book will be fun for group sharing or for readers to pore over the illustrations on their own.—Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI

K-Gr 2—This simple story begins with a young Chinese-American girl, Amy, receiving a gift from her mother's sister, who lives in China. As her family prepares to celebrate Chinese New Year, a package arrives for Amy. It is a beautiful necklace made from a green stone her uncle found while plowing his fields. He took it to a carver who saw a dragon hidden inside and brought it out. The dragon was strung on a traditional red cord and sent to Amy on the other side of the world. Chen's text is spare but, combined with her luscious watercolors, evokes a vivid portrait of rural Chinese culture. Children will find much to notice and discuss in the illustrations, both in the pictures of Amy's home (with a tabletop orange tree in a pot, a Buddha statue in the garden, red gift envelopes on the table) and those of China (a water buffalo pulling a hand plow, Chinese boats, colorful paper lanterns, people walking with parasols to protect them from the sun). This is an uncomplicated introduction to the holiday and a lovely addition to most collections.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME

Gr 1–3—A silly story with over-the-top collage illustrations. Trixie Twinkle Toes is a pampered, white toy poodle. Her sophisticated owner, Verity Brulée, wears expensive shoes and stays indoors in wet or stormy weather, where she flips through footwear catalogs and Trixie chews on her pink velvet ribbon. The pup longs to run in the park, splash through puddles, and have a real dog's name like Growler or Gripper. Sitting under the dryer at the poodle parlor, she reads an article, "How to Change Your Dog Image," in the latest issue of Posh Pooch Monthly. It highlights how a scruffy dog is transformed into a tidy pooch in three months, and Trixie concludes that the reverse must also be true. She works hard to become daring and dangerous, sliding down banisters, swinging from chandeliers, and diving into fountains. Verity takes Trixie to a pooch psychiatrist, to no avail. As they head home in the rain, the poodle hears the howls of a small dog drowning in a puddle, wades in (with her mistress close behind), and saves the Chihuahua. After this, Verity ceases to coddle her pet, and on rainy days they go out to mingle with the other dogs. The book's design and layout are extremely cluttered. Busy backgrounds and a text that swirls and curves make the book difficult to read, and the toy poodle is nearly lost in some of the illustrations.—Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

K-Gr 2—pEnelope likes to sew. When her grandfather, pOppy, asks her to mend a hole in his pants, the little girl faces several problems. She cannot decide which color thread to use, and pOppy, who says he is "color-blind like a cocker spaniel," is no help. pEnelope imagines what a puppy's favorite color would be and decides that aquamarine would be best. Then her stitches either look like a smile or a starburst, until she settles upon a method of sewing that makes the patch look like a spider web. Once all the problems are settled, Granddad makes dinner for the young seamstress and her mAma and they go out for some rainbow sherbet. Conroy's collage illustrations feature her cloth "woOberry" dolls. The simplicity of the dolls and the use of bright colors make the story fun and quirky, but there's no explanation for the weird capitalization in the text. Children can learn from pEnelope, who takes on a project that is more difficult than she anticipated but who perseveres until she arrives at a workable solution.—Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

Gr 2–4—Bobby Quinn got his beagle in Absolutely Lucy (Golden Bks., 2000). In this book, the eight-year-old is still dealing with fears of speaking in school and making friends, but having a puppy is helping him. When the local Pet-O-Rama store has a contest to choose the best "spokespet," Bobby decides to enter Lucy. After he learns that he has to give a speech as part of the competition, he must decide whether or not he can overcome his fear of public speaking. This beginning chapter book has realistic characters that readers can identify with and root for. Bobby's friends care about and want success for one another. The action and suspense will keep children engaged. The occasional drawings lend graphic support, and the cute puppy on the cover will attract animal lovers.—Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Gr 2–4—While its characters are familiar and their actions predictable, this tale adds a second dimension, instructing young readers on how to grow vegetables. Strega Nona saves her seeds from last year's garden, rotates her crops to keep the soil "happy and strong," and, much to Big Anthony's chagrin, explains the importance of compost and manure in the planting process. But most importantly, she stresses the need to sow seeds in orderly rows, a step Big Anthony chooses to ignore. The results are two very different gardens, as depicted by dePaola's familiar transparent acrylic illustrations, with bumbling Big Anthony having much more produce than he can handle. Sure to reap lots of fans.—C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY

Gr 2–4—It's nine-year-old Liberty Porter's first official day at the White House. Her dad is being inaugurated as President of the United States and she is beyond excited. She wants to be the best First Daughter ever. It doesn't take long, however, before she gets in trouble with the chief of staff as she blurts out answers to questions at a press conference and disguises herself as a tour guide. Because her intentions are good—she wants to help others and make the White House a welcoming place for everyone—she is forgiven by her parents and embraced in a "family hug." Sometimes a little over-the-top in its effort to be cute and kidlike, the book does hit the mark for how a youngster might approach some of the overwhelming elements of living in the White House. Though sometimes misguided, Liberty is an engaging character whose heart is in the right place. She also knows a lot of interesting presidential facts, which she spouts throughout the book. Classy illustrations depict the child, her parents, and pets. With interest high because of the Obama First Daughters, this chapter book will appeal to many children, including reluctant readers.—Tina Martin, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, IL

PreS-Gr 1—This gem follows a toy giraffe that spontaneously disappears from his child's room to travel through Africa. Even from the first view of Raf, who gleefully dangles from his walking owner's mitten, children will note a spirit of adventure. In postcards sent to his owner/pal, Ben (whom readers never see), Raf tells of encounters with camels, flamingoes, elephants, monkeys, and giraffes. The final card announces his impending return home. Just in time for Ben's birthday, the toy arrives in the mail, dressed in kente cloth and colored beads, and sporting a great grin. DeVries uses postcards for her text, and Dematons's illustrations on full spreads bring deep textures and colors to the pages. Tiny Raf at the feet of giraffes at sunset and his night jungle experience as some monkeys' tug-of-war prize evoke strong sensory components. The scene of Ben's toys in party hats is a hoot. In addition to being a great success with preschool fans of toy tales, this story could also be shared with primary-grade children in conjunction with units on biome study or continents.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

PreS-K—A Halloween-themed counting book inspired by "Over in the Meadow." Mummies, owls, bats, and more help readers count to 13. "Over in the hollow,/wrapped in old sheets and glue,/live an old, moldy mummy/and his little mummies two./'LURCH!' moans the mummy./'WE LURCH!' moan the two./And they lurch into the mist,/wrapped in old sheets and glue." The rhyme and rhythm flow well, making this a good choice for reading aloud. The mixed-media illustrations have a retro cartoon feel and are spooky, but not scary—just like the text. The large pictures make it easy to count along, and kids will enjoy the funny details. This should be a hit at Halloween storytimes.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

Gr 2–5—Basing a story on a carved Mexican figure, Fleischman weaves a short tale around a Dream Stealer, Zumpango, who perches outside windows waiting to snitch nightmares from sleeping children. Scared by some of the critters he has lassoed, he starts taking happy dreams. But he hasn't reckoned with Susana, who wants back her interrupted dream of a happy reunion with a friend with whom she has had a fight. She tricks Zumpango into flying her to his lair to take back the dream. There she faces down and outfoxes the nightmare creatures (some borrowed from folktales) and agrees to be Zumpango's new friend if he will leave her good dreams alone. When she is returned home, a phone call from her old friend provides a cheerful end. Sís's ink drawings feature just the right mix of surreal, funny, scary, and reassuring images (but sharp readers will note that while the text has the Dream Stealer escaping an ogre feet first through a narrow window, the illustration shows him stuck head first). Set within a loving Spanish family, the tale twinkles with Fleischman's signature crisp language and laugh-out-loud wordplay. All in all, it's a quick, unique read that's sure to give young chapter-book readers shivers, laughs, and satisfaction.—Susan Hepler, formerly at Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA

K-Gr 2—Imogene is a feisty child who loves history and spouts quotes from famous people on all occasions. When she discovers the now-abandoned Historical Society building in her New Hampshire town, she cleans it up and opens it as a museum. No one comes. Then one morning she finds a sign posted outside the building stating that it will be torn down to make room for a shoelace factory. Imogene tries to enlist the aid of the mayor and other influential people, but they all say that the factory will put them on the map. At the last minute, she finds a letter in the museum that was written by George Washington to indicate that he had slept there. She notifies a historian and then puts herself in a stockade on the porch as the wrecking crew approaches. Soon the whole town turns out to watch the spectacle, and people tell her to move. "'In the immortal words of the Vietnam War protesters,' she shouted, 'Heck no, I won't go!'" (There is no mention of the fact that the quote has been changed.) The President of the United States (an African-American woman) appears and declares the museum a national landmark. Illustrations done in pen-and-ink and digital media provide a lot of historical details and humor, featuring a determined child who rides in a sidecar on her father's motorcycle. This title could serve as a jumping-off place for some early elementary history lessons.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Gr 1–3—Frightened by his own reflection, a goblin lives alone, hidden away from the world. One day as he watches from a distance, he sees a farmer who is so overcome with grief that he is unable to finish his work. The next day he sees the farmer's wife and the following day his daughter, both unable to set aside their sorrow and complete their chores. For three nights, the goblin does the family's work, unaware that each member in this silent, sorrowful family has seen him. At breakfast on the fourth day, as they stare at a chair vacant since the loss of a child in the winter, they rise and place another helping of food on the table. Then they open the door. Afraid to enter, the goblin hides, but when the family gets up to leave the table, food untouched, he joins them at breakfast. Each page contains a frame with a large square picture at the bottom and a top border illustration. Small goblin heads peer out from both sides of the frame. The stylized watercolor-and-ink illustrations, done in muted tones, are attractive but static, showing characters that seem to be posing rather than being caught in the action of the moment. Like the pictures, this quiet, simply written tale lacks real drama, but its message of kindness and compassion will appeal to many readers.—Barbara Scotto, Children's Literature New England, Brookline, MA

K-Gr 2—Elizabeth Amelia is made of wool, but she is every child. She romps and plays and goes to school. Everyone loves her. When she grows up, she marries James Elmer, a man who "loved wool." They don't have any children, so Elizabeth Amelia takes a stray piece of yarn unraveling from her left foot and starts knitting them. Soon she has four. She keeps unraveling pieces of herself to make clothes and things for her offspring. When she has knitted most of herself away, her husband says, "Elizabeth Amelia….You're nothing but a pillow!'' One of the children then finds a ball of yarn the same color as her mother and saves the day. Elizabeth Amelia soon re-knits all of herself and the family dances together again. The delightful watercolor illustrations resemble folk art, and are detailed and colorful. All of the faces are two-toned, with a line going down the center. Still, seeing Elizabeth's legs disappear and then reappear is just plain creepy. Kids will get a mixed message from this one.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Gr 1–3—After much persuasion, Dino is allowed to accompany his father, a ship's cook, on a sea voyage from Greece to Egypt sometime during the third century B.C.E. He helps the sailors untangle the rigging, takes them water as they outrun pirates, and serves as a lookout during a storm. Dino's efforts are rewarded by his first awe-inspiring view of the Pharos lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as his reports of its location help the Hermes arrive safely in Alexandria. Large-scale illustrations capture the drama of the events to full effect. The open boat being tossed by crashing waves, Dino bravely climbing to his lofty post, and especially a spread of the Pharos rising up powerfully out of the sea will keep readers actively engaged. Roth varies his palette to increase the intensity of the perilous scenes and to highlight the joy of surviving unharmed. An author's note explains how and why the lighthouse was built.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Gr 2–4—Nine-year-old Brenda Black is a budding ballet dancer and wannabe doctor. She eagerly reads anatomy textbooks, and her hero is Leonardo da Vinci. Though she and her mother have little money, they love each other and enjoy a strong bond. When Brenda's rich cousin comes to stay, she feels an urge to find something to hang over Tiffany's head (even though Tiffany seems to have everything a girl could want). Brenda and her friends hatch a plan to "borrow" their ballet teacher's prized ballet shoes, autographed by a famous prima ballerina, to show them off to Tiffany. The plan goes awry when Tiffany's pooch chews them to shreds, and the Sugar Plum Sisters must fix the unfixable. Fast paced and entertaining, with unique, multicultural characters and positive messages about friendship, honesty, materialism, and forgiveness, this book is sure to take center stage on young readers' lists.—Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI

K-Gr 1—Generous King Yonderfel freely welcomes all guests to his high-in-the-sky castle and never turns anyone away. However, one day "an ogre guy" doubles the King's rent ("He owned the mountain and could do that, even to a king.") and comes with a tractor to repossess half of the mountain, which is the foundation for the dwelling. As the castle becomes unbalanced, it begins to tip, regularly spilling the people and its contents to the bottom of the cliff. Guests promptly move out and ungratefully call the king a "nincombooby." From that day forward, the lonely royal passes the time knitting guest towels. Yet this unfortunate turn of events does not change his kindly character. He does not harbor a grudge and offers both the ogre and the townspeople shelter after a storm. Readers who expect the tale to end here will be surprised that there is more to the saga. Cartoonlike illustrations in primary colors make good use of white space, often creating both humor and visual pauses in the story, allowing readers to fully appreciate the king's predicament. While not a priority purchase, this is a humorous picture book that emphasizes hospitality.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

K-Gr 4—As in Wolves (2005) and Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears (2007, both S & S), Gravett continues her playful focus on the book as physical object. Here a small green frog transforms an old book of spells into a pirate ship, its torn pages serving as sail, flag, telescope, and water. As the amphibian cavorts through ripped-up incantations, he finds a scrap that reads: "Spell to Become a Handsome Prince." On the ensuing spreads, the frog's attempts to line up the proper magic words and phrases are depicted on the verso, while on the recto, split pages lead to increasingly hilarious results. Thus, the jumbled spell may read, "Into the cauldron these words cast Hoppity, Fluffity, Carrotozabbit. Stir three times and out spells…R/ABBIT" (or "R/AKE" if one turns only the lower portion, revealing the snake's posterior, now supporting the head of a rabbit). The initial letter or blend resides in the top half-page; the remaining letters are on the bottom. The spells reconfigure, too. The controlled palette is comprised of parchmentlike cream, pale green, and yellow, and occasional glittery stardust. While the frog's wish does come true, it is undone when he fails to read the fine print—a condition clarified only on the endpapers. This tour de force of design and detail is guaranteed to delight all ages, especially those just learning how to…spell.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

Gr 2–5—Don Fernando is a converso, a Jew who practices his religion secretly during the time of the Inquisition. He is also a respected composer, and he writes a symphony to celebrate Spain's colonies in the New World using Native American instruments. His son convinces him to include a shofar among the deer-toe rattles and leather drums so that the conversos can hear the traditional sound of the ram's horn on the Jewish New Year, which coincides with the concert. The dangerous plan proves successful: the Duke loves the symphony, and Spain's secret Jews retain an ancient tradition. Based on a legend, this intriguing slice of converso life offers a thoughtful hero and a suspenseful plot. The warm, opaque paintings are expressive and create a strong sense of place. Although the religious significance of the shofar is never explained, the story conveys its emotional pull for Jewish listeners. Themes of cultural identity and empowerment under oppression will appeal to readers of all backgrounds.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

PreS-Gr 3—Kyle's sister cramps his style. Everywhere he goes, Lizzy is "always in the way." On a backyard search for buried treasure, she tags along, offering unsolicited and unappreciated suggestions. Kyle is thrilled when he unearths a robot head, and, after fashioning a body out of scrap metal, he plugs in his creation. "Rusteye" not only comes to life, but also goes on a rampage, turning everything it touches into a metallic statue. Lizzy tries to offer solutions, but her brother repeatedly cuts her off: "Gosh Lizzy—BE QUIET!" At his wit's end, Kyle finally stops to listen to her sage advice: "You could just unplug him!" The digitally enhanced collage illustrations show silver-toned trees, pets, and parents. Endpapers resemble a sheet of crumbled paper with diagrams on how to make and dismantle a robot. A funny take on sibling squabbles.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Gr 2–4—Colorful, zany, and packed with activities, puzzles, and amusing illustrations, this is a comic-book lookalike that children will spend hours poring over. While many of the pages are as busy as a "Where's Waldo?" puzzle, others are fairly straightforward with humorous, labeled illustrations of the various characters in CTON's world. CTON's loves include "drawing, tacos, and collecting can openers." His friend, an aptly named green blob, prefers "jelly, making jelly, and eating jelly." Throughout the book, CTON, Blob, and their human pals encourage readers to enjoy such seasonal activities as a "harvest hoedown," a tree planting, fort identification—from the dirt-hole to the wood-pile variety—and a summer road trip. No pencils are required for the activities. Fans of Captain Underpants are likely to appreciate this unusual character.—Kate Neff, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL

PreS-K—The snow comes down all through the night, creating perfect sledding conditions for the next day. Two pups get bundled up and head outside with their dad, pile onto a sled, and head down the hill. They hit a bump and go soaring into the air, and three spreads show them blissfully sailing alongside the birds. When they are struck with the realization that they can't really fly, they crash to earth, right before the requisite, "Again! Again!" Harper's watercolor illustrations are simple, yet effective. Readers get a good sense of the cold, crisp snow and billowing clouds, and the characters' faces are expressive. Children will enjoy this reminder of how much fun winter can be.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

K-Gr 1—Jamaica wants to keep the kitten her friend gives her, even though her brother is allergic. She attempts to hide it in her closet, but Ossie suffers a sneezing fit after he dons a football jersey on which the feline has been napping. Jamaica confesses to her father about the stowaway, and the cat is returned to her friend. Kristen, who does not have a brother, reminds Jamaica that she's much more fortunate to have a sibling than a pet, and Jamaica agrees. The watercolor and pastel illustrations are warm and sweet, especially those featuring the black-and-white kitten; it's too bad the text isn't as equally engaging. While its lesson on priorities is an admirable one, Havill's writing is a bit stiff and lacks some energy, which will limit the book's appeal.—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

PreS-K—When Little Fox inadvertently scares a goose away from her egg, he takes responsibility for keeping it warm. After it hatches, he cares for Little Goose until they find her mother. There is one sentence about the mother goose looking for her egg but only seeing the fox. After that, she is not seen until she is spotted in a migrating flock, quite some time after the little snow goose hatches. The illustrations are attractive, with soft colors and slight embossing to add texture. The pages are thick and will hold up to multiple lap readings. While the story is sweet and has a happy ending, some children may be upset that instead of mom searching for baby, baby finds mom as she is flying south.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

PreS-K—A creative youngster has a busy day pretending to be "someone different"-a businessman (like his daddy), a knight, and a pirate. Kids will relate to his dress-up role-playing, and they will also be reassured when they see him reappear as himself in his everyday clothes, his choice and his mother's for their "favorite Michael." The airy, bright-hued illustrations stay grounded in reality. As the boy rescues the princess, readers see him in the living room with his little sister. When he buries treasure, he is in a sandbox. The characters' facial expressions are well done and the text and pictures match in tone. A sweet story about imaginative play.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY

PreS-Gr 1—A wispy-haired young girl dressed in a blue coat, orange-and-red striped stockings, and a beret takes charge of a lost baby bear. With the staunch, internalized voice of a mother, the heroine calms him ("Hush-a-bit, Little Bear. So we can think"), asks questions, and looks for his mama. They come upon a park and a big tree to climb. In a heartfelt spread, Little Bear cries "Ma-maaa!" from the highest branch and can be heard throughout town, beckoning his mother's return. The sketchy lines of the city, drawn in pen and ink and watercolor with little variation in value, create a flat New York streetscape, yet the sole emphasis on the characters and natural elements adds to the reassuring overtones and rhythms of the text. Short phrases make the story flow. The baby bear's infantlike talk will charm the youngest children, but for an urban lost-and-found story with a little more drama, try Alexis Deacon's Beegu (Farrar, 2003).—Sara Paulson-Yarovoy, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

Gr 2–4—Jazz, Goose, Rita, Henry, and Rocky are back in another episode in this beginning-chapter-book sports series. Jazz is torn between her love of running and her love for her dad. A former track star himself, he can't stop giving her unwanted advice, coaching the coach, and even arguing with the referee during meets. Her friends take a backseat in this installment, but are still there offering support. Jazz and her dad work on their relationship, with Jazz understanding his love for her, and her dad learning his boundaries when it comes to track. Sports lovers will race through the story, picking up track and running tips along the way. Gane's black-and-white illustrations fully express the characters' emotions, struggles, and triumphs. Hicks sprints to the finish line with another winner.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

PreS-Gr 1—A vacant lot strewn with garbage is transformed by an artistic and imaginative black cat in this wordless picture book. Using paints and brushes from his wooden art box, the feline covers his drab surroundings with leaves and sky, enlisting the help of some birds and woodland creatures that take up brushes to add flowers, trees, and a pond. When butterflies arrive and a mallard comes to swim, the landscape is complete and it's time for the cat to put painting supplies away, smell the roses, and settle down for a nap. Simple, almost childlike art in the lush colors of summer combines with brilliant composition to tell the story. The cover image of the cat carrying a wooden box immediately draws readers in, and endpapers are used to great effect: in front they present the bleak scene and add a touch of mystery with the partial appearance of the cat hidden behind a pile of rocks; at back, they provide a satisfying conclusion, depicting a colorful meadow filled with flowers. The cat begins his work in the lower right-hand corner and each page turn reveals more and more of the new setting and the animals that help create it and then revel in the fruition of their handiwork. Both visually and conceptually, this is a gem.—Marie Orlando, North Shore Public Library, Shoreham, NY

PreS-K—Holmes's text and Rossell's art are as perfect a match as their starring characters. Rabbit explains the "many things that I like about being me" as the expressive pair engage in fun activities like somersaults, swimming, slope rolling, and climbing trees. The short sentences with active verbs keep the striped-sweatered pals busy until Rabbit announces that the best thing is "I can be with you," and the buddies halt for a hug. Rossell's clean landscapes mirror the simple text, but she tickles viewers with whimsical touches like the hide-and-seek that ensues when Mouse rises with a balloon bouquet. It's a pleasure to join this celebration of friendship and playing outdoors.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

PreS-Gr 2—In a hilarious take on family vacations, two ducks convince a reluctant New Hampshire moose to join them on their migratory car trip to Florida for the winter. A poor sport on the journey, Moose finds the warm, fun-filled sunshine state to be more exciting than he could possibly have imagined. When it's time to return home, a crying Moose is loathe to leave (to the disgust of his duck buddies) but then finds he can create a bit of Florida up north. The delight in this book is in Horowitz's goofy characters. The pencil and charcoal cartoons, digitally colored in bright hues, show an endearing protagonist that youngsters will embrace. Easy enough to read independently, and funny enough for adults to enjoy sharing with children, this book about a road-tripping trio will be welcome in most collections.—Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 2—Based on the idiosyncratic Uglydoll collectibles the author and illustrator created, this is the story of a greedy, cookie-obsessed little blue monster. When Babo purchases an oversize cookie from the new Giant Cookie Bakery in Uglytown, he refuses to share it with his friends. He imagines all of the things he will do with it—go to school, read bedtime stories, trick-or-treat, see a movie, run races, and play video games. But when Uglydog tries to take a bite out of the cookie, Babo loosens his grip and his treasure tumbles down Uglytown Peak, rolls into Uglyview Park, and crashes into the Ugly Memorial. Looking at the hundreds of broken pieces, Babo realizes that the best thing to do now is share it with his friends. "And he was happier sharing his cookie than he ever would have been eating it alone." While the simple, didactic story line isn't particularly original or inspiring, fans of the dolls, as well as those who appreciate wacky, offbeat characters, will enjoy seeing how these bizarre little creatures play out on the pages.—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

Gr 2–4—A mother's determination to instill good manners in her children meets with resistance in this mischievous look at the legacy of etiquette expert Emily Post. The story is set in the 1920s when Post's initial guide became an instant best seller. In her first book for children, Huget does an admirable job of placing Post's own characters and rules within her fictional story. The picture book is narrated by a boy who finds his mother's constant quoting of the etiquette guide and emphasis on proper behavior extremely restricting. "Emily Post said we were like little monkeys. But little monkeys get to have lots more fun." In a humorous twist, the siblings turn the tables on the mother by reminding her of Post's other social expectations, including the need for polished silverware, fresh flowers, and engraved stationery. Boiger's illustrations capture the era and family's actions and emotions perfectly. The scenes in which the children are interacting with Post's characters (known in the story as Emily's friends) can be followed very easily thanks to their ghostlike appearances. This book can be used to introduce a lesson on etiquette, as part of a series on famous females during Women's History Month, or simply enjoyed as a fun read-aloud.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

K-Gr 2—Sweeping watercolor views of a river flowing through wooded terrain suggest that this will be a realistic nature story. However, the fanciful tale of a playful young otter bedeviled by an elder takes anthropomorphic and murky turns. Flibbertigibbet loves the moon. "He watched its face in the water.... He'd been sent to catch fish, but he had been chasing froglets and newts instead." Flibberty's lollygagging is cut short by irascible King Otter: "Catch me a fish, and it had better be on a silver dish." The demand for a silver dish is perplexing to the young otter, and likely will be for some readers as well, for tableware is nowhere in evidence in this watery world. The otter spends the night in fruitless search, encouraged by a kindly heron. At dawn, when the hungry old otter appears once more, a fish is dropped from on high by the heron, "slap…on the shimmering dish." Although the pictured "dish" looks very much like a white crockery plate atop the water, it is apparently the reflection of the silvery moon. Though the metaphor is a bit strained and the tone sentimental, Humphries has a way with words and a good hand with a paintbrush. The hapless youngster abetted by a kindly guardian will probably be satisfying bedtime fare for some children.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

PreS-Gr 1—This addition to the crowded field of winter, bear, and snow books lacks internal logic and breaks no new ground. When his friends tell Chaucer (a little bear) that they will miss him because he will sleep through the winter, and his parents tell him it will be good for him, Chaucer "[is] not convinced." Instead, he stays awake, experiencing snowball fights, icy ponds, icicles, and sliding down hills. When a big storm hits, he builds a snow fort to protect his friends and, predictably, when spring comes, he falls asleep. Oddly, his parents appear in the background of a number of illustrations, awake as well. Cole's cuddly cartoon animals, which sport scarves but no other clothing, are rendered in acrylic paint, colored pencil, and ink. The pictures are large and inviting, primarily done in full-bleed spreads, with spot art and single-page illustrations adding motion and interest. For a better book about a bear resisting hibernation, stick with Catherine Walters's When Will It Be Spring? (Dutton, 1998; o.p.). Leonid Gore's Danny's First Snow (S & S, 2007) and Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962) do a better job of exploring the joys of winter.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

K-Gr 4—Based on the reminiscence of a day in 1945, Lowry's nostalgic story has appeal that will resonate with 21st-century children. Lizzie's father has just returned from serving in World War II and she's a bit shy even though she's excited about spending the day with him. They are going to hunt crows that are eating the farmers' crops. The eight-year-old is warmly dressed in a man's plaid wool shirt that she had admired in a store window and her father bought for her even though it comes down to her knees. After an early diner breakfast of her favorite cherry pie, they head toward the woods. Being in charge of the crow call, a whistle intended to lure prey to the hunter, Lizzie is impressed with the number of birds she entices, yet feels uncomfortable because they are about to be killed. However, her father never raises his rifle; he simply enjoys watching his enthralled daughter and the multitude of birds that have heeded her call. Remarkable, atmospheric illustrations reveal the subdued, cool autumn colors of crunchy dried grass, softly hued sky, and dark leafless trees. The memory of a treasured day spent with a special person will resonate with readers everywhere.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

PreS-K—In this charming, gentle story, a little bear is seeking something to do. Walking along a beach, he and his adult companion find a stick. As they use it to draw in the sand, their lines become ladders to imaginary adventures. Short, repetitive sentences in a conversational style make the story an excellent choice for reading aloud. Clean, uncluttered compositions and a soft color palette underscore its simplicity and tenderness. The grainy texture of the line illustrations evokes images of children's crayon drawings. Brick-red and gray-blue are the primary colors, while touches of bright pink, green, and yellow light up a starry sky. These splashes of color add contrast to the more subdued background as they convey the joys of stargazing. In both style and storyline Something recalls Crockett Johnson's classic Harold and the Purple Crayon (HarperCollins, 1955). Both elegant and pleasing, this picture book is a standout.—Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY

Gr 2–4—Anna's father repairs dolls for a living with parts he special orders from Germany. Their family lives above the shop and the nine-year-old and her sisters help with chores. In their spare time, they make up games to play with the dolls waiting to be repaired. Of course, each girl has a favorite. When war breaks out (an author's note says it is World War I and describes the embargo), Anna's father can no longer get his parts and the shop begins to suffer. He starts returning the dolls he can't repair, and soon there are only six left. Then Anna comes up with the idea to create new ones, and her Nurse Nora is a success. With business looking better, the only thing the girls have left to worry about is whether or not the owners of their favorite broken dolls will return to claim them. This slow but sweet tale has an old-fashioned feel and is based on a true story. Readers who stick with it will be happy with the ending.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

PreS-Gr 2—Elmer the patchwork elephant is back. Once a year the gray elephants decorate themselves and have a parade, and this story takes place on that day. The other animals are complaining about all of the noise made by the excited elephants as they prepare for the big event. Elmer recognizes the feelings for what they really are, jealousy, and he invites them to join in the celebration. McKee does a great job of creating the jungle environment and the festivities in vibrant, exciting colors. The textures and the patchwork-quilt look of the jungle will invite readers to take a closer look. The impact of the creatures coming together as a community to celebrate is a satisfying conclusion—everyone is having a great time and no one feels left out. A strong addition to the popular series.—Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ

PreS-Gr 1—Rhyming, repetitive text tells of a boy who reluctantly welcomes a parade of nursery-rhyme characters into his home. Everyone from the man in the moon to Little Miss Muffet bursts through the entryway wearing party clothes and carrying presents. Punch and Judy are nearly the last to show. To the little boy's surprise, they all begin to sing: "Happy Birthday to you,/Squashed tomatoes and stew,/Bread and butter in the gutter,/Happy birthday to you!" Colorful pencil and acrylic illustrations alternate between scallop-edged vignettes and full-bleed scenes rife with excitement. Preschoolers will enjoy the predictability of this tale, even if they don't recognize every character.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO

PreS—Basil, a big, bossy rooster, is in charge of crowing every morning to wake up the farmer. When he loses his voice, the animals tell Leonard, a shy, puny chicken, that he has to take over so that they can eat and then make fun of him when he shies away. The cows also coax him to crow and poke fun at him when he doesn't. They stamp about and jostle him until, finally, he stands up to them and finds his voice. From that day forward, Leonard always wakes up the farm. The animated illustrations are saturated with color, and they show dimension and size exceptionally well. This picture book about a shy rooster turned farm success will fit right in with other "can do" stories on the shelf.—Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH

PreS-Gr 2—Five enthusiastic children of various ethnicities travel subway systems in different regions of the world. After paying their fares and scrambling through the turnstiles, they step on and off the rail cars and become part of the hustle and bustle of their changing underground locations, which include Cairo, Moscow, London, New York City, Washington DC, and Tokyo. The concise text, written in flowing rhymes, moves quickly. Ramá's colorful digital collage spreads are a perfect match for Miller's word images. The artistic style has an Ezra Jack Keats quality as it brightly chronicles the children's travels. Native language spellings along with English spellings of the destinations are written on the subway tickets found within the artwork. This picture book can be incorporated into preschool/primary units on transportation, used as a springboard to introducing parts of the world, or shared during storytime. For a subway theme, pair it with Anastasia Suen's Subway (Viking, 2004) and Mary Quattlebaum's Underground Train (Doubleday, 1997). With its global perspective, it's a worthy purchase.—Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH

Gr 3–5—Degas has painted the ballet students as they rehearse in the opera house many times, but today he has left with the wrong bag, and a young dancer must return his paints and recover her tutu before it is time for her performance that evening. She searches the streets of Paris for the artist and meets several other Impressionists along the way, and each one leads her closer to Degas. The inclusion of certain facts is awkward. For example, after telling the ballerina to look for Degas at the art shop, Renoir adds, "Did you know that the color black doesn't exist in nature?" Expressive pastel illustrations lend appeal. An author's note and color reproductions of the art that inspired the story will help young readers make connections, but this contrived tale may not hold children's attention.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO

K-Gr 2—Freckleface Strawberry returns with a solid dose of imaginative fantasy to bolster her confidence. The little redhead now faces DODGEBALL—"Scary dodgeball,/Hairy dodgeball," and formidable Windy Pants Patrick. The resident terror of the early-morning program is noisily frightening, aggressive, big, and fast, especially with dodgeball in hand. After he eliminates all standing students, Freckleface Strawberry calls on her inner monster and overcomes her fear of both ball and bully. "ROAR! I'm a monster, and I don't care!" Bold cartoon-inked graphics are large and full of activity, and the pictures of the bully show that he is truly one to avoid. Freckleface Strawberry appears somewhat scary herself when pretending to be a monster, but young children may relate to her as she finds her strengths.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX

Gr 2–4—Napoli spins a strange and troubling story of a lone child left to survive in a world of wild animals. As Parisa (Farsi for "Like an Angel") is sleeping in her bed, the earth shakes and homes collapse. "No one was left within the town walls except Parisa" and she slips "…outside like a frightened whisper." Each day, the girl knocks on a door that is answered by an animal: Boar on Saturday, Snapping Turtle on Sunday, then Bear, Owl, Snake, Wolf, and Lion. Having been harmed in some way by either human or beast, each creature sends the child away with a threat. Referring to the animals as "monsters," the resilient girl decides to "do what humans do." She exhibits kindness, thankfulness, and laughter, and several animals join in. According to an author's note, the inspiration for the story came from a 2003 earthquake that killed half the population in the city of Bam, Iran, and orphaned many children. A number of Swiatkowska's impressionistic oil paintings feature striking, larger-than-life close-ups of Parisa's face, legs, and body; of Snapping Turtle and Bear, Owl and Lion. With the paint layered color upon color, the artist's boldly stroked style is even looser and more imaginative than that employed in Helen Recorvits's Yoon and the Jade Bracelet (Farrar, 2008). Artistry aside, the jarring tale ends abruptly, leaving disturbing thoughts in its wake.—Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

PreS-Gr 2—A contemplation of the future through the lens of a family's past. An African-American girl looking to the future has a broad range of relatives to emulate—a banjo-playing mailman, a housewife who broke the color barrier, a pool shark, and a burger-flipping aspiring jazzman. Nelson's rhythmic and colloquial first-person narrative introduces the characters not only in terms of the jobs they hold, but also the kind of people they are; her Great-Grandpap believes, "Nothin's more important than family." For the jazzman, "what matters is the trying." Qualls's mixed-media illustrations combine muted and bright elements and feature full-spread renditions of each relative at home or work, followed by a page showing surreal floating heads of the girl and the featured role model as she repeats the title's query. Nelson shows respect for all the ways people live and work.—Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC

K-Gr 3—Amanda is afraid of the dark, so her father takes her outside one night to look up at the stars. Still, her room is dark and scary, so Daddy brings home paper and paint to make stars that glow in the dark and pastes them on her ceiling. When he goes away, he tells her that he will be able to see the North Star just as she can. He gives her a puppy called Bear, another name for the Big Dipper. Only when he calls from his military post on the other side of the world do readers understand that Amanda's fear of the dark masks a deeper fear for his safety. An unspecified length of time passes, Bear grows, and the family is reunited at last at the airport. Realistic watercolor illustrations, many of them dark and still, are strangely comforting. This quiet, hopeful book speaks especially to the children of military personnel serving abroad, though it will resonate with any child separated from a parent.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

PreS-Gr 2—An Israeli girl goes on a Sukkot "treasure hunt" with her parents to find the four items (date palm, willow, myrtle, and etrog fruit) used to celebrate the harvest holiday. They find the first three plants during a hike in the hills, and the last is offered by a friend who has an etrog tree in his courtyard. Each step of the hunt is illustrated by sun-dappled photographs of the charming child and her laid-back parents. Books on the Jewish celebration of Sukkot are few and far between, and this one is unique in its focus. An endnote describes the various plants the family sees and mentions that the Torah commands Jews to "take the branches and fruit of beautiful trees and rejoice" at harvest time. However, little explanation is offered on the symbolism and function of the plants in the observance. Readers unfamiliar with Sukkot may be mystified by the fuss made over them, and by the very brief mention of the sukkah built by the family. The book is well suited to observant audiences and will be a boon to Jewish educational institutions, but seems to lack the bridging material to bring other readers onboard.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

K-Gr 2—"There once was a bear so filled with love and happiness that whenever he roamed the forest and came across another living thing, he would give it a hug." The joke follows when a page turn reveals a shocked and terrified bunny caught up in his big arms. The sweet but deadpan text paired with the almost slapstick cartoon art makes for an entertaining conservation story. This large, lovable, dopey-looking bear loves hugging trees—all kinds of trees—most of all. When he observes a man staring up at one, he thinks he has found a kindred spirit—until the man takes a swing with his axe. The completely enraged animal must then find a way to stay true to himself and save the tree. Flat illustrations done in Photoshop feature simple shapes in blues, greens, and browns with plenty of white space. While ultimately the message here is a little heavy-handed, the book's quick humor makes it easy to embrace.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Gr 2–4—Omololu has put a child-friendly face on a somewhat abstract concept. While Jared shivers on rising from his bed at 6:00 A.M. in San Francisco, Genevieve emerges from the Metro on her way to school in Montréal, where it is 9:00 A.M. The author describes children engaged in other activities around the world at the same time, from an evening meal in Lahore, Pakistan, to a sunrise in Honolulu, Hawaii. Each spread is labeled with the place name and time of that scene. All of DuBurke's impresssionistic pen-and-ink and acrylic illustrations depict children interacting with friends and/or parents. Many of the pictures are framed in white and appear below the text. A series of analog clocks depicting the time in other locales runs along the bottom of the spreads. A simple map of the 24 time zones accompanies a brief explanation of the history of timekeeping and the reason for these zones. There are few books for children about this specific topic, and this one adequately covers the concept.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

PreS-K—This picture book begins with four small bears on four little chairs. No one has to share until Big Brown Bear arrives. They experiment with various seating arrangements and discover that there is room for everyone when the chairs are all placed next to one another, in a row. Parenteau's brief rhythmic text is bouncy and light, and ideal for reading aloud. Themes of sharing and compassion are introduced in developmentally appropriate, subtle ways, and the bears' discovery of their own resolution is a refreshing conclusion to the story. Walker's acrylic illustrations match the airy lyricism and mood of the text. The charming, wee creatures appear to be playful, kind teddy bears. The pastel hues of the paintings are set against creamy white pages, and the white space allows readers to focus on the actions and rhythms of the story. Include this book in traditional teddy bear programs to add subtle messages about sharing and kindness.—Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI

Gr 1–4—In this picture-book autobiography, an NBA All-Star tells of being one of the smallest youngsters trying out for the local basketball team. He jumps into the story with a fantasized sportscaster's voice, describing an amazing shot that he, Chris Paul, age eight, makes after fielding a pass from double-teamed Michael Jordan. The play-action scenario is enough to make his big brother's friends say, "In your dreams." That bantering energy and the ensuing hard practice punctuated by sound family advice create a tight narrative. It is the week before tryouts and each family member, including big brother C. J. and grandfather Papa Chilly, contributes a way of supporting Chris. Earthy hues exuberantly painted and textured in acrylic add energy and depth to the story, and the cartoon style adds the right amount of action. Confident with his hands, trying his utmost not to worry about what he cannot control (his height), Paul tells an inspiring story that does not fall into sentimentality. It is a realistic portrait of a solid African-American family with the ability to realize their dreams. Pair it with Deloris Jordan's Salt in His Shoes (S & S, 2000) for a similar story and watch the wide-open eyes of the most reluctant boy readers as the thrills and spills of the final game decide who will make the team.—Sara Paulson-Yarovoy, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

PreS-Gr 3—Expert bug-hunting chameleons Willy and Wally both catch a plump bumblebug at the same time. With their tongues stuck to the winged treat, they argue in a lisp: "But I saw it first. You did noth. Did thoo!" A full-scale battle ensues, complete with "scary faces," name-calling ("Dragonlipsh! Shkunk Cabbage!"), and pulled tails. While the former friends are absorbed in their argument, the insect escapes. The squabbling pair put their differences aside when they find themselves dangling from a branch above hungry crocodiles. Based on Perlman's animated film short Dinner for Two, this book has strong visual appeal. Comical Photoshop illustrations feature sidebar panels that replay the melee between the bulging-eyed chameleons and dizzy, cotton-candy-pink bug. A fun book to share at storytime.—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

PreS-Gr 3—When Alice receives a brown teddy bear from one grandmother and a white bear from the other, the women quarrel about which toy the girl will love most. Alice adores both stuffed animals but they, following the example of the grandmothers, begin arguing with each other, too. They fight all day and night and at times they resort to pushing and kicking. Alice eventually separates them, putting White Bear in her closet and Brown Bear on a high shelf. White Bear is afraid of the dark so Brown Bear, even though he is afraid of heights, glides to the floor on a kite and opens the closet door, only to have it close behind him so that both are locked inside. The bears comfort one another and in the morning Alice finds them nestled in a box. Petrovic's somewhat didactic and uncomplicated text demonstrates the effect that fighting and resolution have on mediators. Hardy's somber blue, gray, and brown hues help set a serious tone.—Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI

PreS-K—On this unusual day, Fox notices that different animals are passing him by, two by two. Readers will be as curious as the fox and wonder where all the animals are going until they realize that Noah is welcoming them all to the ark. The story ends as the rain begins to fall. Reid's illustrations, created from Plasticine clay carved and pressed onto illustration board, are stronger than the rhymed, pedestrian text. Intricately carved details on the fox's fur, as well as the porcupines' quills and the birds' feathers, show up sharply. The use of varying perspectives, such as from the tops of houses and the maze of the streets, allows readers to pause and take in the big picture. The spread showing the wide variety of animals sleeping peacefully together extends the metaphor. Text font is large and vocabulary is simple enough for beginning readers. This is a good supplemental purchase for libraries or religious groups needing an additional version of this story.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

PreS-Gr 1—Building on the familiar song "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain," Reid's animal version begins, "We'll be comin' down to storytime when we come. Yee ha!" as all the farm animals run excitedly to the barn. It ends with, "We will check out lots of books when we leave, Bye Now!" as the animals exit, each with at least one book in hand, and are shown on or under a big, broad tree, reading. Illustrations fit the rollicking mood perfectly. Westcott imbues each scene with plenty of color and lively action as the chicks, ducks, birds, pig, sheep, cat, dog, etc., "hear a funny story," "say a nursery rhyme," "make a fingerplay," and so on. Having created a wonderful advertisement for an energetic storytime, Reid also includes a guide that has a short list of Mother Goose books for the nursery-rhyme portion, a list of children's recordings for suggested songs, and even a picture that may be copied and given to the children to color. This picture book could definitely be used as a beginning book/song for storytimes everywhere, and librarians can also benefit from the good suggestions offered.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

K-Gr 3—The opening spread, filled with smiling dinosaurs and children's faces, sets the tone for this tongue-in-cheek guide: "There is a dino for every kid, and a kid for every dino." The ensuing, satisfyingly large spreads focus on qualities readers may be looking for in a pet and the dinosaurs that best meet those needs. Children in the market for a winged dino will learn that the Pteranodon (pronunciation guide included) will help them catch fly balls at the baseball stadium and has a "long fourth finger perfect for removing unnecessary broccoli from dinner plates." After a tour of five popular varieties, advice is offered on keeping a pet comfortable, clean, and obedient—well, not very obedient. There are recommendations on exercising and traveling with a dino and suggestions about when to take one to school. While the book's approach is best for a kindergarten audience, the snarky, ironic tone is more suited to an older audience. Brown helps the cause with vivid monoprint with gouache artwork—some of his best illustrations to date. His overly enthusiastic, sweet-faced, humongous patterned dinosaurs are—in defiance of natural history—irresistibly delicious.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

Gr 3–5—Thumb and Susan are back in another tale set in British Columbia. Their remote fishing village has no roads, and the weekly supply plane brings them their only form of entertainment: three movies, ice cream, and popcorn. The latest movie stimulates Thumb's overactive imagination comes up with the notion that even small towns can have "bad guys," and the two friends set out to spy on their neighbors. To their surprise, they unearth secrets and mysterious people. A new teacher, Ms. Weatherly, who wears a wig and tons of makeup, becomes an instant suspect in the puzzling events of the village. Fisherman Kirk McKenna arouses suspicion when he is seen sneaking around at night behind a waterfall where a hidden shed is found. When Ms. Weatherly helps the students solve the mystery of an 18th-century cannonball found on the beach, her students learn the real reasons behind her peculiar appearance. Thumb and Susan get the tables turned on them when the townspeople realize that they are the ones sneaking around and plan a surprise ambush. Franson's black-and-white graphic-style illustrations enhance the suspense. With its blend of creepiness, mystery, and humor, this story will be eagerly welcomed by fans of Thumb and Susan, but it stands alone.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

Gr 1–3—An affectionate tribute to Robinson's father's courage and character. In 1955, the family leaves New York City for a lakeside home in an idyllic, woodsy setting in Connecticut. Sharon and her brothers quickly make friends with the neighborhood kids and spend much of their time playing in and around the lake, though she notices that her dad never joins them in the water. Her new friends are awestruck by him and his stories of his breakthrough into the Major Leagues. When he bravely tests the ice so that the children can play on the frozen lake, Sharon realizes that he can't swim. Robinson neatly sums up the significance of her father's achievements while depicting him as a loving family man. Nelson's large paintings, done in pencil, watercolor, and oils, dramatically convey Robinson's public persona, the intensely competitive athlete, and contrasts that with the relaxed, yet commanding father Sharon and her brothers knew. This book is for a younger audience than the author's Jackie's Nine: Jackie Robinson's Values to Live By (2001) and Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America (2004, both Scholastic), but it adds another facet to children's understanding of the man and should resonate with a wide range of readers.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

Gr 1–4—Some time in the past, in a country resembling China, Fu finds his imaginary adventures more compelling than planting rice in straight rows. When his father tells him to start over, the boy hurls a plant down the hillside where it lands on Chang, a passing soldier of some importance, who challenges the child to a duel. The frightened boy goes to the Master to learn to fight but becomes impatient when his mentor insists on beginning with tea. Throughout the night, the boy makes it over and over, learning to be patient. An author's note mentions the ancient Chinese tea ceremony called Gong Fu, a phrase indicating "any skill developed through great practice." The next morning the child trudges to the duel armed only with the proper tools for tea-making. Chang declines to fight, recognizing that the boy has the Way, an answer reflecting the Daoist philosophy embedded in the imaginative, but somewhat didactic, tale. The illustrations are varied, dramatic, and magical, although the palette is dark with a heavy use of browns and dull yellows. Rocco walks a fine line in his character depictions, particularly of the old man, a stereotypical caricature with thick glasses, a thin beard, and hands hidden in long sleeves. Though some of this story's elements will appeal to the younger children in the target audience, this well-written tale will be best received by older readers, who can appreciate its subtext.—Barbara Scotto, Children's Literature New England, Brookline, MA

K-Gr 2—Traffic always moves at a frantic pace on Rushmore Boulevard. Two older women who are friends live on opposite sides of the street. Agatha Walker, frustrated with its pace, takes her easy chair and a batch of freshly baked gingersnaps and parks herself in the middle of the streaming vehicles. Her friend Eulalie Scruggs soon joins her with a card table and a Parcheesi set. Traffic starts to slow down and people stop by for a chat and cookies. Soon children come out to play in the street. People plant flowers by the curb. The once-busy thoroughfare has been changed into a neighborhood gathering place and no one is in a hurry to leave. The cheerful mixed-media illustrations are of varying sizes and encased in white. In the text, the sound words are bigger and bolder than the others, and fonts vary throughout. While the slow-down-your-life sentiment is sweet, it's not a pressing one for children.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

K-Gr 4—In this series, a diapered possum child with a human mama reenacts Southern folktales with flair and gusto. Here, Mama warns the little guy to stay out of the swamp, where the scary loup-garou awaits. Distracted by a pretty butterfly, Epossumondas enters the swamp anyway. He never meets the werewolf, but he encounters one dangerous predator after another. Luckily, instinct kicks in and he plays possum, thus being rejected by creatures who "don't eat no dead meat." When a carcass-eating buzzard comes along, Epossumondas is saved by his own ticklishness—the horrified bird drops him, crying "I never, ever eat no live meat!" The folksy text lives and breathes like a storytelling performance. Epossumondas and his mama have so much character that this unlikely family is quite believable. The sketchy, mixed-media illustrations convey the humor of the antics while providing a fairly realistic depiction of Louisiana swampland and its inhabitants. As always, Stevens has portrayed Epossumondas's mama as a Salley double, bringing the storyteller into her own tale. Funny, scary, and clever, this story has everything it needs for broad kid appeal.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Gr 3–5—When Digby complains about a lengthy homework assignment, Mr. Crumbundle promptly tacks on an additional 10 pages for him. On his way home, the boy is snatched up by a gigantic repulsive raptor, swallowed by an anaconda, and tossed around by a playful gorilla. Each time he finds himself in danger, Digby finds the solution to his problem in his seemingly bottomless backpack. Riding on the back of a rogue elephant, he eventually arrives at the Oval Office, where his homework is officially canceled by presidential order. Schertle's over-the-top text and zany situations will appeal to children who enjoy the similarly frenetically paced adventures in Jon Scieszka's "Time Warp Trio" series (Viking). Renier's colorful cartoon art lends a graphic feel to the offering. Numerous text balloons supplement the narrative, and the action is displayed in boxes with varying directionality throughout. Far too much is happening to make this suitable for group presentation, but it will certainly find its audience.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

PreS-Gr 1—Little Blue Truck rides in rhyme again, this time carrying crates of lettuce to a metropolitan market. His bug-eyed headlights show appreciation for the city views, as well as discomfort when the faster-paced vehicles harass him. From a double-decker bus to the mayor's limousine, traffic irritably jams into a crunch intensified by the limo engine's demise. The portly, gray-haired mayor uses Little Blue as a podium, instructing citizens to follow the truck's advice to travel "one at a time." The resulting courtesy creates a smooth flow, even when a marching band joins the line. Everyone cheers for the little truck, who leads the way with the mayor as his passenger. McElmurry's gouache scenes are spot-on. Simple compositions in calming indigo and cream in the country starkly contrast with the jam-packed city scenes where a crush of buildings barely shows the sky. The urbanites are a rich mix of ethnicity and purpose: coffee drinkers, construction workers, dog walkers, briefcase carriers, they all pound the pavement. The tale is a fine illustration for classes studying urban and rural settings, and the simple plot is a treat for even very young listeners.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

PreS-Gr 2—This pitch-perfect addition to the much-honored annals of impetuous Dog and careful Bear's friendship will find a ready and delighted audience. In "Uh-Oh," Dog's creative attempt to extricate a bucket stuck on Bear's head backfires when it pops off and descends smack on Dog's head—a visual joke young listeners and lookers will love. "Oops" describes Dog's high-flying bed-jumping stunts, to which a worried Bear responds by surreptitiously creating a soft landing pad on the floor next to the bed. Sure enough, Dog is grateful. Bear organizes Dog's scattered belongings with boxes marked "A," "B," "C" in "Alphabetical Order," but still manages to misplace Dog's beloved sock monkey. Dog's thoughtful interpretation of Bear's creative alphabetizing underscores their loyal friendship. As with Two Friends, Three Stories (2007) and Two's Company (2008, both Roaring Brook), these tales are joyfully distilled in minimal dialogue and Seeger's trademark use of bright, bold swathes of primary color and strong black line in contrast with a white background. This palette ties in visually with its predecessors, yet presents a fresh take in its use of blue as the predominant cover and endpaper color. Whether listeners or emerging readers, children who are already friends with Dog and Bear will delight in these latest adventures, and those who are new to their escapades have a treat in store.—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT

K-Gr 2—When a piglet decides to run away, his unflappable mother tells him he might need a light, a bike helmet, a tent, and a variety of other items, prompting him to decide to bring toys and pets as well. But when Mom suggests cake, which isn't ready, he chooses not to go after all: "I have everything I need right here." The story is written entirely in dialogue, with the mother's voice indicated by italics. While the child's voice is authentic, the reason he's running away is only vaguely hinted at through spot illustrations on the title, copyright, and dedication pages, and his turnaround, though fitting, is abrupt. The minimal text, containing mostly one- or two-syllable words, makes this picture book an effective beginning reader. The childlike cartoon artwork, rendered in watercolor and pencil, depicts elongated figures with dot eyes that migrate to one side of their heads when appearing in profile. The varied layouts, including full-bleed spreads and lots of spot art on white backgrounds, give the story motion and interest. However, the simplicity of the art belies the sophisticated dialogue.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

PreS-K—A mischievous squirrel gathers acorns, sometimes stealing them from other forest creatures, and buries them in various spots. After a scary encounter with a bear, who only wants some berries growing nearby, the squirrel can't seem to recall where he put his supply. When the squirrel's tummy starts to grumble, berries plundered from some indignant rats provide a welcome snack. The rats get their due on the back endpapers when they pinch the squirrel's acorns from their hiding places. Like the rats, young children will enjoy getting one over on the cheeky squirrel. Oversize cut-paper and ink cartoons, interspersed with photographic images of acorns and berries, tell much of the story, making the one-word to one-sentence lines of text per spread almost unnecessary. While the book is not as original as Sherry's I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean (2007) and I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean (2008, both Dial), this bright orange squirrel will entertain children.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

PreS-K—Young Oliver has a full plate: his parents are divorcing, he now lives in two houses instead of one, and he recently began attending a new preschool. These major upheavals have taken a toll on his confidence. Oliver holds tight to his stuffed lion for courage as he watches life from the sidelines. Instead of playing with his classmates, he stands at the window watching and waiting for one of his parents to pick him up. "Sometimes Oliver went to his dad's house, sometimes to his mom's. He was never quite sure." Lion is always close by—glimpses of him can be found in each picture. Gradually, as the seasons change, Oliver begins to join activities and to interact with his teacher and the other children. When a new, and very forlorn, girl joins his class, Oliver offers friendship. In a moment of understated triumph, Lion is left on a stool in front of the window while, hand in hand, the boy accompanies the girl to snack time. Soft, pastel colored-pencil illustrations, similar to those by Paul Yalowitz in Eileen Spinelli's Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (S & S, 1991), create a cozy atmosphere with subtle humor. A gentle, charming book.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

PreS- Gr 3—As Thanksgiving approaches, Turkey fears that he will be the centerpiece of the holiday meal. Thus begins his quest for the perfect disguise so he won't be found when the time arrives. He ties a brush on the back of his head and wears a tiny saddle because surely no one would eat a horse for dinner. But the animals still recognize him. He tries to become a cow, a pig, a sheep, and a rooster. He does not look like any of them. When he hears Farmer Jake tell his wife that if they can't find the turkey, maybe they should eat the rooster for dinner, the protagonist comes up with the perfect ruse. This book is as silly as Denys Cazet's offerings about Minnie and Moo (HarperCollins) and just as funny. Harper's comical watercolor illustrations pair naturally with Silvano's clever, filled-with-wordplay text. A first choice for holiday collections.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME

Gr 1–4—It's difficult to determine the audience for this wordless picture book, which is a watered-down version of Todd Strasser's The Pagemaster (Scholastic, 1994). Opening black-and-white sketches show a brother and sister fighting while a grandfatherly man is trying to read in a room lined with bookshelves. Tired of their squabbling, he pulls aside a bookcase to reveal a hidden staircase. Climbing it, the children find themselves in an attic full of cobweb-covered tomes and pick up The Bored Book. As they open it, color floods from the pages, lighting up their astonished faces. The pages fold out to a huge mural that takes up the entire room and depicts many unrelated scenes. The siblings get sucked into one picture and find themselves on an icy slope facing what may be the Abominable Snowman, and in another, they confront pirates. After many adventures, they return to the old man in the dusty attic (now drawn in full color) and show him the mysterious volume. He calmly shows them shelves of titles such as Treasure Island and Sinbad. The children choose a book and are seen happily reading from it together. Keith's illustrations are too frightening for young audiences, but children who are old enough to read Treasure Island will not be engaged by a series of drawings about terrified kids running away from what the book flap calls "the adventure of a lifetime."—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Gr 3–5—This modern-day Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Sally, have never met a problem that they couldn't solve. Although some of the mysteries are more challenging than others, the author does a good job of using outside information to show kids how such knowledge would've provided the fifth graders with the answers they needed. Reluctant and avid readers alike will enjoy learning new things and finding the hidden clues along with these memorable junior sleuths.—Kira Moody, Hunter Public Library, West Valley City, UT

PreS-Gr 2—Nathan's apartment building has an old-fashioned elevator, complete with an elevator man in a handsome maroon uniform who opens the gates and turns a handle to make it go up or down. The boy's greatest wish is to be an elevator man when he grows up, so when traffic is slow, his friend lets him help. Much to Nathan's dismay, a new elevator is installed, with buttons to push, an automatic door, and no need of an elevator man. However, all ends well: Nathan's friend becomes the building's doorman, and the child "heads toward the elevator to begin his new job." Rich, appealing illustrations sketch the characters in broad, quick strokes of black filled in with warm golds, blues, greens, and maroons, against the backdrop of the building's ongoing activities. The endpapers sum up the story marvelously—at the beginning, an oversize man is opening the gate of the old elevator for Nathan, and at the end, the boy is inside the new conveyance, wearing his friend's maroon hat and pushing the buttons. This story will appeal especially to big-city apartment dwellers.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

PreS-Gr 2—A boy grows bored and tired at his Aunt Matilda's "oh-so-perfect" fancy party where he is ordered to show off his "oh-so-perfect manners to her oh-so-perfect friends." As he slouches down in an armchair and drifts off to sleep, he dreams of how much more exciting the party would be if the guests started a pie-throwing fight that morphed into a wacky baseball birthday party. There's not much substance to the simple, rhyming text, and while the full-spread, color-saturated pastel drawings add additional details and humor, they can't save the story from being almost-boring and not-so-perfect.—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

PreS-K—Harry and his best friend, Horsie, are inseparable. One night, when he can't sleep, he climbs to the shelf that holds his new bubble-making machine. He creates bubbles that begin to surround objects in his room and float them out the window. That's not a problem until one of the diaphanous orbs picks up Horsie and silently drifts into outer space. Harry's adventure in rescuing his beloved stuffed animal is enhanced by retro-style, computer-generated illustrations in beige, blue, and black with touches of red and gold. Planets that hang from Harry's ceiling, a crescent moon shining into his room, and the racecar posters decorating his walls all foreshadow the boy's quest. The intriguing pictures vary from one or two per page to entire spreads, creating interest and flow. This simple story looks as though it could have been written and illustrated in the 1950s, but it will appeal to today's readers.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

Gr 1–3—Owney lives at the Albany, NY, post office circa 1890. Based on a true story, but with little background information, this narrative follows the pup as he travels around the United States in railroad cars. An author's note explains that Owney was real, his travels true, but that this book's details are imagined. Here, the dog rides cross-country through Chicago and on to Oakland, CA. Everyone working on the trains and handling mail knows him. In California, a little girl finds him and takes him home until it is time to return to the train. In Chicago, he attends the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and rides the first Ferris wheel with Thomas Edison. The book is heavily illustrated with maps from the period. Some are actual maps, some are approximations, and they vary in detail and accuracy. This title also includes a packet of postcards in a pocket on the inside cover meant to look like a mail bag. This book could be useful for a classroom activity on U.S. maps, and late-19th-century travel. However, it is text heavy, not easy to follow on the first read, and sometimes a little too cutesy. This book has appeal on many levels but also seems to miss the mark on others.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

K-Gr 3—June is a snake and August an elephant, but this is not immediately apparent to them. On the dark night when they first meet, their physical differences are obscured and they are drawn together by their dreams of what they'd do if they could travel into space. When they meet again in daylight, they continue to bond and to dream together. This odd story has a quirky charm. The story line is disjointed, not because of a lack of storytelling skill, but as a deliberate style that produces a sense of surrealism. The playful illustrations are full of visual tricks that pair the snake with the elephant's trunk, or pointy blades of grass with rhinoceros horns. Readers may be intrigued or they may be befuddled, but they likely won't be bored by this unusual take on friendship and individuality.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

PreS-Gr 1—This rhyming text begins by asking: "What/would you do/with a moose/on the loose?/Would you chase him,/or race him,/or stand up to face him?" As the book continues, the creature becomes more daring, and children will delight in the antics of both the moose and its young human companion. Bold, bright, cartoonlike illustrations capture the action in a humorous style, inviting readers to look closely at all the details. The large boldfaced type complements the illustrations and action. Colorful spreads and simple rhymes will make this whimsical story a hit.—Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA

PreS-Gr 2—On a blustery day, Arlo the armadillo ventures outside with his rabbit friend, Jack. Kites in hand, they head for an open field. Arlo's hopes of landing his kite "on Jupiter" are dashed when it ends up in a tree instead. A rainstorm sends the pals on their way, but Arlo is reluctant to leave without his toy and turns back. He soon becomes lost and rolls his shell into a ball to protect himself. As he waits for the rain to stop, he smells something familiar and realizes that he is near the skunk hole he had passed earlier in the day and "sniffs" his way. The acrylic and watercolor cartoon illustrations are rendered in flat brown and mossy green tones. The pedestrian text relays the adventures in a straightforward, lackluster manner. Stick with Paulette Bourgeois' Franklin Is Lost (Kids Can, 1992).—Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

K-Gr 2—A scary, hairy monster with green teeth chases and frightens all of the woodland creatures. One day, he comes down with the hiccups. He tries everything, including running in circles and swinging upside down from a tree, but they won't go away. When the other animals see him sitting on a rock and crying, they develop a novel idea for curing the problem. The creature considers how kind the animals were to him, decides to mend his ways, and uses his talents more constructively. The large illustrations, done in graphite stick and watercolor paints, are lively, fresh, and expressive, giving personality to the story. The figures are set against white backgrounds with minimal detail. Any child beset by the hiccups will empathize with this not-so-scary character.—Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

PreS-Gr 1—In this sequel to Opera Cat (Clarion, 2002), Alma is still singing her heart out, imitating the melodious range of her owner, Madame SoSo, world-famous soprano. The talented feline yearns to sing in the spotlight, and when her vocalizing breaks Madame's water glass, the star realizes her pet's time has come. There are a few obstacles to be faced, but at last, when they reach Switzerland, Alma steps into the lights for a solo and then a duet with her beloved caregiver. The breathtaking quality of the performance and a standing ovation inspire the maestro to capture their story in a new composition. The penultimate scene portrays an appreciative audience of cats and dogs—and their humans. The focus of Wesson's watercolor and ink scenes alternates between the prima donna and panoramic, tilted views of the opera hall or apartment, a choice that adds energy to the low-key narrative. Young and senior cat and opera lovers are the primary audience for this tale in which the dramatic tension is comprised of a distracted maestro, a rule-bound conductor who separates Alma from Madame SoSo on the train to Switzerland, and a last-minute encounter with a stagehand (not shown). Jonah Winter's The Fabulous Feud of Gilbert & Sullivan (Scholastic, 2009) presents a higher-octane foray into opera for the elementary crowd.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

PreS-Gr 3—The narrator, now a mother herself, tells about an event in her childhood. She and her sister break a rule and get caught in a lie. It starts when they go fishing alone in the springtime bog and catch a bog baby. They want to share their love for their new pet with their mother, but they just can't tell her where they've been. Like budding cryptozoologists, they describe each part of the little round creature with wings "no bigger than daisy petals," and create for it a habitat, a bucket filled with shells, gravel, and water. The glorious illustrations reveal a lush dreamscape of a backyard flush with tendrils, bluebells, Queen Anne's lace, birch trees, cherry trees, dragonflies, ladybugs, and more, all delicately and minutely drawn, and painted in watercolors. The child-voiced, economical narrative transports readers into the squelches and squeaks of tromping through the mud and spring plants, and straight into heartbreak when the beloved bog baby gets sick and hides under shells. Luckily readers can venture vicariously into the twilight bog when the sisters return their pet to its natural environment, and again when the narrator's child, the next generation, joyfully discovers that their sacrifice resulted in the proliferation of this dubious species.—Sara Paulson-Yarovoy, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

K-Gr 2—Longtime friends Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog have fallen into comfortable, lazy routines, doing nothing but eating and sleeping. When they can no longer fit on their couch, they ignore what is happening to them. And when they outgrow their house, they tell themselves that it has shrunk. They set off to find their "distant relatives," a tiger and a wolf, in hopes of living with them. The pair walks hither and yon, through cities and fields, to no avail, and food is scarce. Returning home, they spy their sleek new selves in a mirror: "For the first time in a long time, they felt really comfortable with who they were." Ross's watercolor and line cartoons depict the animals growing larger and larger, with clothes straining over their stomachs and food covering most surfaces in their home. However, the pictures may prove confusing as they are at odds with the text ("the cushions almost filled the room," etc.), and children may not understand the pair's underlying problem, and that they have slimmed down because they have gotten more exercise.—Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ

PreS-K—In this companion to Where Is Home, Little Pip? (S & S, 2008), readers are reacquainted with the small penguin on the day she is supposed to learn to swim. She is a frightened and unwilling participant in the lesson. Pip asks the Snow Petrel and the Giant Albatross if they would show her how to fly, but because they are different types of birds, their suggestions are not helpful. Finally, she soldiers on toward a successful conclusion. Deliciously cool watercolor endpapers in shades of aqua carry over into the large acrylic illustrations enhancing the text. The font is an effective size—large for Pip's announcement, "I want to fly," yet tiny when she whispers back to her parents, "I still just want to fly." Rhyming couplets vary the narrative by presenting occasional four-line poems as a song. Children will be reassured that their fear of trying something new is universal and can have a happy ending.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA

PreS-Gr 1—In this ninth outing in the series, the naughty behaviors of young dinosaurs are followed by an endearing act that reminds their human parents why they love their offspring. The situations are familiar: "Out in the sandbox/you threw lots of sand./You ran from the slide,/after slapping my hand." Fans can follow the 10 dinosaurs by starting with their names and pictures on the endpapers. Expressions are expertly painted for humorous effect, including the defiant Tsintaosaurus letting water overflow onto the floor and the rollicking Pachycephalosaurus kicking the seat while mother is driving the car. The large, colorful spreads and rhyming text that is still a joy to listen to after repeated readings make this a successful storytime selection. Well-designed pictures and skillfully arranged words will entice newly independent readers, who will be challenged to find the dinosaur name hand-lettered in the illustration where the creature is introduced. The familiar format will produce laughs, kisses, and cuddles during or after an exhausting day of many of the same events.—Debbie S. Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI

Gr 2 Up—Through sections entitled "All Things Bright and Beautiful," "Accentuate the Positive," and "Leisure" (the proper pronunciation rhymes with pleasure), Andrews relates her lifelong love of poetry and how she and her daughter, co-selector Hamilton, share this passion. Andrews and Hamilton also contribute several poems. The generous collection includes a nice range of old favorites by Robert Louis Stevenson, Rachel Field, and Christina Rossetti. Recent poets include Frank Asch, Nikki Grimes, and Jack Prelutsky. Many of the songs hail from theater and movie musicals: "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'!" and "My Favorite Things," "Talk to the Animals," and "Feed the Birds." A CD featuring Andrews reading 21 poems is included. This is a warmly sentimental collection, leavened with humor and poignancy, and though it appears marketed toward adults who will purchase it for their home collections, educators and librarians will also embrace it for its sincere advocacy of reading aloud. McMullan's lush watercolor paintings add to the overall appeal of this well-crafted anthology.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

Gr 2–5—Beery offers 30 recipes divided into four sections: "Sweet Treats," "Cookies and Cakes," "Savory Bites," and "Dazzling Drinks." As the title indicates, the focus is on three things that many little girls like: sweets, ponies, and the color pink. Unfortunately, the appeal of this glossy but flawed book stops there. Some of the dishes sound scrumptious, like "Pastel Pony Treat" and "Little Ponytail Puffs." However, the lack of any type of warning about adult guidance will limit the book's usefulness. Recipes require, for example, baking in hot ovens, chopping and coring apples (presumably with sharp knives), and mixing a Sunbeam Smoothie in a blender, all potentially dangerous for unsupervised children. Nutrition information for the recipes is not included, which may be a good thing since many rely on such ingredients as cans of frosting and packaged candies. If you're looking for a cookbook that your more feminine patrons will like, try Julia Monroe's Tiny Treats (Pleasant Co., 2006).—Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Gr 1–4—The cover illustration of a young man carrying an ox on his head should draw children to this picture-book biography of two late-19th century nature photographers from Yorkshire, England. Raised in the countryside, Richard and Cherry Kearton were brothers who produced the first photographic nature book. They worked in London but often escaped with a camera to take pictures of birds, and their nests and eggs. Highly adventurous, the men hid in animal skins and haystacks and climbed, crawled, and waded through bogs to get their shots. Bond's writing is often poetic and captures a sense of wonder: "They especially marveled at the architecture of living things: The structure of nests. The lattice of webs." Sepia ink and watercolor artwork features pale skies and soft-edged hills. A closing spread of photos gives credence to the highly unlikely images of the ox on Cherry Kearton's head and of the brothers standing on a ladder precariously placed on a thin branch in a tall tree. End matter includes quotes and notes on the naturalists' lives following the publication of their groundbreaking work. The book has pleasing prose, attractive illustrations, and a message on early environmentalism. Its popularity is limited only by the obscurity of its subjects.—Ellen Heath, Easton Area Public Library, Easton, PA

K-Gr 3—The story the lion cub purchased from the exotic animals department at Harrods in 1969 has transitioned from YouTube phenomenon to middle grade chapter book (Delacorte, 2009) and now to picture book. While details fleshed out in the chapter book are glossed over and sometimes poorly explained here, this book succeeds because of the authors' decision, many years ago, to document their time with Christian so well. The lion's story, presented as a scrapbook, is full of original photographs of the cub growing up in a London flat and his eventual relocation to the Kenyan bush. Christian's slightly anthropomorphized narrative has a brief introduction and conclusion by Bourke and Rendall. Young readers may not grasp the absurdity of keeping a wild animal as a pet, nor the serendipitous circumstances that led to Christian's placement with George and Joy Adamson, but they will enjoy the photos of Christian riding around London in a convertible, playing hide-and-seek with a blanket, and meeting the pride of lions that he would eventually join. The layout is excellent, with both text and photos presented in an uncluttered, easy-to-follow format. This is ultimately a satisfying story about an extraordinary relationship. It will intrigue children raised on Owen and Mzee and Knut the polar bear.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA

PreS-Gr 1—This confusing book briefly describes 11 animals, including some unusual species such as the spectacled bear of South America and the fennec fox of the Sahara. Each spread has three or four simple, first-person sentences and stylized, oddly colored illustrations on a black background. The pictures do not accurately represent the animals: the absurdly colored koala has a yellow, lavender, gray-green, and brown face, the leopard's face is bright red and orange, and the orange yak has red stripes on its face. There are better introductions to the animal world for young children.—Michele Sealander, Hamburg School, NJ

PreS-Gr 2—Charles uses characters from his picture book The Selfish Crocodile (Little Tiger, 1999) to offer new versions of traditional rhymes. "Three brave mice, three brave mice,/See how they run, see how they run;/They all ran after the crocodile,/Who gave them a hug and a toothy smile…." Lions, giraffes, wild pigs, monkeys, and other animals appear in the rhymes. Terry's bright, amusing illustrations add plenty of energy. Even the spread of the crocodile's "teeth, teeth shining bright" isn't scary. On the accompanying CD, the author recites or sings, with a few jungle sound effects to spice up the presentation. With so many nursery-rhyme collections available, this one need not go to the top of a purchase list unless Charles's picture book is popular.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

PreS-Gr 1—This contagiously playful collaboration is filled with sly textual and visual jokes. Songwriter Covert's photo takes center stage on the title page and persists in a hide-and-seek game on the spreads that follow. His face peeks out of a springy kangaroo's pouch, stares between bat wings, flits by in a dragonfly, and reposes in a frog's pouchy cheeks. Keller's impish acrylic and collage illustrations are filled with swirls, sweeps, and explosions of color and shape; their almost musical quality reinforces the song: "Blue fish, red fish,/galloping goats,/puffins and camels/and piranhas in moats." But the song is not just a happy list of animals; it's a wild, whimsical wheedle aimed at two doubting but indulgent parents: "And I wish, I really wish,/I really, really wish/they could be my pets./Oh, please, pretty please,/from the bottom/of my heart/to the top of my head." Readers who don't know Covert's music are at a slight disadvantage: it would be far easier to "hear" the lyrics if the melody were already planted in one's brain. While the words are repeated, along with guitar chords, at book's end, sheet music is not included. Though the abundance of bounciness occasionally makes it hard to follow the text on the page, all is forgiven: in this book, it's the bounce that counts.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

Gr 2–5—Animals' tongues have different colors and shapes; these differences and the reasons for them are explored in Cusick's clearly written, conversational style. Species included range from the everyday dogs and cats to the unusual—blue-tongued skinks and hummingbird moths that can have probosces longer than their bodies. Each animal is introduced on a spread that includes at least two eye-catching, close-up photos that add lots of interest and appeal. Additional text along the bottom of each spread encourages readers to "Test It Out" (conduct a simple activity) or "Guess What?" (consider another interesting fact). This fascinating book concludes with "Tongue Trivia," fascinating information about the tongue-eating louse, the nudibranchs, glow-in-the-dark fung-tongues, and more.—Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA

Gr 1–3—Each of these short contemporary scenes features lessons about good manners through conversations among friends at school or family members, and is followed by a set of thought-provoking questions designed to extend the classroom experience. The scenes, which are written in simple vocabulary, are divided into seven thematic chapters, e.g., "Gross!" "No fair!" "Mean!" and are preceded by a short "Acting Lessons" section. Much of the dialogue is stilted and highly didactic, and the clumsy stick-figure drawings do little to enliven the pages.—Madigan McGillicuddy, Los Angeles Public Library

Gr 2–4—In May 1942, while the school choir practices the Air Corps song, young Tomie reflects on his cousin's war-related death and goes home in tears. This event triggers a change in his relationship with his brother Buddy that, along with the news that his Uncle Charlie will be going into the Army, casts a shadow on the second grader's year. Throughout the time period covered in this book, the boy hears the phrase "for the duration," which he comes to realize refers to more than just rationing. References to contemporary film and music stars (Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers, etc.) set the book firmly in the early 1940s. Upbeat events include a dance recital, where Tomie shines as King Neptune; the citywide art exhibit at his school; and First Communion preparation. Early chapters begin with diary entries, but the diary soon disappears. Tomie finds the ruined journal by the book's end, and wonders sadly why his brother Buddy is so mean. dePaola's style and word choices are just right for his audience, and the point of view is consistently that of a second grader. Full-page and spot art black-and-white pencil drawings and silhouette art by the author illustrate this must-read title for fans of the series.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Gr 3–5—While serving in Iraq in 2008, First Lieutenant David Falvey received a packet of letters from Julie Hutt's fourth-grade class in Roslyn, NY. The children's correspondences and drawings, paired with Falvey's thoughtful answers and photographs from his deployment, are reproduced in an inviting, child-friendly format. In his two-page introduction, Falvey explains the political situation that led up to the conflict and concentrates on the human aspects of his job as a military policeman. The students' questions range from the conversational (if Falvey has pets or plays a musical instrument, etc.) to the more serious. When asked if the war will be over soon, Falvey simply replies, "The President of the United States is our Commander-in-Chief, and it is his decision." One child inquires, "Why are we fighting for Iraq's freedom? Do some people not want freedom?" and Falvey responds by discussing Al-Qaeda and terrorism, noting, "The hope with Iraq is to have a free country in the heart of the Middle East, where Al-Qaeda is unwelcome, and that this freedom will spread throughout the Middle East, creating a safer world." For some youngsters, the book may seem unrealistic, since it seldom mentions danger or death. However, those with relatives in the military may appreciate a gentle book that helps their peers understand more about military life.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Gr 2–4—Written in a conversational tone, this book is divided into three parts based on how animals clean themselves (example: "Mud, Dust, and Poop"). Each section begins with a brief description of how and why they engage in specific activities, followed by a spread about which ones utilize this method. A full-page, softly colored drawing of the animals "bathing" faces each page of text. This fascinating book provides some unusual details about the unique behavior of the featured creatures.—Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA

Gr 1–5—This broad, accessible encyclopedia will appeal to browsers because of the 500-plus highly realistic computer-generated illustrations, large fonts, and short paragraphs. The thematic chapters—"Numbers and shapes," "How the world works," "The world of materials," "Living things," and "Space"—are subdivided into 68 categories of a spread each, covering topics such as computers, robots, floating and flying, chemical reactions, animal kingdoms, and space travelers. Features include amazing facts, "Superscience" boxes with in-depth information, thought-provoking questions, vocabulary boxes, "Can you find?" picture searches, and "Creative corners"—projects and activities that range from writing simple coded messages to making stalactites with warm water, yarn, and sugar. Brief biographies discuss well-known scientists such as Galileo and Marie Curie and the lesser-known Dmitri Mendeleev, who created the periodic table, and Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. Each spread also recommends a related Web site. Chapters end with a "Now you know!" summary page illustrating and recapping main ideas. Charts of geometric shapes and the planets and lists of important scientific laws and elements appear at the back of the book. While report writers will need to look elsewhere, science enthusiasts will enjoy browsing this smorgasbord of information—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

K-Gr 3—This sophisticated book shows the uses of color and encourages children to find examples in their own environments. Most hues are allotted two spreads. The first one features a solid, saturated page with the color's name in a contrasting shade, facing a close-up photograph framed in black. The second includes two or three additional photos with engaging commentary or questions such as, "Can you find green moss on steps?" From a sea of yellow umbrellas held by Kyoto schoolchildren or "A big green leaf being used as a raincoat" in Nepal to a white-on-white snow angel or a crowd drenched in "purple paint from a special celebration," the images are unexpected and captivating. The statement, "Each color is really lots of different colors" is illustrated by a picture of blue doors in a paler blue walkway under an even lighter blue Haitian sky. Two boys in red jackets hiding against a red wall clarify the concept of camouflage. All locales are listed in the back of the book, though the page references are out of sync. Houblon will inspire children to find interesting color images in their own surroundings.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools

K-Gr 3—From southwest Tanzania comes this folktale of a time without rain and an amazing tree with ripe fruits that will not fall. The hungry animals decide to ask wise Tortoise how to get these fruits, and little Rabbit offers to find him. They send the big animals instead—first Elephant and Water Buffalo, then Rhino, Giraffe, and Zebra, and finally Lion and Leopard. Tortoise tells them that they can only get the fruits if they call the tree by its name, but they all forget it. Finally the animals send Rabbit, who learns that it is called "Ntunguru meng'enye." She returns to the other animals, who are now weak with hunger, and calls the tree by name. "And the fruits started falling like rain!" They thank Rabbit and realize that everyone is important no matter their size. Kilaka's eye-catching, stylized illustrations are done in vivid color, each facing a page of text. The animals wear bright clothes and walk upright. Wise Turtle's house is patterned like a turtle's shell, and he lounges unencumbered by one in a comfortable chair. The African sky is sometimes pink with yellow clouds, and fantastic trees grow green despite the drought. A solid choice for any unit on Africa.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

K-Gr 2—In this Saudi folktale, Jouha loads ten donkeys with dates to sell at the market. As he rides along, he counts nine and believes one is lost. Yet when he walks, he counts all ten and is grateful that the missing donkey is back. Alternately lucky and unlucky, depending on whether he walks or rides, Jouha sells his dates and returns home with all of his donkeys. Arabic numbers from one to ten are written from right to left at the bottom of the pages, both in Arabic and in English transliteration, and invite youngsters to count along with the silly date merchant. (Readers can listen to Taibah pronounce these numbers on MacDonald's Web site.) Full-color paintings expand the repetitive text, tracing the journey of ten distinctly different donkeys across the desert landscape and indicating the passage of time with the position of the sun, the color of the sky, and the size of the shadows underneath the donkeys. In an opening note, MacDonald documents the many variants of this folktale, including Denys Johnson-Davies's Goha the Wise Fool (Philomel, 2005), which is set in Egypt. For those libraries with large folklore collections or those looking for unusual counting books.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Gr 2–6—Abridged from Mandela's 1994 autobiography, this picture book distills the basic facts of his childhood, his education, and the influences that led him to become one of the world's most renowned political activists. In a simple, yet effective manner, he describes the growing system of apartheid, and the unjust treatment of blacks in South Africa is made clear without horrifying details. The focus of the book is really on the man's life as an early activist working with the African National Congress, coordinating protests, and meeting with others around the country. The writing is clear, providing chronological detail for even young students new to the concept and history of apartheid. Full-page, color paintings accompany the text on every spread and depict crucial moments from the narrative in a way that both complements and enhances the story, lending visual structure. Similar in scope and detail to Yona McDonough's Peaceful Protest (Walker, 2002) and Floyd Cooper's Mandela (Philomel, 1996), this autobiography will be a strong supplement to any collection.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

PreS-Gr 3—Music played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. One of the songs, This Little Light of Mine, serves as a recurring focal point in this book. The well-designed book features large, colorful, deceptively simple images highlighting significant dates and events in the African-American struggle for equality. The illustrations are thought-provoking and sure to prompt questions such as, why, in one spread, the children on one page are black and entering a school, or drinking from a water fountain, while on the opposite page, all the children are white and walking toward another school, and drinking from a separate fountain? Text is kept to a minimum, with a few carefully chosen words to describe what is visually represented on each page. For example, one page of a spread reads, "February 1, 1960. The Greensboro Four"—followed by their names. The facing page reads, "Students at lunch counters—/They hoped to be served. As the Greensboro Four sat waiting,/they let their lights shine." While this is a good introduction to the topic, it sometimes presupposes prior knowledge of, or exposure to, African-American history. Pair this offering with This Little Light of Mine, illustrated by E.B. Lewis's (2005), and/or Ashley Bryan's Let It Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals (2007, both S & S), both of which include verses and musical notes.—Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

PreS-Gr 2—In this picture-book version of a popular song, Paxton's lyrics are accompanied by vibrant, modern illustrations to tell the story of a boy who receives a gift from his father. No one knows quite what it is, but that does not diminish its importance. As the song goes, "It went zip! when it moved/And bop! when it stopped/And whirr! when it stood still./I never knew just what it was,/And I guess I never will." The boy grows up and hands the toy down to his son, and it is admired by the pets and other toys as well. The mysterious toy never comes into full view, although a few of its bright lights can always be seen. Illustrations depict a magical haze of greens and blues, while capturing the excitement of the action with splashes of red and yellow. It is clear that the boy owns plenty of toys, but not one can compare to this amazing gadget. The accompanying CD is an enjoyable bonus, providing Paxton's version of the song and an instrumental take. Two additional songs from Paxton are also included. While the story is nostalgic, the energized artwork filled with stardust increases the kid appeal.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO

Gr 3–5—These books live up to their promise to "uncover the hidden facts behind everyday things." Price explains how chocolate was discovered and became popular, its ingredients, the chocolate-making process, and how companies like Hershey and Cadbury became successful. Bread covers the history of the staple and its importance, the harvesting of grains, and the equipment used to bring it "From Fields to Tables." Readers will learn, for example, that bagels were originally created in the shape of a stirrup to honor the King of Poland. Toilets covers the history of the convenience and of indoor plumbing and sewer systems, waste treatment, and the use of "toilet-to-tap" systems (which should elicit plenty of "yucks"). The well-organized texts are informative and clearly written, and the numerous color photographs and drawings are eye-catching and complement the narratives well. These titles provide a lot of information in a friendly format that is great for reluctant readers. First choices for report writing.—Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL

Gr 1–6—Eighteen paintings, and not a bowl of fruit in sight. Whether it is the knockout punch of George Bellows's Dempsey and Firpo or the fiery blasts of Diego Rivera's The Conquest of Mexico, this art is not about sitting still. Raczka threads selections together using few words: "Dragon Slayers/Baseball Players/Big Top Swingers/Stone Slingers." Similar in format to his Art Is… (Millbrook, 2003), the book includes works in various styles, dating from 1450 to 1962. Rounded out with some fun facts about the selections, this enjoyable collection presents an array of action-packed art fit for independent perusal or group discussion.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO

Gr 3–5—In this clever introduction, Sally and her four friends are looking for her missing cat and dog. The simple text is accompanied by a colorful map that uses symbols to identify places such as the library. Next, the youngsters explore the park, and the map shows how to follow a route. They continue their search in the city, the countryside, and eventually across the world and the solar system. On the way, a different type of map—for example, weather, topographical, and treasure—is featured on each spread and explained. The idea works well for the first few pages but falls apart as the children go further and further afield. However, the information is solid, and readers will enjoy looking for the animals, who are hiding somewhere in each map. Back matter includes instructions for creating a map of a bedroom.—Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN

PreS-Gr 2—This picture book describes the nests of various birds, insects, mammals, fish, and reptiles. Whether it's an elf owl's cavity in a giant Saguaro, a Caribbean flamingo's mound of mud in shallow water, or a sea turtle's sandy pit, these shelters are described in brief rhymed texts: "Imagine a rocky-hard 'nest.' Can that be?/Picture an egg balanced delicately./High on a cliff this egg rests on a ledge./Whew! It rolls in a circle—not off the edge." The title question is then repeated at the end of each rhyme, and the nest builder is identified (in this example, a common murre). The creatures are brought to life in the engaging rhymes and vivid art. The illustrations in Bert Kitchen's And So They Build (Candlewick, 1995) are a little more realistic and provide more details.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Gr 2–4—Salt and Soap were just puppies when they were found by two National Park Service rangers at the rim of the Grand Canyon. Undaunted, the dogs followed the workers into the canyon and stayed the night with them. They followed other rangers back up, only to return the next day. Then some white-water rafters took them aboard. After traveling 80 miles down river, the puppies eventually made it to a ranger station where they were taken in as "lost and found" items. Salt and Soap later rode aboard a Park service helicopter out of the canyon and were adopted by the author, a ranger. While the story is interesting, the present-tense writing reads somewhat awkwardly, and the font is small and occasionally crowded. The bright, detailed acrylic illustrations feature realistic landscapes, but many of the characters (human and animal) appear somewhat distorted, having disproportionately large noses, ears, lips, and/or eyes. This tale will be of regional interest, but it's an additional purchase elsewhere.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Gr 1–5—From stories and photos she received from people around the world, Ruurs chose 13 school situations to share with readers. She shows the great contrasts that exist, even in a geographic region, where an international school in Malaysia has a library with 16,000 books while the Rajgir Monastery School in nearby Myanmar has "almost no teaching materials such as maps, posters, or even books." The book also demonstrates that children learn in a variety of settings by featuring a boarding school in Scotland and classes provided by radio and the Internet in the Australian outback. An inset box on each spread includes a map, flag, and a few facts about the featured area. Ruurs mentions the work of charitable organizations and volunteer groups in countries including Guatemala and India and notes setbacks such as the destruction of a school in Afghanistan. Still, the overriding tone is optimistic that more children, girls as well as boys, will participate in education around the world. This book might also be paired with Listen to the Wind (Dial, 2009), Greg Mortenson's personal account of establishing schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

PreS-Gr 2—Sanderson's retelling begins in a familiar vein: Goldilocks is out in the woods (here, picking blueberries), where she encounters an empty house that she can't resist exploring. After tasting the porridge, rocking in the chairs, and trying out the beds, she falls fast asleep. With the entrance of the bears, the tale veers onto a different track. A no-nonsense Mama Bear quickly has Goldilocks straightening the messed bed and helping to repair the broken chair. But when it comes to the empty bowls, Goldilocks, her basket in hand, becomes the one in charge: "Blueberries are very good for breakfast," she suggests. Mama Bear happily agrees and brings out the rest of the ingredients; together they all enjoy muffins right from the oven. The artist warms her version of this oft-told tale with lavish accoutrements, costumes, and furniture that suggest a Scandinavian setting, which will entice viewers to explore the far corners of the pages. Characters are presented up close: the furry-faced bears have stern yet friendly countenances while Goldilocks has just the right mixture of sauciness, curiosity, and kindness to give credibility. The large, richly colored images make this an ideal classroom read-aloud, and Mama Bear's recipe for blueberry muffins offers a nice finishing touch.—Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA

Gr 2–5—Following the elegant design of Where in the Wild? (Tricycle, 2007), the skillful trio of Schwartz, Schy, and Kuhn once more create tri-part entries of poetry, photography, and factual explanation to reveal 11 creatures difficult to spot in their natural habitats. Like the animals, the poems introducing them vary in size and shape. Haiku, quatrains, and visual verses offer hints about the critters that are hidden (some more fully than others) in the lovely facing pictures. Each photograph folds out to reveal the highlighted figure of the designated animal against a shaded view of the first scene and a page of discussion about its behavior, physical characteristics, and interactions with other species. An inchworm, gecko, crayfish, ambush bug, and others are beautifully introduced in the guessing-game scheme. The camouflage concept is a worthwhile lesson, and the information is interesting. Best of all, the book's a versatile package for read-aloud fun and personal browsing and enjoyment as well as classroom use.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

PreS-Gr 2—Presented in story format and narrated by a young child in rhyming couplets, this short book encourages children who have been sexually abused to talk to someone they trust. Written by a prosecutor of sex offenders, it is intended to begin a discussion on a topic that may be uncomfortable for parents but is vital for children since many of them do not know whether or how to tell someone when they are touched inappropriately. Youngsters are reassured that they are not to blame when this happens. Average-quality watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations on solid white backgrounds face a page of large-print text. "Suggestions for the Storyteller" gives advice to parents on how to broach this subject, while two pages of "Where to Find Help" give related phone numbers and Web addresses. In only 19 sentences, this simple book will empower children while promoting open communication.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 1—Each title has a dual text, which appears on alternating pages. The large-font, easy-to-read main text presents introductory information about the animal and her young, while the smaller font offers more details. Both books are clearly and simply written. The illustrations are colorful but lack detail and are amateurishly drawn. A labeled diagram and a page of additional facts round out each presentation.—Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY

K-Gr 2—Straightforward vocabulary, short sentences, and crystal-clear photos combine to provide a brief overview of a butterfly's life cycle. Information is presented in story format, with the creature offering a first-person narration that occasionally rhymes: "Rain falls. It plips and plops. I need to drink water. I drink the small drops." For the most part, the crisp close-ups directly follow the text, illustrating the highlighted details. However, the narrative states, "I grew in an egg. Then I hatched," a process not shown in the photos. On another page, the text reads, "Look at me now! I am an insect. I have six legs," but it's difficult to count these appendages in the accompanying picture. Still, the book's pleasant narrative flow and appealing full-color photos will captivate and encourage beginning readers. "What Do You Think?" questions are appended. An eye-catching addition to easy-reader collections.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

K-Gr 4—The introduction to this book is a little clunky; it's rather wordy and difficult to read with black letters in a small font against a dark gray background. Things become more interesting once that page is turned. An alphabet of animals is presented, each one cleverly composed of its initial letter in a typeface that often suits the characteristics of that creature—a spiky alligator, shaggy sheep, etc. Fold-out pages allow for the impressive height of the giraffe or the length of the alligator to be revealed. Small boxes on the bottom and sides of the pages show how using a different typeface for a particular letter render it suitable for a different purpose—a loopy "l" for lasso as opposed to some that lean or bend slightly for laziness. There is a lot to examine here, and readers should return repeatedly to do just that. Suggestions follow for children to try inventing their own typefaces, and to investigate the Web site for the Type Directors Club. Young readers will enjoy the animals while older children will have a greater appreciation for the book's artistry.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

PreS-Gr 2—Peter (Yarrow), Paul, and Mary's familiar song isn't a natural fit for a picture book like Puff, the Magic Dragon (Sterling, 2007). The lyrics, such as "You shall inherit what humankind has done" and "Can you see what we all disguise/through your loving eyes?" are too sophisticated for the intended audience and the refrain "when the day is done" is awkward to read aloud repeatedly. Charming watercolor and mixed-media illustrations depict animal parents comforting their children, and the last scene shows a father lovingly tucking his son into bed. While this is a beautiful package, with a lovely CD including "Day Is Done," "I Know Where I'm Going," and "Dona Dona Dona" recorded by Peter Yarrow and his daughter Bethany, the audience will be limited to adults nostalgic for the music and its message.—Rachel Kamin, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, IL

PreS Up—Identical in format to Yarrow's Favorite Folk Songs and Sleepytime Songs, both Sterling, 2008), this book and CD set presents 12 songs, first on colorful, individual spreads and then in a section of "Lyrics with Chords." The final section, "About the Songs," gives a brief history of each selection and sometimes a personal anecdote about its significance. Widener accompanies each song with a dramatic, occasionally whimsical, acrylic painting. The CD features Yarrow on lead vocals and guitar accompanied by his daughter Bethany, also on lead vocals. Longtime Peter, Paul, and Mary accompanist Dick Kniss provides a familiar-sounding back-up bass, while banjo, mandolin, and other acoustic folk instruments are played by virtuoso instrumentalist Paul Prestopino. Children singing background vocals help to make this an irresistible sing-along experience. Occasionally, thoughtful alterations make the lyrics gentler for young audiences or present a subtle political or ecological message. For example, in "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain," we will "get" rather than "kill" "the old red rooster (even though we will all have chicken and dumplings in the next verse), while "Oh, You Can't Get to Heaven" cautions listeners that you can't get there "on fossil fuel, cause the Lord's gone green cause he knows it's cool." Let's Sing Together is sure to be greeted with enthusiasm in storyhours, classrooms, and family singing sessions.—Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA