(4) PS Illustrated by Tim Warnes. Little Tiger routinely protests bedtime. One night, his mom lets him stay up. Giddy, he visits each of his jungle friends, who are being put to bed by their parents. The ending's inevitability (Little Tiger gets scared, wants to go home) prevents the story from offering surprises, although there are some cute visual moments in the sumptuously colored spreads.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Warnes. In a race for the privilege of eating the farmer's cabbages, Muggs the kindly turtle loses to the obnoxious Hare. But when she challenges Hare to race her home, Muggs wins easily by pulling inside her shell, which is, after all, her home. The text for this take-off on the old fable could be more streamlined; however, the ending is amusing, and the simple illustrations give the animals personality.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jack Tickle. Little Rocket wants to give her dad a star for his birthday, but, as Satellite Sid, Sammy Shuttle, and Andy the Astronaut help her realize, a star isn't something she can just pluck from the sky and top with a bow. Although definitely on the saccharine side, this blithe story, with its friendly, rainbow-colored illustrations, gives young children some honest information on stars within a fanciful package.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Chapman. While Smudge the dog is playing with Bounce the rabbit and Nibble the mouse in the yard, it begins to rain. Smudge runs to the house, but finds the door is shut. With the helping "paws" of his friends he finally gets inside where it is dry, only to find the sun has come out again. Though the text is not particularly riveting, the expressive gouache illustrations have appeal.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Warnes. Wakened abruptly by his animal friends, Santa finds he has overslept on Christmas Eve. A comedy of errors ensues--reindeer are lost, and the sleigh gets stuck in a huge snowdrift. Cheerful paintings in the humorous tale depict a contingent of animal helpers that assist Santa through the night. At dawn, they give the jolly fellow his own Christmas gift--an alarm clock.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty