(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Twitch the squirrel returns in his third book, this time wreaking havoc at the science museum. On the advice of science-savvy classroom geckos, Twitch stows away on a field-trip bus. Once at the museum, he faces dangers such as animatronic dinosaurs, a revolving postcard display rack, a remote-control Mars Rover model, a Foucault pendulum, and more--with hilarious results. Plentiful black-and-white illustrations depict the mayhem.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. School-yard squirrel Twitch (8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos) narrates his adventure journeying into the house next to the school via the special brick "squirrel door" (chimney). When the resident dog discovers Twitch, hilarious chaos ensues until a child's accident forces the animals to cooperate. Vande Velde cleverly maintains the squirrel's perspective. Silly line drawings illustrate every page.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Warm, loose-lined ink and watercolor illustrations accompany the teen sisters' original song about fun at the beach. It works better as a song, but plenty of sisterly affection shines through text and images. The funny ending is both a surprise and perfectly in keeping with the chorus: "Just use your imagination / You can have a dream vacation / In the waves, in the water."

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. This collection of silly poems written by comedian Foxworthy features thirty-four short rhyming verses that celebrate family, friendship, animals, and nature. The work is uneven; some rhymes are sprightly and creative while others are ponderous. Energetic cartoon illustrations do a good job of depicting simple vignettes that enliven the poems.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Too busy with their digital devices, Annie's family members won't make her a snack. So Annie, always sticky from gum, glue, etc., makes her own: a peanut butter and honey sandwich. The resulting mess brings the family together and they rediscover how much they've missed interacting. Fittingly sloppy pictures bring the gooey-ness to life, but this funny answer to digital obsession is flimsy.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by Steve Björkman. "I sing a little mud song, / a puddle song, / a muddle song, / a no-shoes, toes-ooze, / slip-slap-and-thud song." This rhyme, with its lighthearted wordplay, revels in the sounds of a rainy day. Exuberant illustrations follow a girl and her dog as they go outside, play in the rain and the mud, and return home to wash up in the tub.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Twitch, a squirrel, runs across a sleeping dog's nose and into school, inadvertently launching a series of calamities. Various classroom pets narrate chapters detailing the disasters in their particular room. The cumulative mayhem results in consequences narrated by the dog. Readers will chuckle at each pet's unique voice and talent (math, poetry, etc.). Spot illustrations enhance the chaotic fun.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. With so few pumpkins in their garden, Aden and Leah's plans for a Halloween party are ruined. Their cat, Scruffy, and dog, Mocha, come to the rescue by discovering a field of pumpkins growing from last year's seeds. Illustrated with pleasant, cartoonlike watercolors, the story benefits from its gentle humor, loyal animals, and portrayal of family cooperation.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. He goes to bed wearing one sock. His elbows are named Clyde and Carl. He chicken-squawks his hello on the phone. There are some peculiar things about Ted, but his parents being divorced is not among them. With its lighthearted text and art, this book will find an audience, though the title may confine it to the "issues" section of the bookstore.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Steve Björkman. These sixteen silly poems written by comedian Foxworthy (selected from his picture book of the same name) celebrate family, friendship, animals, and nature. Some of the rhymes are sprightly while others are more ponderous; all are accessible in this easy reader edition. Energetic cartoon illustrations do a good job of enlivening the poems.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. This second collection of humorous poems by comedian Foxworthy offers a trip down Silly Street, a "cool place" where one can attend a "flying squirrel circus," purchase a "big pony / That eats fried baloney," and watch "a pig that does flips on a green trampoline." Bright, colorful illustrations energize the playful collection.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. This lucid how-to covers everything from politely eating soup to hosting a party. Few children will read the book voluntarily, though: while the language occasionally strives to be kid-friendly, the volume's fundamental fuddy-duddiness prevails (see especially a cringe-inducing section on how to make small talk). Comical black-and-white cartoon illustrations and the occasional "Question for Cindy & Peggy" add some verve. Ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Holiday House Readers series. Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Two dogs work quickly to make a plan when the Easter Bunny comes down with the flu a week before the holiday. Thanks to the chickens' eggs, the birds' gathered berries, the squirrels' tails (as paint brushes)--and a last-minute rally from the bunny himself--they manage to save Easter. This lively story about cooperation features spirited illustrations of helpful animals.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Fran gets her way by using her loud voice. After upsetting a kindergartner, she realizes she's a bully. The lure of playing the princess in the school play plus watching her dog in puppy kindergarten give her the keys to better behavior. Fran, whose outsize personality comes through in the black-and-white line art, learns her lesson in a believable way.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. This collection of silly poems written by comedian Foxworthy features thirty-four short rhyming verses that celebrate family, friendship, animals, and nature. The work is uneven; some rhymes are sprightly and creative while others are more ponderous. Energetic cartoon illustrations do a good job of depicting simple vignettes that enliven the poems.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Loose, cartoony illustrations show young Emily preparing for Christmas, when "the most special gifts she gives won't go under the tree." Mercifully, Emily Post's descendants' latest manners pitch sidesteps the hard sell; for the most part, they trust readers to see for themselves that as Emily helps her dad shovel, affixes a pageant angel's wings, etc., she's also enjoying herself.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Christmas is looming and everyone's sharing gift lists except for Kari ("Santa knows," she says). The family tries to get her wishes out of her, and even D.B., their roof-climbing bloodhound, wonders, but Kari keeps tight-lipped. When Christmas Day arrives, it turns out that Kari was right after all. Lighthearted illustrations move the story along to an ending that lacks logic.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Björkman. Alfie is scornful of his little sister Noelle's belief in Santa and determines to expose this fraud to the world: "'Wake up and smell the cookies!' he posted on the World Wide Web. 'At least they're for real.'" But Alfie gets his just rewards--as does Noelle--when Santa steps in. The dialogue-driven story is neatly structured, and Björkman's line-and-wash pictures have plenty of sprightly holiday accents.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006

(3) K-3 Holiday House Readers series. Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman. When Poky the dog and his humans move into a new house, Poky befriends a hamster left behind by the previous family. The humans, thinking it's a mouse, set traps, but Poky trips them. To find out what's going on, the humans set up a spycam, then offer the hamster a home. Lively illustrations energize the pleasant but quiet story.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman & Steve Bjorkman. Humorous cartoon illustrations on every page liven up a rather bland volume on suffrage and the electoral process. Examples taken from history or from a hypothetical presidential race demonstrate the party system, presidential slogans, and political vocabulary. The 2000 election gets mild treatment. Throughout the (somewhat overlong) book, students are urged to get involved. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam