(2) K-3 Translated by Sarah Klinger. Illustrated by Valerio Vidali. The eponymous character in this French-Canadian import seems to be suffering from a bout of depression. Animal friends try to cheer him up, to no avail. First a monkey attempts a joke, then ostriches do a silly dance, and finally a crocodile serves up a bowl of delicious acacia leaves. Colorful textured art keeps the focus on the characters, with minimal backgrounds and a flat aesthetic that lets the animals' forms fill the pages. Then, a tiny white mouse appears midway through the story, and instead of trying to distract the elephant from his feelings, she asks, "Could I rest here next to you?" Leery, the elephant asks, "You're not here to tell me a story?" No, she's not, but after a while, the mouse begins to reveal her own tale of woe, and it turns out that this is just what the elephant needed to give himself permission to cry and vent his own feelings. It doesn't come across as a case of misery loves company so much as it does a moment of empathy for someone else's problems that allows for sympathy for one's own. As the pair walks off together "feeling much lighter," the scenes remain awash in a calm blueness, which suggests less of a happily-ever-after resolution than it does peace in their togetherness.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(4) K-3 Translated by Sarah Klinger. Illustrated by Olivier Tallec. Every year, Blob the Fish, who resembles a pink pinto bean, participates in the prestigious Ugliest Animal in the World competition. He finally wins, lets fame go to his head, and is bereft when his reign is over. Kids may not understand this French import's wicked parody of lookism, but they'll get a kick out of the art showing Blob living the high life before his fall.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Translated by Sarah Klinger. A crocodile cares for what he thinks is an abandoned baby croc. When he realizes the baby is actually a young child in armor, fear takes hold and the two part ways, despite their fondness for each other. This quirky book is not without charm, but the bittersweet message may not resonate with a picture-book audience. The detailed crosshatch illustrations, however, will.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Translated by Sarah Klinger. A French dog returns from New York and tells its canine friends about the sights: the subway ("you wind through tunnels that seem to go on forever"), the Guggenheim ("one big spiral from beginning to end"), etc. This dog's-eye view is captured in large, gorgeous colored-pencil spreads alternating with amiable black-and-white vignettes featuring canines chatting in dialogue-balloon asides ("Wow, you've changed!").

Reviewer: Nell Beram