(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Our Universe series. Illustrated by John Wallace. With one clear, informative sentence per page, Bauer gives young readers solid introductory information about our closest neighbor in the universe. Wallace's uncluttered illustrations are welcoming and help with reading comprehension. For example, "our moon lights up our night sky, but it has no light of its own," accompanies a simple, clear diagram of light from the sun bouncing off the moon toward earth. Specialized vocabulary words such as satellite and gravity appear in a glossary preceding the main text to prepare young readers for success. A page of "Interesting Facts" concludes this accessible title. The series also includes Earth and Mars.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ekua Holmes. From darkness, we experience the Big Bang, the birth of the universe, and the emergence of life on Earth. Holmes breathes life and depth into Bauer's ambitious poem with marbled paper and collage, in which representational shapes subtly emerge from the mottled background. By book's end, we see an adult and child together: "You, / and me / loving you. / All of us / the stuff of stars."

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Richard Jones. As winter approaches, a fox wonders what to do. Advice from other animals gives young listeners an overview of creatures in a woodland habitat as, for example, a squirrel scurries to gather nuts, a turtle buries itself in mud, and a snowshoe hare camouflages itself with a white coat. Illustrations reflect a gentle narrative and uncluttered setting as the fox learns its surprising seasonal role.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. A drifting leaf lures calico house cat Patches outside and into surprising adventures in this companion to Little Dog, Lost. Patches's benevolence toward the animals she meets, especially Gus the dog, returns to her in spades in this kindhearted novel written in easy-to-read free verse. The story is a bit message-y but still appealing, its warmth aptly reflected in Bell's softly shaded illustrations.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Illustrated by John Shelley. Coaxed from his bed on a late winter night by a bear risen from his own slumber, a boy hears a loud cracking. With a party of woodland creatures, he marches toward the sound, discovering a giant egg as it bursts open--revealing spring in all its glory. Soft watercolor and ink illustrations are playful and detail-rich, but the story's buildup is slow.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers: 50 States to Celebrate series. Illustrated by C. B. Canga. Mr. Geo gives a necessarily brief but enthusiastic and generally child-friendly introduction to Illinois. He begins with a number of pages about Chicago before moving on to the rest of the state. Being Mr. "Geo," he keeps geography in mind, while touching on topics such as history, climate, and places of scenic beauty. Though not especially remarkable, the genial illustrations are serviceable.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers: 50 States to Celebrate series. Illustrated by C. B. Canga. Since these brief books are for newly independent readers, Mr. Geo, the cheerful geography teacher, can only offer whirlwind tours. He mentions geographical features, cities, natural resources, wildlife, history, products, and weather, not forgetting sports teams and tourist attractions. They're all pictured in serviceable illustrations with touches of humor. Fast facts and activities complete each useful (if limited) volume. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these Green Light Readers: 50 States to Celebrate titles: Celebrating North Carolina and Celebrating Washington State.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers: 50 States to Celebrate series. Illustrated by C. B. Canga. Since these brief books are for newly independent readers, Mr. Geo, the cheerful geography teacher, can only offer whirlwind tours. He mentions geographical features, cities, natural resources, wildlife, history, products, and weather, not forgetting sports teams and tourist attractions. They're all pictured in serviceable illustrations with touches of humor. Fast facts and activities complete each useful (if limited) volume. Timeline. Glos. Review covers these Green Light Readers: 50 States to Celebrate titles: Celebrating North Carolina and Celebrating Washington State.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by John Shelley. "Have you ever thrown / your trick-or-treat sack / on your back / on All Hallows' Eve / and taken your leave / of town?" So begins this account of a costumed child's Halloween-night journey into the woods. Bauer's free-form rhymes are creepy until the lighthearted twist ending. Shelley's chilling art features skeletons living in trees made of bones.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. More than anything, Mark wants a dog. His mom, the town's mayor, says no. More than anything, dog Buddy wants a boy. But hers has moved away. More than anything, shy Charles Larue wants to belong. But the town has labeled him as odd and shunned him. A chance thunderstorm fixes all their problems in this somewhat trite but sweet verse novel.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) PS Illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Brannon's afraid of thunder, and his relatives' attempts to explain it as "a big cat purring" or "angels bowling in heaven" send him running for cover. But Brannon's also a dinosaur fan, so when brother Chad announces that dinosaurs make thunder, Brannon comes out of hiding. Eye-catching cloud creatures (and dinosaurs) populate the dynamic, inventive illustrations in this satisfying new look at dinosaur mania.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. Rhyming text of varied line lengths describes March weather in terms of the proverbial animals' behavior. The lion stomps in with storm clouds; he seems determined to stay, but he finally--inadvertently--summons the springtime lamb with a sneeze. The text's rhythm nicely evokes erratic March, while McCully's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are at first appropriately windy and then cheerfully floral.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Peter Ferguson. When Delsie and her friend Todd explore an abandoned house near an old mill, Delsie discovers a golden ghost dog that she can see, but Todd can't. Quick-paced and full of suspense, Bauer's latest chapter-book mystery moves smoothly from present to past. Ferguson's black-and-white illustrations punctuate key points in the text.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles. Loner Rose finds a tiny china doll in her attic. Her tears bring the doll to life, and at first the surprise is enchanting. But Princess Regina considers Rose her servant, and it becomes trying to be at Regina's constant beck and call. Magic, independence, and growth are at the heart of this charmingly told story illustrated with black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(2) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles. While visiting the grandmother she didn't know existed, Zoey discovers a tiny princess doll who miraculously starts talking--and bossing. The story is both a sweet tale about a doll come to life and a bleaker, darker tale of a little girl facing some difficult truths. The direct-address narration adds intimacy and helps insure that the serious undertone doesn't overwhelm the story.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2010

(2) 4-6 Jealous of her pregnant stepmother, twelve-year-old Stacy runs away, blindly rushing off into the hot, dusty Oklahoma panhandle country. There she's found by two dogs who lead her to their owner, tough Old Ella. Bauer provides solid, serviceable characters and reliable dramatic situations. It's a good story, ably constructed and skillfully told.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: August, 1976

(3) PS Illustrated by Kristina Stephenson. A bouncy, rhythmic text presents a curious toddler crowd acknowledging the wonders of their bodies: "I have two feet / that dart, / that dash..." The text then shifts to (unspecific) expressions of gratitude: "I have two hands to pray... / I have one mouth to say... / Thank you!" Softly tinted watercolors effectively depict cheery toddlers.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) PS Illustrated by Ivan Bates. This pleasantly rhymed counting book starts with one brown bunny searching for a friend. He invites increasing numbers of colorful animals to play, but they all decline, leaving poor Bunny alone. On the final page, however, everyone returns, and Bunny is delighted with his newfound pals. Expressive pastel-hued illustrations show Bunny's emotions as he goes from eager anticipation to gloom to joy.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ted Lewin. A crow, moose, and fox fail to rouse the sun to end the long winter night--something that only a small chickadee's song ("Dee-dee-dee") is able to do, as "Fingers of light / peel back the blanket of darkness." Bauer's poetic text is enhanced by Lewin's lush, textured illustrations, which bring to life the forest and its sun-seeking creatures.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. Joseph asks, "Have you heard?...A baby! A baby is coming!" In response, angels, animals, and people gather at the stable to greet the newborn Jesus. Bauer connects the Christmas story with the excitement spread each time a baby is born. The text is soothing and rhythmic, but the acrylic illustrations of round-cheeked angels and smiling animals are overly sentimental.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth