(3) K-3 Illustrated by Yu Rong. Because Squrriel's wise caregiver, Bear, has a cold, Squirrel must experience his first snowfall alone. When he tries to save the best snowflake for Bear, it melts in his pocket; Bear comforts him: "Snow comes and goes," but their love will last forever. Cozy illustrations--featuring occasional silhouettes, intricate line drawings, and one dramatic die-cut--complement the evocative language in this unconventional-family story.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by Jim Field. Set-in-his-ways koala Kevin stays in his tree. Despite the coaxings of a wombat, kangaroos, and dingoes, Kevin remains on his perch--until a woodpecker forces the issue by toppling the tree. Large cartoony illustrations show an endearing collection of outback pals. The rhyming text, though message-y ("life can be GREAT / when you try something NEW!"), is kid-friendly and relatable.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) PS In a sappy rhyming declaration of love from parent to child, an owl takes delight in spending time with its owlet as they share adventures and learn from each other. The (gender-unspecified) owl parent sprinkles its speech with hoos, which may attract the attention of young listeners ("But...you teach me too, hoo-hoo"). Bold, black-outlined illustrations featuring roundish, stocky owls provide touches of humor.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Love Monster has trouble sleeping and hears scary noises, which turn out to be his bunny friend coming over for company. Dynamic font changes reflect the characters' emotions and the volume of numerous sound effects. Bright's bold-colored illustrations with thick black outlines are slightly spooky at times, but the resolution is full of laughter, cuddles, and bravery.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jim Field. Timid, soft-spoken Mouse, tired of being small and ignored, admires Lion's outgoing bravado and loud roar. Thinking that a roar of his own will solve his problems, Mouse seeks out Lion's help, only to discover that Lion is afraid of mice; an odd-couple friendship ensues. The theme of not judging by first impressions is enlivened by bold, comically detailed illustrations.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Debi Gliori. Little Mouseling is so small that she can't keep up with her siblings. Her search for a friend is fruitless--she can't swim like Toad Flip, fly like Owl Hooty, etc.--until she meets a vole that's just her size. After they bond, the story loses steam, but the rhymes are wall-to-wall comfort, and Gliori is at her effulgent best.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Love Monster greedily prepares to devour the entire box of chocolates he's found on his doorstep, but a "queasy-squeezy feeling in his heart" stops him. When he instead opens the box to share with friends, he discovers a lovely surprise they've left for him inside. Etchings with rough black lines and soft pastel coloring help convey the sweet story's when-you-give-you-get sentiment.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) PS Love Monster wants to give his beloved monster friend a "wonderful, shinyful" present. He can't afford anything store-bought, so he puts together a homemade gift instead: "You see, sometimes the perfect present doesn't have to cost the earth... / ...to mean the world." The book is cloying in places, but humor--especially in printmaker Bright's vibrant etchings--provides some relief.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS An odd-looking monster, who's the only non-cute creature in Cutesville, finally meets his true love (another odd-looking monster) after a long search. Bright concludes that "sometimes, when you least expect it...love finds you," but the ending of this lightweight love story isn't particularly unexpected. The chatty narrative and bold illustrations do, however, offer humorous moments.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert