(3) PS Illustrated by Bruce Degen. In this inexpensive paper-over-board edition, Jesse Bear dances and cavorts through his day, answering the title question with all sorts of silly ideas: "I'll wear carrots and peas / And a little more please..." After his bath he wears pajamas "and three kisses, too." Degen's illustrations of Jesse Bear's first literary appearance are as warm and cozy as Carlstrom's rhyming text.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. Readers are enjoined to appreciate the beauty and diversity of "God's creation" by spending time outside in nature each day of the week. The effect of the quiet verse and panoramic paintings featuring animals and landscapes is somewhat impersonal, but the book may find use in Sunday schools.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) PS Illustrated by Paul Tong. A young fox, hare, and child ask repeatedly, "Mama, will it snow? / Mama, will it snow? / Mama, will it snow tonight?" "No. / No. / No snow tonight," their mothers reply. Anticipation builds until snow falls at last. Oil paintings, vivid with blues and rusty oranges, set the scenes; some of the mother-daughter illustrations are awkwardly composed.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Margie Moore. Anxious about her first day of school, pup Annie Claire poses a series of what-if questions to her mother: "What if I spill my milk / All over the floor?" Mom's calm voice and reassuring answers, related in singsongy rhymes, help allay the little dog's fears. Black-pen and watercolor illustrations showcase Annie Claire's mishaps, misgivings, and ultimate success in her new classroom.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) PS Illustrated by Bruce Degen. The latest Jesse Bear book describes the young bear's family reunion in occasionally awkward verses. "Grandma has the trunk brought out / Of faded family clothes. / The cousins all dress up in them / And for the pictures pose." Bland but amiable illustrations show a multitude of bears from three generations dancing, eating, playing games, and climbing a large "family tree."

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Melissa Sweet & Melissa Sweet. "Sunlight, fun light / Skipping through the window / Sunlight, fun light / Warm on Sammy's bed" begins this exuberant journey through a toddler's morning, which consists of getting ready for and attending preschool. Rhythmic, toe-tapping wordplay emphasizes the excitement that a child finds in daily events, and warm illustrations in springtime hues capture a mother and son enjoying their routine.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) PS Illustrated by Linda Saport. A child is told how the world responded to her birth: parents were filled with delight, the family pets "seemed to know you were well worth the wait," and "God wrote your days in a book and sent you to us." The text, though at times rather oblique, is a poetic and romantic view of birth, with equally soft, ethereal charcoal and pastel illustrations. The general religious content is lightly handled.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) PS Illustrated by Bruce Degen. In the latest book in the Jesse Bear series, the bear child revels in the sights, smells, sounds, and textures of Christmas. Though the verses sometimes feel forced, they reflect the sentiments and hustle-bustle of the season. Degen's illustrations are a good match; he depicts Jesse's busy household and community with many bear-related details (and some jokes for older children).

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by Mary Morgan. Two children walk quietly through woods and meadows to visit their friend Wyatt at his farmhouse, where they all noisily play with numerous animals. At the end of a happy day, their parents drive the visitors "the sleepy way home." Both the slight story and pastel illustrations are nostalgic; the sounds will read aloud well, though they're not part of the rhythm of the text.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) PS Illustrated by Bruce Degen. During his family's Halloween activities--carving a pumpkin, choosing costumes, and going trick-or-treating--something scares Jesse Bear. In the end, he gets a chance to be scary himself; returning home from trick-or-treating, he and his parents shout "Boo!" at his unsuspecting grandparents. Bright pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations accompany this amiable rhyming story, the eighth title in the series.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by R. W. Alley. This collection traces the evolution of a Thanksgiving Day feast from initial preparations to final good nights and whispered prayers of thanks. Although the quality of the poetry is uneven, the positive sentiments about family love and togetherness have a warm appeal. The exuberant, detailed watercolor illustrations aptly convey the cozy chaos of this holiday.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(4) PS Illustrated by Bruce Degen. Published spring 1998. Anxious about Cousin Sara Bear's upcoming visit, Jesse Bear imagines spending time with this older, bossy, bullying relative will be no fun at all. A week together, however, makes for great adventures and fast friendships. Degen's trademark pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations lend energy to the text, which, despite its doggerel verse, conveys a genuine sense of the young child's world.

Reviewer: Sheryl Lee Saunders