(4) PS Illustrated by Scott Nash. In this lesser companion to Catch That Baby, toddler Rudy wants to give his mother a special birthday present, but the ladybug he found in the garden flies away, his block tower tumbles down, and the dog messes up his painting for her. Told with minimal, repetitive text ("Uh-oh, Rudy!"; "WOW!"), the point of the story is lost in the action-filled illustrations.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 In this little-red-hen-inspired tale, Monkey asks a series of uncooperative animals to help him move piles of bananas to make banana cream pie. Only Aunt Ant returns to help; the others become cooperative once the pies are baked. The homophone and homonym pairs are amusing and will stimulate thoughtful discussions about word meanings. Colorful oil pastels help make the language lesson fun.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) PS Illustrated by Scott Nash. After his bath Rudy declares, "No dressed!" and scampers away from Mom. Soon the whole family--even Grandma and Grandpa--are in hot pursuit of the energetic toddler. Lively panel illustrations (the baby swings from a vine à la Tarzan) and the repetition of the rhyme "Nudie Rudy!" will have youngsters giggling as they follow the naked tot from room to room.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) PS "I'm small," says a rabbit; "I'm little. I'm teensy. I'm wee." A chick replies, "I'm smaller. I'm petite. I'm tiny. I'm itty-bitty." The text allows for useful comparisons in addition to helping with vocabulary building (lethargic, ravenous, and famished make appearances). Simply drawn creatures outlined in black and set on brightly colored pages make the book visually engaging.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Tricia Tusa. Divorce gets a kid-empowering treatment in this congenial story. The narrator is matter-of-fact about her living situation, and where she goes, so goes her roly-poly mutt, Fred. Soft red- and brown-hued illustrations, securely bordered by lots of white space, reinforce the self-possessed mood of the text and focus attention on the special relationship between the girl and her dog.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2007

(3) PS Simple full-page illustrations help clarify the meaning of the trucker terms in this easygoing story in which Pug accompanies his owner on long hauls. Driving at "double nickels" (the speed limit), they encounter "ground clouds" (fog) and see, among other vehicles, an eighteen-wheeler loaded with "toothpicks" (logs). Thankfully, a glossary is included.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) PS In this lively counting book ten smiling chefs, old and young, make a cake. One has the spoon, Two brings the bowl, Three sifts the flour, and so on until the cake is in the oven. After Nine and Ten arrive, the countdown back to One begins as each cook pitches in to clean up and get ready for a surprise birthday. Appended are tips for cooking with children, recipes, and "math in the kitchen" ideas.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen