(2) K-3 The "dalmartians," depicted as canine-esque creatures with green spots who walk on hind legs, arrive in Stephen's backyard via spaceship one night. Upon being spotted by him, they make a rushed getaway, leaving one of their number behind. "Stephen invited the guest into his home. The guest graciously accepted." The clever narrative works together with humorous, detailed ink and charcoal illustrations to develop a comedy of manners. The two learn how to cohabitate, with Stephen happily making most of the concessions. The guest might look like a dog, but his sensibilities are all human. Bacon ranks superior to dog food, as do beds to the floor. The guest finds the sniffing and bathroom behavior of the park dogs appalling, and though he and Stephen are getting to know each other, he misses those who left him behind. The art skillfully conveys pace through lines and composition and emotion through color, with sharp contrasts between light and dark and background hues heightening the mood and the growing relationship between the characters. This buildup creates an especially poignant moment when that spaceship finally returns on a rescue mission and Stephen awakes to find his "guest," now pointedly referred to as "friend," gone. Far away in space, the dalmartian experiences this same sense of loss, and the two reunite to tie up this sharp and appealing friendship story, which also gives the pet angle a new and enjoyable twist.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) PS A deadpan narrator outlines the story of the Dracula family's Saturday trip to the zoo as the illustrations divulge what really happens. The two little Draculas, in their black capes and ­yellow shoes, almost match the ­penguins, and no one notices when the littlest Dracula escapes the stroller and trades places with one of the birds. The text hilariously drones on through the day's itinerary as expressive cartoon art creates mischief throughout. Mercifully, baby Dracula and the penguin manage to reconnect with their original families before the day ends, but not before a souvenir photograph commemorates the situation. A funny (and often startlingly relatable) outing.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(3) K-3 As, one by one, his fellows (even the gourd!) at a big-city neighborhood market are sold, a stemless pumpkin worries that nobody will appreciate his many other jack-o'-lantern-worthy qualities. Warm, gently funny text and friendly mixed-media illustrations leave no question that everything will work out for the insecure but lovable pumpkin. Orange and green accents pop amid the muted setting on creamy paper.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Animals disappear one by one, except for a hungry lion. They reappear at a surprise party, but the tables turn--again (and again)--until ultimately one unexpected survivor remains. All the carnage (both real and assumed) takes place off-page, potentially furthering confusion caused by the story's many twists. Illustrations in brush marker, gouache, graphite, colored pencil, and charcoal playfully contrast with the macabre undertones.

Reviewer: Russell Perry