(3) K-3 Illustrated by Viviane Schwarz. According to "Rat Law," the cheese belongs to you--unless a quicker, stronger, scary, etc. rat wants it. Thus begins the cumulative tale of adjectives building to the "boss of the biggest, quickest, strongest, scariest, hairiest, dirtiest rats" who's in charge of the cheese. (Unless...) Humorous digitally colored red-pencil sketches of thieving white rats carry the tale in which manners ultimately prevail.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vivane Schwarz. Some hamster-like creatures have outgrown their junkyard birthplace, so they set off on a perilous and amusing search for a new home. The brave band sticks together to triumph over obstacles--such as a puddle--that are small for humans but large for them. Witty illustrations, including some comic panels and speech balloons, depict the journey from the inexperienced critters' point of view.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) PS Sounding like weary parents, four toys--a teddy bear, elephant, sock monkey, and dog--explain how they watch over their girl; old-fashioned-looking illustrations in subdued colors show the guardians recovering blankets, squishing bedbugs, and scaring away bad dreams. When a round figure in red leaves a stocking, the toys abandon their chores to investigate; the art shows a new stuffed animal proving his mettle.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006

(3) K-3 Stranded on earth, Beegu, a little yellow three-eyed alien, searches for friends. Rejected at every turn, she is at last welcomed by a group of children playing in a schoolyard, and then is reunited with her parents. The text is a little messagey, but the pictures are sublime. A heady mix of Gary Larson and early Sendak, they convey Beegu's strong emotions without sentimentality.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Because Slow Loris is extremely slow during the day, other zoo residents have no inkling of his nocturnal shenanigans. When the animals do find out about his "secret life," they quickly join in, and the following morning, everyone is slow. The bright colors in Loris's comical dress-up clothes contrast with the zoo's earth tones, and Deacon makes strategic use of foldout and lift-the-flap pages.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert