(2) PS “It was a cold, wintry night, / and all through the house, / not a creature was stirring… / except a small mouse!” Ehlert’s (posthumously published) take on “The Night Before Christmas” provides a zoomed-in, mouse’s-eye view, with her trademark geometric illustrations stealing the show. Frequent die-cuts in unexpected configurations enhance delight, with each page-turn bringing a singular surprise. Bold hues include the expected red-and-green palette along with pops of fuchsia here, understated tones there, and the occasional shiny foils. The tall-and-thin vertical orientation makes pages easy to turn and evokes the Christ-mas tree on the cover and at the center of the book.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(3) PS "I've bean thinking of u." This diminutive book is a love letter spiked with produce puns (bean for been, berry for very, etc.); the featured fruit or vegetable, which Ehlert creates with her signature cut-paper technique, commands each spread. A fine touch: each spread, combining the produce illustration with letters, numbers, and hearts, doubles as a rebus.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS "When blue sky turns to gray and it rains all day, / that's when rain fish come out and play." The author-artist has created the titular fish from found objects: sticks, ripped cardboard, a sock, etc.; color photographs of one or more specimens fill each spread in this short-and-wide-format book. The result is striking and strange (in a good way).

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS A mole gives an underground tour as he digs tunnels, finds food, and destroys garden pests. Ehlert's signature cut-paper illustrations show a dark red tunnel that contrasts effectively with the brown-gray earth and the green vegetables above. Although the story in rhyme is sometimes confusing, end matter helps by identifying the squiggly worms and insects and gives more information on moles.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(1) K-3 In a generously illustrated picture book memoir, Ehlert speaks directly to her audience, particularly readers who like collecting objects and making things. The book is jam-packed with her art and photos from her life: her parents, the house she grew up in, and the small table where she was encouraged to pursue her art; along the way, we see how autobiographical her books have been.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(4) PS Ehlert's attractive poetry book is here reissued as a small board book. The collage art, with sharp, clean colors on white backgrounds, reproduces well in the smaller size, but the print is quite small and the text itself is less suited to a toddler audience. Even so, the youngest listeners will be intrigued by the invitation to look closely at the animal world.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2010

(1) PS Family dog RALPH can say several different words, including where he is (on his doghouse "ROOF") and that the ground feels "ROUGH." It's a giggle-worthy premise; and doubling the fun are Ehlert's brilliantly composed collages. Ralph, with zipper teeth, button eyes, and a flip-top nose, is so expressive that, though his repeated figure dominates the art, he offers something new each time.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2011

(2) PS Ehlert celebrates the spots, stripes, and colors of animals in short poems, rhymes, and the occasional tongue twister. Frequently tickling a child's sense of humor, some pieces also introduce unfamiliar animals or vocabulary. The clean white backgrounds of Ehlert's signature paper collages make the details pop, with each element thoughtfully arranged on the pages to tie poems and animals together.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2010

(4) PS "That scary cat's back. / Boy, what a bummer! / Seeing that puss could spoil our summer." Fearing that a cat will ruin their harvest party, some field mice connive to scare him silly. Ehlert's signature collages, incorporating color photos of fall emblems, illustrate her sometimes-faltering rhymes.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Ehlert's gorgeous picture book is here reissued as a lap-size board book. A child narrator discusses the garden planted with Mom each year. When their plants bloom, the narrator describes the many colors in the garden. This volume is about the same size as the original picture book, and the art remains as bold and attractive.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1988

(3) PS This volume features oodles (or at least dozens) of brightly colored paper-collage animals on bold backgrounds. Clever configurations of nine basic shapes define the familiar features of each animal, and the carefully cut details and imaginative use of color give Ehlert's creations a novel charm. A simple, lighthearted verse accompanies each creature, providing a little tidbit about its traits or habits.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) PS Playful pups woof and romp with their owners on their way to the farmers' market and the park. Ehlert puts the brief rhymed text in speech bubbles over the dogs' heads and uses whimsical collages made of fabric, paper, buttons, and thread to capture the dogs' lively natures. A final double-page spread features descriptions and portraits of each frisky pet.

Reviewer: Marika Hoe

(3) PS This lap-size board book edition is almost as large as the original edition. Nothing is lost here; the colors are rich and inviting, the text is clear and bright, and the story--about growing veggies to make soup--is intact. The large book is a bit heavy but will stand up to much use by toddlers turning pages for themselves.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) PS Although boldly designed and attractively produced, this lap-size board book edition of Ehlert's imaginative alphabet book lacks the informative framework of the original (glossary, pronunciation guide, etc.) and, with words like xigua and jicama, is surely above the heads of its intended audience.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(2) K-3 The original edition of Hands was cut to the shape of the cover image: a life-size work glove. This slightly larger edition, with its hardcover, rectangular jacket, will fare better on library shelves. A biographical author's note and small changes to the text and layout improve this appealing book that celebrates crafts, art, gardening, and general busyness.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1997

(2) PS A child documents, through the seasons, his observations of the "pie" tree in the backyard. Each page concludes with a disappointed "But no pie." Until "at last Dad says it's time for us to pick cherries." As they make the pie, Ehlert cleverly incorporates a recipe into the pictures devoted to its assembly--but no homemade endeavor could match the delectable design of these pages.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2004

(3) PS Eighteen easily recognized die-cut shapes (bird, fish, leaf) are superimposed to create ever-evolving patterns, composed from areas of contrasting colors as seen through the pages. The title concept evolves: "My world is made of things I like," each introduced with a verb; the name follows on the verso. The visual logic is problematic; still, the vibrant colors and 3-D effects may inspire children to experiment with overlaying patterns and colors.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2002

(2) PS Ehlert's clever design is perfectly aligned with the stages of the butterfly life cycle: the book begins as a smaller book-within-a-book, starting with very small pages when the subject is eggs and caterpillars, reaching full size with the butterflies that feed on flower nectar and lay the next generation of eggs. Illustrations and text are packed with important scientific details in this marvelous presentation.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2001

(3) PS A day at a farmers' market is told from the merchant's perspective. The very young will enjoy the spare, simple rhymes ("Pull up some carrots. Shake off the dirt. Pack the tomatoes. Tuck in your shirt"); all ages will appreciate the illustrations, comprising images of folk art, primitive art, and textiles from around the world. An annotated inventory of the featured items is included.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Striking collage artwork set on a white background illustrates a simple rhyming text with a bouncy rhythm. When another cat joins the household, top cat is outraged at first but soon accepts the newcomer and teaches him all the essential feline activities--shedding on the couch, eating plants, chasing birds, and drinking milk. A good choice for reading aloud.

Reviewer: Anne St. John