(3) PS Illustrated by Brandon James Scott. "Snow blows. / Snow glows. / Snow slides. / Snow hides." A spare rhyming text--just two words on most spreads--follows a child and dog as they enjoy the season. In pleasing contrast to the text, the illustrations offer lots to discover on every page, including a little red bird and the child's lost scarf. The art, "painted digitally in the evenings of a snowy Canadian winter," portrays both quiet moments and energetic outdoor fun with attention to detail, color, and mood.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Heidi Smith. Gardner presents facts about twelve commonly misunderstood animals, emphasizing that many creatures aren't what they seem. The book successfully uses page-turns to reveal the beasts' unexpected traits: a rhino is "Tough... / but vulnerable"; an octopus is a "Slimy... / genius." The soft edges of Smith's charcoal-pencil and Photoshop illustrations echo Gardner's subtle message that these animals deserve our respect and care. Reading list.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter