(4) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Batori. A poor teacher and his wife devise a savings plan with good intentions but ridiculous results in order to provide enough traditional blintzes for their large family during the Shavuot holiday. Though the joke doesn't quite pay off, the comically exaggerated illustrations accentuate the absurdity of the escalating situation in this Eastern European noodlehead tale set in the storied town of Chelm. Author's note appended.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. This collection features traditional animal folktales of five lesser-known groups of Mexico's indigenous people: the Seri, Tarahumara, Huichol, Triqui, and Tseltal. Each engagingly written tale is followed by informative material on the culture's history, customs, and traditions. Extensive running glossaries of Spanish words and local expressions are helpful. Vivid folk-art paintings enliven the stories. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Illustrated by René King Moreno. Lupita and Tío Urbano welcome the arrival of the monarch butterflies, which Urbano tells her are the souls of their "dead ones" visiting before the Day of the Dead. Sadly, Urbano dies days before the celebration, but at the cemetery, Lupita sees a monarch and knows her uncle is there. The story provides useful information about this Mexican holiday; the fuzzy colored-pencil illustrations are awkwardly rendered. Glos.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone