(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Manning. "Way up in the North / Came a knock upon the door. / Surprise! A mother caroler / And her little carolers four!" This Christmas version of "Over in the Meadow" stretches the limits of both the rhyme scheme and the holiday content: Santa, reindeer, elves, and tree ornaments make sense; not so much mice and kittens. The watercolor illustrations are warm and jolly.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Manning. This Halloween version of the "Over in the Meadow" rhyme stars ghosts, zombies, witches, bats, and other spooky creatures. Within the rhyming and counting framework, young monsters are also instructed on how to behave: little werewolves howl, skeletons rattle, etc. Comical illustrations full of shading and texture provide warmth for these typically fearsome creatures.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Meredith Johnson. Milo is sick of hearing his older sister talk about her teacher. When the beloved Mrs. Bell comes over for breakfast, Milo doesn't mean to feed his dog her flapjack breakfast--really!--but he comes up with a quick solution to the food problem. The humor is very broad and slapstick, especially in the illustrations, but it's well targeted to its primary grade new readers.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Jan Brett. In a Christmas story that will appeal to doll fans and ballet lovers alike, second-graders Ilyana and spoiled-rich-girl Mary Jane both pine after the same realistic-looking ballerina doll, Noelle. Noelle herself, though, dreams only of a life on the stage. In a plot that relies heavily on coincidence, everyone gets what she deserves. Brett's black-and-white illustrations add to the seasonal atmosphere.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) PS Illustrated by Nick Zarin-Ackerman. Counting down from ten to one, a boy tells about the rowdy monsters all over his house--jumping in the washing machine, sliding down the walls, gurgling under the bathroom sink or stomping in the trash. Told in sometimes forced rhyme, the story element is somewhat vague, but the energetic, scrawly cartoon illustrations and the overall silliness will appeal to monster fans.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vera Rosenberry. When each monster arrives for Halloween, he brings an ingredient--a frog, spider, lizard, and bat--for the monster stew. By mistake, however, the littlest one tips the pot over, and the ingredients scurry away. All is not lost when another monster appears with trick-or-treat candy. Although the title doesn't really reflect the story, the goofy monster watercolors and snappy rhyme make this an amusing tale.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley