(2) PS One of the earliest niceties we often aim to instill in young children is the importance of saying "thank you." In this joyful and earnest picture book, however, the phrase simply bubbles up from the child narrator in appreciation for the world around them. The child begins their ode of gratitude by thanking the moon and sun, and from there each sincere "thank you" becomes more whimsical and imaginative. The child thanks a tree for its shade; the red cap on their head for stopping their "thoughts from floating up, up, and away"; blue and yellow for making green. After forgetting the reason to thank an elephant, the child thanks "the Tyrannosaurus for being the longest word I know." Gratitude continues to spill over for the child's food, loved ones, and bicycle, but what will happen when there's nothing more to say "thank you" for? The digitally rendered mixed-media illustrations capture a wide range of textures in the child's world, from a rock's rough surface to a bubbly bath, while relying on simplified shapes that maintain a sense of playfulness and naivete. The text is rhythmic and lyrical, with occasional rhyme and an ear-pleasing flow. A beautiful example of the way that books for children can guide rather than instruct. Thank you, Jarvis, for this book! (A Spanish edition, Gracias, will be released in September from NubeOcho.)

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 1-3 Bear and Bird are the best of friends. In four stories, the pair navigates misunderstandings and hurt feelings, always managing to remember how much they value each other so they can turn a difficult situation into a happy one. In one story, Bear forgets to pack picnic supplies but can't admit it. He distracts his friend with "The Wobble Song" and an invitation to eat yummy leaves instead of picnic fare. Bird knows Bear forgot, but saves Bear's feelings by going along with the adjusted plan. In another chapter, Bird shows Bear how to paint en plein air. She is then crushed because local animals admire Bear's picture but not her own. Bird's jealousy shows up as anger, but this time Bear saves Bird's dignity by asking to hang Bird's painting on his wall. Jarvis skillfully writes about small adventures and emotional upheavals of childhood. With thick outlines, friendly curved shapes, and touches of humor, loose, cheerful digital illustrations on almost every page make the book approachable. Jarvis's short chapter book will be welcome for readers moving on from Cordell's Cornbread and Poppy but not quite ready for Barrows's Ivy and Bean series.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(4) K-3 Alligator Alan terrorizes his jungle-mates by flashing sharp, well-polished teeth--until Barry the beaver reveals those teeth are false. Some narrative choices fall flat: beavers do not live in jungles, and Alan's toothless lisp, while comical, seems to make fun of those with speech impediments. Still, the book is a visual feast of pencil, chalk, paint, and digital coloring that vividly convey the wild setting.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Dave the dog sleeps a lot, but he has amazing adventures while sleepwalking. From winning contests to tightrope-walking to heroically thwarting a robbery, Dave would impress his owner--if only she knew what happens when she leaves for school. Pencil, paint, chalk, and digital illustrations are pleasantly childlike, though the unremarkable story plays out predictably.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jeff Petersen. When the orphaned Ben and Jennet go to live with Alice, a Miss Marple–like old family friend, they find themselves pulled into a struggle of supernatural dimensions. The English seaside setting is well evoked and integral to the plot; the villains are villainous; and the suspense is expertly deployed. Amateurish pencil drawings (thankfully, only occasional) let down the side.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) 4-6 The mice from The Dark Portal accompany Madame Akkikuyu, the rat fortuneteller, to the country, where the rat-god Jupiter's machinations from beyond the grave nearly get Audrey, an innocent mouse, executed for witchcraft. A sudden plot contrivance toward the end is jarring, but the melodramatic writing nevertheless draws readers into the woes, dangers, and quaint pleasures of the characters' lives.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Deptford Mice series. Any mouse from Skirtings who travels through the Grill into the sewers enters a dangerous world ruled by rats. In several trips in and out to rescue one another and retrieve a lost mousebrass medallion, Audrey, city-mouse Piccadilly, albino Oswald, and "innocent" Twit thwart the plans of the evil rat-god Jupiter. Jarvis's detailed, strongly characterized adventure showcases danger and courage.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam