(4) PS StoryPlay series. Illustrated by Jeni Bassett. Mice Clayton and Desmond both seek the biggest Christmas tree but don't succeed until they team up. Tidy framed paintings help to underscore the cheery, Christmassy messages regarding unity and cooperation. New to this edition (published in a series promoting early literacy) are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. A spoiled little girl abandons her new doll, which then bounces from person to person before finally feeling wanted and loved. The simple language lends a touch of traditional storytelling to the narrative. Oil paintings in warm hues give the book a classic, old-fashioned feel. The story is just this side of nostalgic and manages to avoid schmaltz.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) K-3 Toon Book series. In this collection of short, comic-style vignettes, feisty Nina capably describes situations that drive her crazy. While some tales vent personal frustrations (misplacing a toy, having trouble getting dressed, picking a boring activity), many of her pet peeves are directed at her parents' rules, broken promises, and blow-offs. Children will identify with Nina in these humorously depicted and emotion-packed situations.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Douglas Holgate. Little dragon Drago wants to participate in a flying contest, but his family says he's too young to get airborne. Drago sneaks away to train with a bird; he then surprises everyone by winning the contest--and his family's respect. Bold comic-style illustrations, complete with speech-bubble dialogue, give this conflict-lite story some welcome loft.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) K-3 Illustrated by S. D. Schindler. On a rainy day at school, Jimmy starts a story: during breakfast, a tyrannosaurus crashed through a window of his house. Then Ava adds to the story, as do ten other children. By tale's end, there's a citywide search for the trouble-making T. Rex. Ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations ramp up the excitement, adding detail, humor, and a surprise ending to this collaborative "and then what happens?" story.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Cox. Pack rat Pinch loves stuff. Hoping for money to buy even more, he sells his collection at the neighborhood tag sale. However, he likes his clean house so much, he donates his profits to beautify the town. Though Pinch's turnaround is just a shade short of a miracle, the story's message is useful, and the mixed-media and digital illustrations are appealing.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Robert Byrd. This ambitious overview of the Goth, Hun, Viking, and Mongol invasions of Europe clearly demonstrates the marks (for good and ill) left by conflicts that, in toto, spanned more than a millennium. The brevity required by the scope sometimes means abrupt topic shifts, not helped by occasional vagueness and grammatical ambiguity. Pen and watercolor illustrations provide much enticing detail. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michelle Shapiro. Rachel's Hanukkah gift is a dollhouse perfectly proportioned for a family of curious mice. Gouache illustrations, which effectively use few colors, allow readers to share with the mice each addition to the dollhouse. While the mice wonder who is responsible for their Hanukkah festivities, readers will delightedly watch Rachel provide them with tiny latkes, dreidels, and even a miniature menorah.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Vincent Nguyen. Larger and fiercer jungle animals displace smaller ones ("Elephant was bigger than Hippo, so Hippo splashed out of the pond") until baby Monkey stands up to Leopard, which triggers a ripple effect for sharing and friendship. Textured, expressive pencil and watercolor illustrations aptly depict the jungle hierarchy. The unabashedly didactic text presents a message of empowerment.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Reed. Although the children love him, Morgan the puppy is a nuisance, chewing, howling, and stealing food. Dad returns him to the pound and brings home an older dog, but "she's not fun like Morgan." Morgan is also unhappy in his new home, so the two families swap dogs. The lively digitally rendered illustrations animate the dull text.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christine Davenier. Kindergartner Nina gets mad "when it's my turn to talk and nobody will listen," "when you make a promise and then you break it," etc. Series of vivid double-page watercolor vignettes featuring expressive dialogue explore each frustrating situation. A spread devoted to Nina's revelation that she feels better "when you let me tell you how angry I am!" concludes this cathartic and empowering book.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) 4-6 Dear Mr. President series. Twelve-year-old William Pratt writes to President Adams about, among other issues, the plight of the Creek Indians; Emma Bartoletti corresponds with President Roosevelt about her family's Depression-era experiences. Despite their unlikely scenarios, the books in this series present intriguing historical portraits. The busy design includes photographs, reproductions, and editorial cartoons. Ind. [Review covers these Dear Mr. President titles: John Quincy Adams and Franklin D. Roosevelt.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Gott. When her guinea pig goes missing, Jenny draws imaginative pictures about what might have happened to him. Meanwhile, she is supposed to write a story for school but doesn't know where to start, until her drawings serve as inspiration. Jenny's genuine feelings of anxiety about her lost pet and a difficult assignment ring true, and the digitally created cartoon illustrations are full of amusing details.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. Kroll breezes through the life and inventions of Robert Fulton in this picture book biography. A lot of information and history is relayed in thirty-two pages; as a result, the text, while informative, reads more like a list of events than a narrative, and Fulton's character is only sketchily revealed. The strength of the book lies in the illustrations: Farnsworth adds atmosphere and historical setting to the story with his detailed paintings.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 When Tucker the dog comes in for breakfast, he races through the house, eager to say good morning to Thelma and her parents. Unfortunately, in his haste he knocks over anything and everything in his way. Although the story lacks a strong plot, readers will find Tucker's antics funny, and the exuberant illustrations add to the wild, slapstick humor.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 The economic events that led the patriots to dump tea off English ships into Boston Harbor are presented with watercolors that re-create the setting and add drama. The events are confusing without elaborate explanation, and this book would work best as a complement to a history text, or for readers who have a grasp on the politics of the times. An afterword and time line are included.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.