(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Elliott Gilbert. Paralyzed from the waist down from a diving accident, eleven-year-old Lizzie is a curious and charismatic kid who's recently moved to Florida with her single mom. Accompanied by a ragtag group of friends, Lizzie embarks on an adventure to free some monkeys from an unfortunate roadside zoo situation. Though slow at times, it's a heartwarming story full of unlikely heroes.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Barry Moser. Poet Kumin describes, in rhymed couplets, the humorous personality and highly entertaining exploits of horse Harry. The old plug calms skittish colts and--in a satisfying, horse-centric twist--tames the stable owner's ornery grandson. The horse's sly looks break the fourth wall in Moser's realistic watercolors, revealing the goofier side of horse ownership.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. This collection written by a Pulitzer Prize–winning poet includes nineteen poems about animals, ranging from pets to wild animals. The quality of the poetry is uneven, from the awful "Mites" with its erratic rhymes ("close" and "glass"?) to the majestic "Alligator." In contrast, the mixed-media illustrations consistently capture the beauty and individuality of each creature.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke