(3) K-3 Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. With many examples of humane behavior, this simple, quiet rhyming book features a diverse group of youngsters going through their activities in an urban setting, sharing, helping, consoling, laughing, and truly listening to one another. A subtle reference to 9/11 will require explanation. Graegin's pencil and watercolor illustrations have been digitally manipulated but have an old-fashioned, comforting look.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Chosen by her Chinese village to seek wealth in New York, thirteen-year-old Suyin endures a horrific journey followed by the brutality of working in a sweatshop. Meanwhile, she is determined to prove herself worthy of the Crane Women Clan, an ancient and powerful sisterhood. This modern-day story of illegal immigration and human rights is somewhat confusingly blended with a supernatural element based on legend.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Harvey Chan. A man ponders the time he spent as a child exploring a bog with his grandfather. The text celebrates both the intergenerational relationship and the wonders of nature. The attractive sepia-toned sketches give the book a nostalgic feel but don't offer an adequate vision of a bog environment. Since a purpose of the book is informational, this is a drawback.

Reviewer: Anne St. John