(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Ercolini. Livingstone's mom forbids him from bringing bugs into the house. He lugs home progressively larger and more intrusive animals (mouse, pig, moose, etc.), until she's only too happy to accommodate an insect. The book's pacing is excellent, with the rhymes tumbling along (Livingstone, deliciously, doesn't say a word throughout). Ercolini is especially good at showing the cringe-inducing damage leveled inside the house.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Daniel Kirk. A hardworking "tugga-tugga tugboat" guides tanker ships and puts out fires in a harbor. Gradually the bright, clear illustrations start to show bar soap and rubber ducky cargo; bubbles appear in the ocean, and the perspective pulls back to reveal a boy in his bathtub playing with a toy boat. The text's jaunty rhythm and imaginative presentation will delight young listeners.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by S. D. Schindler. Costumed brothers have discovered an enormous pumpkin at the top of a hill. They snip the vine sending the pumpkin careening toward their farm below. As the orange monster rolls toward them, family members envision delicious delicacies instead of fleeing. Eventually the squash is wedged into Granny's kitchen, whereupon a pumpkin-based Halloween feast is prepared. Schindler's animated characters add humor to the lively story.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(3) PS Illustrated by Daniel Kirk. When their truck full of bones gets stuck in a huge pothole, two dogs seek help from a variety of passing vehicles, but nothing works until a tow truck arrives to pull them out. Though the jaunty rhyming text never mentions it, the sleek, colorful illustrations reveal that a band of prairie dogs has engineered the whole incident and is making off with all the bones.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by Reg Cartwright. The boy narrator in this "House That Jack Built" cumulative tale describes the construction of a building in an empty lot in his neighborhood. Construction vehicles, workers, and materials are featured in the generally smooth text, which becomes a bit confusing toward the end of the book. Bold, clear illustrations show different aspects of the building process. A picture glossary sums up the trucks and workers mentioned.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire