(3) 4-6 National Parks series. This series takes readers on pleasant tours through individual national parks. Each book's second-person text has a guidebook-like tone, offering tips and tricks for getting the most out of a visit. The volumes are filled with fascinating facts, vivid photographs of natural wonders and animals visitors might encounter, and keyed maps. Additional fast facts are appended. There are six other spring 2018 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these National Parks titles: Welcome to Redwood National and State Parks, Welcome to Yosemite National Park, Welcome to Denali National Park and Preserve, Welcome to Glacier National Park, Welcome to Grand Teton National Park, and Welcome to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Looking Glass Library: Shapes series. Illustrated by Sharon Holm. In this series, a cat and her pet dog notice the shapes of things (often cookies or other treats) around their home and neighborhood. Simple, pedestrian rhymes encourage readers to look for these shapes both in the inoffensive pastel-hued illustrations and in the real world. Suggestions for games are included. Glos. Review covers these Shapes titles: Rectangles, Squares, Circles, Triangles, Crescents, and Ovals.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Looking Glass Library: Shapes series. Illustrated by Sharon Holm. In this series, a cat and her pet dog notice the shapes of things (often cookies or other treats) around their home and neighborhood. Simple, pedestrian rhymes encourage readers to look for these shapes both in the inoffensive pastel-hued illustrations and in the real world. Suggestions for games are included. Glos. Review covers these Shapes titles: Rectangles, Squares, Circles, Triangles, Crescents, and Ovals.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Renée Graef. Tall-drink-of-water Paul Bunyan becomes smitten with larger-than-life Lucette (complete with her giant cow, Nel, to pal around with Babe). But Lucette is no pushover, and she'll have nothing to do with Paul unless he proves himself worthy. This clever tall tale, written in an authentic and playful voice, incorporates an environmental message. Graef's folksy illustrations add warmth and humor.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. This is the true story of John Muir, his friend Hall Young, their crew, and Young's dog, as they explore Alaska. Muir sets off with dog in tow in the numbing cold and snow to map glaciers and is surprised at the dog's courage. Dramatic landscapes and endearing images of the dog enhance a story that is more about man and dog than about Muir's extraordinary accomplishments.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World series. Illustrated by Wayne Ford. Well-researched and organized, these books will prove useful to report writers and readers curious about prairie dogs and wild horses. Sidebars provide additional information; vocabulary words are explained in context, and pronunciation is provided. Clear photographs and illustrations work well with the text. Websites. Ind. Review covers these Our Wild World titles: Prairie Dogs and Wild Horses.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mary Azarian. This story has the ring of authenticity, a feeling supported by Azarian's homely woodcuts, some of which resemble period samplers. Information in the brief prologue and afterword provides background for the main narrative, which focuses on how Louisa May Alcott discovers her own "voice" as she listens to the tunes that Thoreau coaxes from his flute. The text is quietly informative, easy to read, and attractively displayed.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2002

(4) K-3 Illustrated by K. Wendy Popp. In this story set in the 1960s, Anna learns that her new second-grade teacher is Sister Anne, an African American. A hurtful note about the color of Sister Anne's skin causes tension, but the teacher proves as resilient as her class. With humor and understanding, Lorbiecki writes about a young girl's coming to terms with racial differences and about the pain that ignorance can cause. Popp's soft illustrations add to the somewhat obvious lessons of the text.

Reviewer: Deborah L. Thompson