(4) K-3 Illustrated by Elwood Smith. One lazy Sunday at the zoo, the Snow Leopard sneezes ("Ah-chooOO!"), and the African Elephant follows suit ("RRRrrr-eeeEEE-ahh- / PHOOOO!!!"), setting off a chain reaction of noise and flying debris that the tireless zookeeper finally stops. Readers may or may not note the story's ultimate pointlessness (other than to amuse). Smith gets the mood right: equal parts mayhem and merriment.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS Illustrated by David Catrow. Sam describes his work in bursts of rhymed couplets: "ATTA-RATTA-BATTA-BLAM, I'm the sidewalk blasting man!" As his tall tale grows, Sam's jackhammering goes from stopping traffic to drilling a giant's tooth and draining the Milky Way. Mandel's text, punctuated by onomatopoeia and nonsense words, is as loud and brash as Catrow's cartoon-style illustrations or, for that matter, a jackhammer.

Reviewer: Kathleen T. Horning | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(4) PS Illustrated by Chris Eliopoulos. "Bun...onion...burger...for one. / Raw...rare...medium...well-done." This spare rhyming text inches its way along (the previous example takes up eight pages) as it describes a festive backyard barbecue. Retro cartoonlike illustrations liven things up by showcasing a happy family and patient pup that eventually gets to chow down.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Don Tate. Rhyming couplets, each capped with a "Say hey, Willie. Say hey" trace the life of Willie Mays from his Alabama childhood to his big-league baseball career. The text pays special attention to the triumph of a shy boy allowed to grow into his talent. The illustrations, rendered in rich acrylic paint, have energy and style but don't quite convey Mays's exquisite skill and grace.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn