(3) K-3 Illustrated by Miles Hyman. Mannis's partial but intriguing biography of pioneering architect Julia Morgan focuses on her struggle to earn credentials and her success in early-twentieth-century California, culminating in the design of William Randolph Hearst's castle. Hyman's soft lines and rosy gold palette emphasize the architectural landscapes and structures that influenced Morgan and those which she helped shape. An author's note gives additional facts. Reading list.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Rhyming couplets introduce each letter of the alphabet and describe an activity or event relevant to Elizabeth I's annual summer holiday: "C is for crown. / The queen rules the day. / She wades through the crowd, / to her guards' great dismay." Amusing visual details and supplemental information about each subject make this book interesting--not for the alphabet-book crowd, but for older readers.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung. A crisply designed, elegantly illustrated counting book introduces elements in a formal Japanese garden. Each straightforward haiku, one per double-page spread, is accompanied by a brief note that elaborates on such topics as bonsai, pagodas, and the tea ceremony. A final spread shows the entire garden, with each of the objects easy to find and count.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander