(3) PS Illustrated by David Parkins. To lull a child to sleep, this enjoyable rhyme lists all the people--librarian, postman, fireman--who are already in their beds. "The doctor is sleeping. Everyone feels well. / The grocer is sleeping. / Food's ready to sell." In the cleverly conceived illustrations, each of the community figures rests cozily in a job-related bed, with an appropriate stuffed animal.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung. On each double-page spread, an animal asks its offspring if he or she needs to poop; the young animal responds that he or she already has. The reader's task is to locate the poop by lifting the three flaps found in the cartoony art. Some parents will regard the notion of hunting for poop indecorous at best, but potty trainees will love it.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) PS Illustrated by Laura Rader. If the baby mouse narrating this book could talk, she would tell her older sister how grateful she is to her for making her laugh, for teaching her songs, for playing with her in the bathtub, etc. The humorous cartoonlike illustrations, which show the big sister saving the little one from harm and the little one sneaking a lick of her big sister's ice-cream cone, prevent the text from becoming too sentimental.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) PS Illustrated by Maggie Smith. A boy who complains about getting dressed, riding in his car seat, and more is answered with funny worst-case scenarios: "You don't like to take a nap? It's a good thing you're not a bear. If you were a bear, you would have to nap all winter long!" The tone is silly, and the cheerful illustrations convey the absurdity in the text. This book may just do the trick for some contrary toddlers.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth