(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mary Whyte. A delivery man falls asleep on the day he is supposed to deliver the supplies for a birthday party, but his faithful horse, Chestnut, makes the deliveries on his own. Too sentimental to be compelling, the tale of Chestnut's adventure is, nonetheless, an interesting account of resourcefulness and initiative. Watercolor illustrations of a bygone town bring the setting to life.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) PS Illustrated by Mary Whyte. When his family brings home a new puppy, Boomer feels replaced as top dog, until he discovers Baby is less a rival than a new playmate. The expressive watercolor illustrations capture Boomer's range of emotions, from curiosity to dejection to jubilant acceptance. Young children facing the arrival of a new sibling will identify with and appreciate this gentle, if predictable, story.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Mary Whyte. A girl visiting her grandparents wonders why Grandpa is dressing his two scarecrows in formal wear until he tells her about the time the townspeople, wearing tuxes and ball gowns, had to interrupt their harvest dance to shoo crows out of their corn. Full-page watercolors document the story and gracefully imagine the rumor that the scarecrows waltz around the fields when conditions are right.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann