(2) K-3 Illustrated by Leila Rudge. Counting himself to sleep, young Amos has visions of grazing and leaping sheep--until a couple of loud "THUD"s jolt him awake. Two cranky sheep--counted to life in Amos's bedroom--take charge, but they have no end of demands. Amos exhausts himself trying to meet their needs; the last page finds ten sheep having a grand time while Amos sleeps on the floor. Mixed-media cartoon art in soft colors deftly articulates the shift from imagination to the reality.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(2) YA In an isolated settlement governed by "The Mothers," the only source of fuel is mica harvested by pre-adolescent girls starved to keep them thin enough to slip into mountain crevices. At fourteen, Jena makes a discovery that causes her to question her society's rules and her own memories. This tense, original dystopia contains resonances to our world (fracking, female mutilation, anorexia) but no easy, reductive message.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Cassie, born the day Old Lower Grange, Australia, was submerged to form a reservoir, feels as if she's the only person who still cares about the old town. Accompanied by her classmate Liam, Cassie swims in it and starts to see glimpses of the underwater town--and its secrets. Realized characters and a well-crafted setting buoy a somewhat languid mystery plot.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Leila Rudge. Pet-deprived Abby longs to take the class pet, a duck, home overnight. The satisfying plot includes a well-deserved visit to Abby's house and an exciting chase after the duck escapes. Humorous, suspenseful, and heartfelt, the story also manages to be insightful. Frequent illustrations enhance the humor, help propel the action, and even occasionally add to characterization in this tale aimed at second graders.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Leila Rudge. Ella proclaims that she is in charge of this book, and it will have a princess (herself) and a monster but no bears, not a one. Readers will see that there is a bear in the book they're reading, one who eventually rescues the princess from the monster. Both the story and the delicate, droll pictures draw readers in, along with the many fairy-tale details to discover.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012