(2) PS A young girl awakes to the sound of thunder and is afraid. Then, "My mother comes in to comfort me. And I feel safe." So begins the calm problem-and-solution pattern of a family experiencing a dark and stormy night. When lightning frightens the child, her father hugs her and declares, "It's okay to be scared sometimes." Grandmother lights candles when the power fails. Grandfather plays guitar for the family to sing along during their "storm party," complete with biscuits and hot cocoa. When the family pets (Frankie the dog and JoJo the cat) go missing, the entire family searches for them--but it is ultimately up to the girl to do what she can to ensure they feel that "they are safe now." Alternating between double-page spreads and vignettes, McPhail makes expert use of ink and watercolors in cool tones to bring a sense of peacefulness to the story. Various hairstyles and features are shown within this Black-presenting family. The story ends with a question to the reader: "What makes you feel safe?" A soothing read for young children and their caregivers, and an opportunity to discuss uncertainty, fear, and solutions for comfort.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) PS A bump on the head renders the story's main character, a little bluebird, lost and confused about who he is. He sets off to sort things out by trying to find his place among a wide assortment of other birds. He discovers he does not sing like a nightingale, enjoy worms like a robin, or swim like a duck. His legs are too short to be an egret's, and he is too small to be an eagle. Through speech bubbles, the other birds gently point out these differences, and the pictures make them quite obvious. Expressive interactions among the birds drawn in pen and ink are highlighted by the warm washes of watercolor backgrounds. Just when this resilient little protagonist begins to lose hope--a tear falling into the birdbath where he perches alone--he is joined by another bird. "'Hello,' she said, 'Who are you?'" Though he still does not know, the pictures allow readers to see the connection. The female bluebird sees it, too, and she takes her new friend with her to set up house in a nearby bluebird box, where, alone in the world no more, they start a family. This sweet story of self-discovery can serve as a first look at bird identification as well.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(3) PS In a series of short, cozy episodes, Baby Bear (first introduced in I Promise) finds four different things: Papa Bear's missing boot, a rare wildflower he almost picks, a baby bird fallen from its nest, and a new human friend. The accessible adventures and expressive pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations should endear Baby Bear to audiences not quite ready for Minarik/Sendak's Little Bear stories.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 I Like to Read series. This fanciful large-trim early reader pairs McPhail's gentle pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations with an extremely limited vocabulary ("A cow can jump. / A hippo can jump. / We can jump"). The seeming weightlessness of the various creatures in the pictures lends the book a pleasing silliness--particularly when the cow jumps over the moon and the hippo happily bounces along--but it doesn't overpower the simple reading lesson.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) In this purposeful but amiable story, Mother Bear and her child discuss what it means to make and keep a promise. She vows to take care of Baby Bear and love him "no matter what." For his part, Baby Bear promises to be good, "most of the time." The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations provide attractive woodland backdrops for the winsome bears' conversation.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 I Like to Read series. A small child happily hugs her cat, her dog, a friend, a tree. The text consists of a single sentence on each page; the "I hug my..." structure repeats, with only the object nouns changing. McPhail's familiar pen and watercolor-wash illustrations, a variety of vignettes and full-page art, convey warmth and security. A positive, upbeat experience for the youngest readers.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) PS Over several page turns, Crash repeatedly disrupts the activities of Krissie, Kait, and their parents. Another "CRASH!" in the night wakes them as Crash apprehends a mouse. "Life with Crash is always fun!" the girls conclude. There's not much of a story here, but cat lovers may not mind: the pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations portray a squeezably tubby yet mischievously energetic feline.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) K-3 The picture book biography focuses on Beatrix Potter's childhood and young adulthood, ending when she creates The Tale of Peter Rabbit. McPhail's soft watercolor and ink illustrations and clear text give a sense of Potter's love of animals and her growing interest in painting. The narrative of a young child finding her passion should satisfy both Potter's fans and the uninitiated.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 After Andrew learns to draw with a special crayon, his pictures start coming to life. He makes gifts for his family, and before long, he's creating truckloads of food for the hungry and supplies for flood victims. In the satisfying ending, Andrew draws something for himself with the crayon's last stub: a dog. Quietly humorous illustrations complement the thoughtful story's matter-of-fact prose.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Two brothers are alike in some ways and different in others but know "they will stick together... / always." This small square book is as much a chance for nostalgic adults to share their view of brotherhood with each other and their children as it is a child's story. McPhail's watercolor and ink illustrations successfully express the affection and struggles between the boys.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 I Like to Read series. Tom is a bad dog; he makes the narrator's mom, dad, and cat, Kit, mad. Just when "Dad says that Tom must go," Kit goes missing, and it's Tom to the rescue. Simple, repetitive text; mild tension; pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations with plenty of details for kids to notice; and lots of clean white space make this a good pick for beginning readers.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Pig Pig is surprised to wake up and find a lion in his bedroom. The zoo escapee and Pig Pig romp through the house (unnoticed by his clueless mother), until the zookeepers arrive to collect the lion; the antics are described in playful, preposition-heavy text. McPhail's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are gently expressive.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 When a beloved tree that has been in his family for generations is slated for removal, a boy protests and, with the help of some animals, wins the fight. The story's lack of detail, from the narrator's name to where he lives, makes it read like an outline, but McPhail's signature illustrations--heavily shaded, with sketchy contours--supply some particulars.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 I Like to Read series. Boy is sick in bed and cared for by Mom, Dog, and Bird, respectively. The roles reverse the following day when Dog and Bird feel ill. The story is a bit bland, but the simple word repetition gently conveys the characters' empathy and compassion. McPhail's clear watercolor and ink illustrations are just right for early readers discerning meaning from text and art.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Pig Pig (Pig Pig Gets a Job) reluctantly goes on a cross-country trip with his aunt and uncle. The trio sees many wonderful things and Pig Pig begins to enjoy himself, but he worries about what might have changed back home. McPhail's soft pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations add a feeling of comfort and familiarity to the pleasantly told story.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Raccoon Waddles, a loyal friend, offers to sit atop best duck pal Emily's nest while she finds food. He fends off a fox and is on site when the ducklings hatch. The sensitive and rewarding narrative is organized seasonally, conveying the duckling's growth, migration, and return to the idyllic pond setting. McPhail's artistic command of expression and characterization is on full display.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 I Like to Read series. In this easy-reader picture book, a boy attaches a rope to a pot and, with help from a bird, pulls his dog up into his tree house. He then hauls up a yummy snack from Mom. New readers will appreciate the repetition of familiar words in this simple story; a couple of awkward vocabulary-controlled sentences ("They saw and saw") are distracting.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 When lightning strikes, Weezer the puppy becomes a prodigy, an environmental crusader, and a peace spokesperson. After a second bolt hits, he returns to his ordinary pet life, leaving humans to continue his good works. The story has a jaunty, amusing start, but then sags. The soft, sketch-like illustrations are full of gentle humor.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Fed up with the bullying and inhumanity he witnesses as he walks to mail a letter, a young boy fights back with the single word, "NO." Returning home, he sees soldiers handing out presents, tanks pulling plows, and planes dropping not bombs but bicycles. McPhail's emotion- and narrative-filled watercolors unfold expertly to tell this powerful (if didactic) anti-war story.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 When rain leaks onto rabbit Boo's nose, bear Budgie moves Boo's bed out of harm's way. Later, it's Boo who solves the problem of their leaky roof. In four short chapters, accompanied by comfortably homey crosshatched pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, McPhail creates a simple and cozy life for these two best friends as they work together in their cottage and garden.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley