(4) K-3 Colección Luz Verde series. Illustrated by Daniel Moreton. In this bilingual edition, Gill's friends lead him to believe that they forgot his birthday only to surprise him with a party. The story is slight, but the vocabulary is accessible(though there is one incorrect Spanish translation). The bright, eye-catching digital illustrations provide visual cues for early readers. An art activity is appended.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst. When Beth, a pig, can't fit her hooves into her red cowboy boots, she relies on her friends to help solve the problem. Her five animal friends volunteer their boots, but each donated pair is not quite right. In the end, her friends team up to find her the perfect pair. Although the story is somewhat unsatisfying, the simple premise has appeal, and Ernst's lighthearted illustrations will help readers decipher the text.

Reviewer: Jaynia B. Fink

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst. While looking through the house for Tiger the cat, a girl uncovers--sometimes literally--each of her other pets instead. Although the story in this beginning reader is minimal, young readers will delight in pointing out the clues to Tiger's whereabouts and seeing the other animals appear one by one in the comic drawings.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Bowers. In these three very short and simple stories, Jack the cat and Sam the mouse discover each other and become friends. Cheerful cartoon-style pictures illustrate the few words of text. Though plot is slim and the text occasionally sounds like an old-fashioned primer ("I see a cat on a mat"), this book could be a pleasant first reader for some children.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian