(4) K-3 I Like to Read series. When young porcupine Pip wanders off in search of fun, Mother Duck asks him to sit on her eggs--which promptly hatch. The resulting tale of mistaken maternal identity is nothing new, but the lush illustrations, awash in blues, greens, and browns, infuse this story for brand-new readers with a warmth that reflects the bond between Pip and his temporary charges.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Dragons BeBop and Spike open a pizzeria in Fairy Tale Land. There, they make specialty pies for their unique clientele: candy-topped gingerbread pizza for Hansel and Gretel, "teeny-weeny rose-petal" for Thumbelina, and porridge pies for the three bears. Readers will enjoy guessing who has ordered each pizza. The busy pages include frenetic cartoon illustrations and speech bubbles.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) PS At bedtime, Little Mouse imagines the fun of sleeping in other animals' cuddly, warm homes. But as his mother gently points out, he may not like eating worms for breakfast like birds, or wearing a dog collar, or sleeping all winter with polar bears. Luckily, Little Mouse's own soft, grassy bed awaits. While it might be a bit sweet for some, this is a warmly illustrated bedtime tale.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) YA Science at the Edge series. These series books deliver up-to-date information and balanced summaries of the controversies surrounding biomedical research and practice, such as attitudes of different religions toward them. Pages busy with colorful photos and graphics are at odds with the uncondescending, clear treatment of these complex subjects. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Science at the Edge titles: Rebuilding the Body, Test Tube Babies, and Germ Killers.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Science at the Edge series. Body Doubles covers the process of cloning in nature and laboratories, followed by applications to animals and surrounding controversies. Superfoods explains genetic modification in plants and animals, summarizing the surrounding controversies equably. Pages busy with colorful photos and graphics are often at odds with the clear treatment of these complex subjects. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Science at the Edge titles: Body Doubles and Superfoods.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Science at the Edge series. Body Doubles covers the process of cloning in nature and laboratories, followed by applications to animals and surrounding controversies. Superfoods explains genetic modification in plants and animals, summarizing the surrounding controversies equably. Pages busy with colorful photos and graphics are often at odds with the clear treatment of these complex subjects. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Science at the Edge titles: Body Doubles and Superfoods.]

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) YA Science at the Edge series. The books in this series present clear, comprehensive overviews of their subjects. The informative texts, while written from a generally "green" perspective, manage to weigh the pros and cons of various energy sources in Alternative and the causes and effects of climate change in Global. Large illustrations and color photos illustrate the volumes, but the busy design can be distracting. Timelines are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Science at the Edge titles: Alternative Energy Sources and Global Warming.]

Reviewer: Alan L. Rothschild

(4) YA Science at the Edge series. The books in this series present clear, comprehensive overviews of their subjects. The informative texts, while written from a generally "green" perspective, manage to weigh the pros and cons of various energy sources in Alternative and the causes and effects of climate change in Global. Large illustrations and color photos illustrate the volumes, but the busy design can be distracting. Timelines are included. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Science at the Edge titles: Alternative Energy Sources and Global Warming.]

Reviewer: Alan L. Rothschild

(4) PS In the first of these small, square books, Rosie the mouse wonders what snowflakes taste like, how a clock works, and what's in the jar. In the second, she waits for cookies to cool, for her turn, and for seeds to grow. The simple texts--one sentence per page--are rather flat, but the pastel illustrations, with cozy borders, are appealing.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) PS In the first of these small, square books, Rosie the mouse wonders what snowflakes taste like, how a clock works, and what's in the jar. In the second, she waits for cookies to cool, for her turn, and for seeds to grow. The simple texts--one sentence per page--are rather flat, but the pastel illustrations, with cozy borders, are appealing.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Preschoolers will recognize themselves in these very simple books that show Rosie the mouse feeling both "gentle" and "wild." One sentence per page tells how she cuddles her doll, turns pages carefully, revels in the bath water, or "bounces her baby brother on the bed." The small size of the books, the pastel watercolors, and the gingham borders are cozy.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt

(3) PS Preschoolers will recognize themselves in these very simple books that show Rosie the mouse feeling both "gentle" and "wild." One sentence per page tells how she cuddles her doll, turns pages carefully, revels in the bath water, or "bounces her baby brother on the bed." The small size of the books, the pastel watercolors, and the gingham borders are cozy.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt