(3) K-3 In this quiet story about perseverance and progress, a pig loves to watch birds fly and dreams of joining them. He ponders, experiments, "modifies," and succeeds in building a flying machine. "The world wanted to join him," and soon the sky is filled with lots of machines. As far as he flies, however, the pig still admires birds. Na's dreamy mixed-media illustrations match the contemplative text.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) PS Shy Bird is new to the forest and hoping to make a friend, but Bear already has one: a red balloon. (The protagonists' rotund bodies humorously reflect the balloon's roundness.) When the balloon is blown away, Bird spots his chance to prove himself a worthy successor. Simple text and soft digital-collage illustrations--each thoughtfully designed--combine for a relatable and heartfelt friendship story.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) PS "[T]he Opposite Zoo is CLOSED. But the monkey's door is OPEN! Time to explore..." On each spread, the monkey visits animals who represent opposite qualities: "AWAKE!" vs. "asleep"; "Hairy" vs. "Bald"; etc. Some animal choices are imprecise (e.g., hippos aren't technically bald), but the visual interactions between animals playfully convey their personalities, and the rich-hued illustrations, full of graceful curves, are captivating.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(2) YA Translated by Lindy Falk van Rooyen. This bleak Danish import imagines the last day of a real-life execution victim in 1853 Svendborg, Denmark. The observations of various townspeople--interspersed with the fifteen-year-old boy's own memories of poverty, rejection, loss, and finally rage--reveal the world that led the boy to his crime and his fate. Rich with symbolism, historical criticism, and contemporary resonance, this is an unflinching examination of capitol punishment.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2016

(3) PS Tired of his forest home, Bear visits animal friends in the Arctic, ocean, desert, rainforest, and underground before realizing that he's already found what he longs for: "the same green forest under the same blue sky." Lush double-page illustrations capture the essence of each habitat as well as Bear's comical reactions--making the predictable outcome worthwhile.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) PS Whimsical mixed-media illustrations picture a duckling observing animal babies' differences and similarities: fish have multiple siblings, zebras walk at birth, some are carried in pouches, and others are covered with scales or fur, but all sleep at day's end. The story is soothing, but that the duckling is omnipresent across varied habitats and climates (under the ocean, polar regions, etc.) may strike viewers as odd.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS In a game of hide-and-seek, Elephant counts to ten, then finds all his friends except, of course, Chameleon, who jumps out and surprises everyone. The pacing in the simple text builds a gentle tension that complements the efforts of Giraffe, Hippo, Flamingo, and others to hide. Handmade colored patterns that are layered digitally depict a fanciful, energetic rainforest.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 In this picture book, brief text tells how different animals survive the cold winter: some hibernate, some seek a warmer climate, and so on. Digitally compiled collage illustrations combine textures and patterns in bright, eye-catching compositions. Each scene features a plump rabbit; in a pleasing touch on the last page, its winter-white fur turns brown, just as spring arrives.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 "One day, he found the thingamabob," begins this story, in which an elephant is mystified by a red umbrella--until it rains, and he discovers and shares the thingamabob's true purpose with his animal friends. The story feels slight, but its mixed-media illustrations are complex and whimsical, complementing the pointedly spare text.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Watchful Owl observes how other animals sleep at night: quietly, noisily, standing up, swimming, with one or both eyes open, alone or in groups. When the sun rises, it's Owl's turn to slumber. Spare text and delicately textured paintings create a drowsy atmosphere perfect for a cozy bedtime read-aloud.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden