(3) K-3 Illustrated by Andrew Joyner. Mama Crocodile gushes over her new baby, which makes sister Caroline "very, very, very jealous." So she swaps her brother at the Baby Shop. Except the baby panda is fussy, the elephant "too squirty," and so on--good thing a "secondhand crocodile" is still available. The funny new-sibling story's vintage-feeling illustrations depict a town teeming with animals going about their busy day.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) PS The now-classic book about caring for a new sibling is published in a large, handsome format for its thirtieth anniversary. A little girl suggests 101 things she can do with her baby brother, from "whisper a secret" to "let him sit with you." The loving relationship between all the family members shines through Ormerod's series of loose, gently colored-in sketches.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Freya Blackwood. In five short stories about Maudie, a precocious young girl, and her friend Bear (a grownup stand-in), Maudie is dramatic and often selfish; Bear's affection for her, however, is steady and patient. Blackwood's delicately detailed illustrations reinforce the loving relationship between these two characters and imbue the tales with an inviting sense of warmth.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman

(3) K-3 The joy of dance is shared by two sisters in this easy-to-read book. Little Sylvie can't resist peeking into big sis Bonnie's ballet class. With the teacher's encouragement, Sylvie demonstrates that she, too, is ready to learn. Clean, delicate illustrations with lots of white space leave room for the young dancers to demonstrate "tippy toes" and "jump, jump, jump."

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carol Thompson. Molly's dad lives "a whole plane ride away" and has been out of the picture for a long time. Father and daughter get reacquainted when Dad comes to look after Molly for a week. The book sensitively examines the aftermath of parental separation. Readers will appreciate the accessibility of Molly's emotions in both text and scribbly childlike drawings.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Both beginning readers and preschoolers (who will easily understand the simple text) will have someone to identify with: preschooler Sylvie or her older sister, the unnamed narrator. The straightforward text includes lots of repetition, but not too much. Ormerod's clean line drawings, humorous and expressive, also help readers keep pace with this dancing duo.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2007

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Slonim. In "Feeling Better," bossy ostrich Emily thinks she cures elephant Albert of a malady he doesn't tell her he never had. In "A Good Book," Emily makes her presence instrumental to Albert's reading pleasure. As in Marshall's George and Martha books, all five stories collected here are ultimately about friendship, and Slonim's loose, whimsical illustrations further flesh out Ormerod's deft characterizations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS These welcome reissues of two wordless books follow the morning and evening routines of a little girl and her parents. The actions of the loving, slightly harried parents are completely familiar, and the story lines are crystal clear. Review covers these titles: Moonlight and Sunshine.

Reviewer: Terri Schmitz

(2) PS These welcome reissues of two wordless books follow the morning and evening routines of a little girl and her parents. The actions of the loving, slightly harried parents are completely familiar, and the story lines are crystal clear. Review covers these titles: Moonlight and Sunshine.

Reviewer: Terri Schmitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: October, 1982

(3) PS Illustrated by Lindsey Gardiner. After a joyful little girl ends a verse of the titular song with the direction "clap your hands," a series of animals beg to differ: a dog insists that one should "wave your tail--swirl, twirl!" to express happiness; an elephant prefers to "flap your ears--flip, flap!"; etc. The be-yourself message is well executed, and the candy-colored double-page spreads exude infectious mirth.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS In simple words, Miss Mouse recounts her day as the stuffed-animal companion of an energetic little girl. Miss Mouse starts and ends her day with a cuddle; in between, this true friend is up for just about anything. The squared vignettes show a happy progression through an almost perfect day--until the brief moment of tension when Miss Mouse is temporarily forgotten outside. A quick page turn brings a flashlight rescue by the relieved little girl.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2001

(2) PS The personable stuffed toy from Miss Mouse's Day takes off with her little girl for a real airplane adventure. The story is carry-on compact; the pictures have less descriptive detail than the narrative vignettes of the previous book, but there are nice bits to notice here as well. Children remembering or preparing for a plane trip will find a likely travel companion in Miss Mouse.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001

(3) PS DK Toddler Story Book series. In this adaptation of a children's counting song, a menagerie of stuffed toys help a toddler deal with having to share her parents with a baby sibling. Amelia lovingly cares for her ten stuffed animals, one by one, with her actions mirroring those of her parents', through feedings, bathtime, playtime, etc. Sturdy, toddler-friendly pages contain Ormerod's gentle, uncluttered illustrations.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(3) K-3 Ormerod's familiar pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations tell the story of several intermingled families with depth, love, and humor. Readers follow the thirteen characters and four animals through a week of errands, appointments, and chores while they help each other, and we wonder who belongs with whom. Of course, they all belong together. The evocative text encourages active reader participation.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.