(3) PS Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman. A group of energetic kids converges on an abandoned city lot. "Big plans today!" The lively mixed-media illustrations fill in story details: the plan seems to involve cleaning up trash, repurposing an old tire as a swing, and creating a new space to play. Getting from plan to finished project is a journey through many different emotions as the kids navigate disagreements and disappointment. Penfold's rhyming text is less concerned with the project than it is in naming feelings and offering ways to work together for a common goal. As in Penfold and Kaufman's All Are Welcome, the diverse cast (different races, abilities, cultural/religious markers) is the book's strongest feature.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) PS Illustrated by Isabel Roxas. Sven is happy being the littlest Viking; then a (loud) baby sister arrives. Sven's parents' attempts to mollify their screeching newborn are futile. Fortunately, Sven's storytelling--about "a small, brave Viking and a mighty warrior princess"--calms his sister and saves the day. Roxas's winsome gouache and colored-pencil art follows Sven as he matures out of his "littlest" title and accepts the mantle of big-brotherhood.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(3) PS Illustrated by Mike Dutton. A young family visits a food truck festival in this lively picture book. Declarative couplets detail the participants' bustling preparations: "Let's get moving, no time to rest," serves as an urgent refrain. Vibrant, textured illustrations are well composed and filled with details of modern urban life; rhythmic text makes for a pleasant read-aloud. Hip foodie parents and their preschoolers will gravitate toward this appetizing story.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman. In rhyming text, Penfold tells the story of a day--at a diversely populated urban school--that includes special events (a science fair, a cultural performance of a Chinese lion dance) and emphasizes the refrain, "All are welcome here." The mixed-media illustrations include interracial families, same-sex parents, and children with disabilities; the book includes a poster of children from many cultures reprinted on the inside of the dust jacket.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) PS Illustrated by Eda Kaban. A young boy makes generous promises to his baby brother: he will comfort the baby when he cries; he'll share his toys as well as his mom and dad; they'll have adventures together; they'll be friends. The retro-looking illustrations expand humorously on the understated text, showing the brothers on imaginative adventures, with the baby comically clad as a pilot, rock star, ninja, and more.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Jane Massey. A new baby matter-of-factly describes his or her "rigorous schedule," also summarized in the title. With each meal, nap, and dirty diaper, the baby grows into an active toddler. Both text and soft-hued illustrations are relatable and warm, with plenty of humor tired parents will appreciate (e.g., "Some days are harder than others. And I have to cut back... / on the sleep").

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith