(2) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Yossi Abolafia & Yossi Abolafia. In this reissue, Harry wins a pony in a contest, but his pop says he can't keep it. After he and his friends struggle in vain to come up with a way to keep the pony, Harry donates his pony to a farm where it will be used to teach children with disabilities to ride. The solution is as satisfying as the storytelling, and Abolafia's illustrations suit the light tone of the text.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1997

(2) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Yossi Abolafia & Yossi Abolafia. In this reissue, Harry mentions to everyone who will be attending his birthday party that he wants a cowboy hat, and, predictably, most of his presents are cowboy hats. The tale is enhanced by gentle humor that builds on realistic situations, and lighthearted watercolors add details that extend the story.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1994

(2) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Yossi Abolafia. In these welcome reissues, Harry gets over his worries about being in Aunt Rose's wedding and about losing his library card. Abolafia's line and watercolor drawings match the droll, ebullient tone of the texts, extending their meaning, developing the characters--and ensuring that once more we'll all be wild about Harry. [Review covers these I Can Read titles: Harry Gets an Uncle and Harry in Trouble.]

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1992

(2) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Yossi Abolafia. In these welcome reissues, Harry gets over his worries about being in Aunt Rose's wedding and about losing his library card. Abolafia's line and watercolor drawings match the droll, ebullient tone of the texts, extending their meaning, developing the characters--and ensuring that once more we'll all be wild about Harry. [Review covers these I Can Read titles: Harry Gets an Uncle and Harry in Trouble.]

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1989

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Rosemary Feit Covey. An eccentric librarian, as well as a few guests visiting the library, relate a series of narratives to students at an alternative high school. The stories--which concern old women transformed into squirrels, fish reborn as humans, and crows and roosters that viciously attack--are uneven in quality and contain unnecessarily convulted devices. Readers will be drawn to the subject matter, however, and to the illustrative engravings.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Porte's present-tense narrative lends an immediacy to the everyday capers of two young suburban children. Julia and her younger brother, Evan, get lost at a marathon, watch a spider spin its web, play with their umbrellas indoors, and practice their Spanish. Each of the nine chapters, illustrated with jaunty pen and wash drawings, can be read aloud as a satisfying short story.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Annie Cannon. When her father and brothers are conscripted into the army, Ma Jiang finds a new way to continue the family business, trapping ants to sell. An author's note provides information about this actual ancient Chinese practice. Although the narrative is somewhat compelling, it's overlong, but the watercolor and gouache paintings are appealing.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(2) 4-6 The author has drawn from the folklore of China to compose the fifteen stories that make up this book. Some are based on legends; others, incorporating traditional Chinese motifs and lore, are of her own creation. Porte weaves the stories together with personal comments that, without being intrusive, help to create a fascinating and surprisingly intimate picture of Chinese life over countless generations.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.