(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ted Rand. Island resident Mrs. Paradise adopts and raises a stray lamb. But Mary the lamb roams freely and peskily, becoming a community pet, until everyone agrees to take her to a mainland petting zoo where she can be more appropriately contained, cared for, and visited often. Bright, frisky illustrations and a satisfactory resolution make this a pleasing story.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by R. W. Alley. Little Flower, a pampered and loved potbellied pig, becomes an unlikely heroine when she uses her wiles, without so much as an oink, to get help after her elderly owner, Miss Pearl, falls in her house and hurts her hip. Unfortunately, the story, based on a true tale, peters out thereafter. Detailed illustrations depict a lively suburban neighborhood that grows to love the titular swine.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ted Rand. In this story based on the experiences of the nineteenth-century Madsen family, a young girl named Matilda narrates how she and her three siblings grew up aboard the John Ena, a four-masted cargo ship captained by their father. Lively illustrations nicely capture the seafaring family as well as the breezy tone of the text. Historical photos of the Madsens and an afterword provide additional information.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Ted Rand. When the ancient forest where they hike is marked for logging, a boy and his father try in vain to save it. Though the story is didactic, the lush watercolor and pencil illustrations foster an appreciation for forest wildlife, imbuing the trees themselves with character, and effectively demonstrating the impact of clear-cutting. An appended "Trail Guide" encourages readers to observe and explore forests.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) K-3 With the help of her family and a vet, Annie saves the life of a starving dog she finds in the woods near the town dump. Despite the happy ending, the story doesn't gloss over the difficulties involved in helping an animal in distress. Acrylic artwork ably depicts the emaciated dog and its concerned rescuer. A note explains that the story is based on the rescue of a real dog.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.