(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Here's the rare song-lyrics-as-picture-book-text endeavor that actually works without music (although the book includes a CD featuring the Sesame Street classic). This is due to the story element introduced wordlessly by Lichtenheld: a bird can't emanate a note until it hears a boy with a guitar singing the titular song. The lyrics and modest illustrations are uplifting--for the bird, literally.

Reviewer: Nell Beram