(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lee Wildish. Jacob O'Reilly's parents veto all his pet suggestions and instead recommend pet sitting. For two weeks he cares for a slew of animals: dogs, hamsters, a zebra, and more. All tuckered out, Jacob eventually discovers the perfect pet: a snail. The rhyming tale isn't particularly logical (the parents object to pets but allow Jacob to pet-sit at home), but the illustrations have texture and humor.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain. Penguin Patrick awakens to find that he has turned pink overnight ("But I'm a boy!...And boys can't be pink!"). His classmates' teasing compels him to go to Africa to find kindred spirits: flamingos. Kids will respond well to the drama and humor, plus a color scheme so bold with yellows, greens, and blues that pink gets a run for its money.

Reviewer: Nell Beram