(4) PS Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. With her mother's help, a sleepy little girl gets ready for bed. Saccharine rhymes ("Sleepy hands and sleepy feet / Sleepy neck that smells so sweet") convey bath time, teeth-brushing, kisses good night, and getting tucked into bed nestled snug with stuffed animals. This lulling bedtime story's pastel-colored graphite, ink, and digital illustrations are stiff but appropriately soothing.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis. In a rhyming text reminiscent of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," Rose tells the story of a spelling bee that can only be won by knowing how a really big word is spelled and what it means. The pro-reading message is heartfelt, but the delivery feels strained, especially at the end. Armstrong-Ellis tempers the effect with humorous pencil and gouache art.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) K-3 Photographs by Susan Kelly. Simply and eloquently, this book follows young koala Jimmy as he's rescued from his dead mother's side, taken to the Koala Hospital in New South Wales, and rehabilitated for many months. Evocative photos--some with Aboriginal folk-art borders--illustrate this process, which culminates in Jimmy's release into the wild. A map/fact page and photographer's note conclude the book. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis. In this riotous celebration of spring set to the tune of the Christmas classic, an increasingly beleaguered teacher offers her unruly students something special for each of the season's first dozen days. The nose-picker from this book's two predecessors (which honor the first twelve days of kindergarten and winter) is still digging for gold in every hilariously topsy-turvy spread.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis. This follow-up to The Twelve Days of Kindergarten has the tireless teacher giving her students various things to commemorate winter's first twelve days. As in Kindergarten, the illustrations of the kids' messes hilariously undermine the perky text, written to the tune of the Christmas classic.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata. In a basic but effective introduction to animal babies in a marine environment, this book contrasts traits of different species, for example, "Some change homes like you change clothes." A picture glossary provides details about the general statements made in the body of the book. Text and art synchronize well, although some of the watercolors are too impressionistic to be helpful.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis. On each of the first twelve days of kindergarten, the narrator's teacher gives her something that enhances her classroom experience. The cheerful text, mimicking the Christmas classic, is subverted by the hilarious illustrations: the classroom, featuring a boy who picks his nose on each of the twelve days, is in total disarray--a fact to which the busy narrator is oblivious.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Richly colored and textured paper collages are the highlight of this visit with nocturnal marine life. Counting up to ten and back again, the rhyming text features such animals as the familiar seal pup and turtle to the dragonfish and nudibranch. Brief but informative notes about each species follow, enhancing this engaging book's appeal.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(2) PS Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. A small boy's birthday affords his zoo friends a chance to plan a celebration. The party ends with a loud and lively "'Happy birthday to you,' chimed in the whole zoo," but a page turn reveals that all the animals are in reality stuffed toys. The subdued illustrations are as amusing and agile as the rhyming text. An infectious read-aloud, and great fun for youngsters who will enjoy adding to their vocabulary of unfamiliar beasts.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2002

(3) PS Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Rhyming couplets list a variety of animals that make their home in the sea, "where Anemones sting / and Barnacles cling." The alphabet motif is more subtle here than in most alphabet books, but what steals the show are the beautiful, uncomplicated cut-paper collages, which employ an astonishing array of appropriately textured papers. Notes at the end expand on the animals pictured in the book.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler