(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. Nineteenth-century, museum-quality handicrafts including a globe, a butter churn, a sled, and a weather vane inspire these fourteen lyrical stories--some totally fiction, some based on fact--of the objects' creators and users. Folksy gouache illustrations reflect the historic period and many of the tools the makers employed to carve, quilt, paint, embroider, or otherwise craft each item. Small photos and museum catalog information appended.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pierr Morgan. Based on an actual garden started by Tilth Alliance in Seattle (per the author's note), this fictional story follows a neighborhood garden tended by children, from tilling to harvesting. Best are the children's comments about the experience: "Look at the shape of this funny tomato"; "Smell the peppermint I grew. Rub it between your fingers." Pleasant, sunny illustrations of the garden's development add interest.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Galia Bernstein. When Monkey's cousin MeeMee needs a babysitter for her three children, Monkey and Elephant take on the job. What they lack in babysitting experience they make up for in heart, and the rules they make for their charges could also be rules to live by. Bright illustrations, a sweet story line, and a text with nice repetition and rhythm will engage confident beginning readers.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Galia Bernstein. In their fourth book, Monkey tells Elephant a secret: it's her birthday and she doesn't want anyone to know. Elephant's secret? He's terrible at keeping secrets. As the day goes on, it's harder for Elephant to stay quiet, but he finds a way to celebrate without spilling the beans. Newly independent readers will appreciate the expressive digital illustrations supporting the mildly entertaining story.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Galia Bernstein. In three short chapters, Monkey and Elephant set off "gadding," are given new hats, and leave Monkey's hat with Monkey's cousin MeeMee as a cradle for her new babies. The third book about the friends is, like the others, well designed for early reading: bright digital illustrations support and lead newly independent readers as they decode the simple, serviceable story.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Galia Bernstein. Friends Monkey and Elephant are very much alike. In the first chapter, each thinks the other is a copycat; when both get sick in the remaining two chapters, they discover that they also have some differences. Bright but somewhat flat computer-generated illustrations allow youngsters to preview the action before reading the words; the bold typeface and jewel-tone palette are eye-catching.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Galia Bernstein. Set in large, boldfaced text, three brief chapters present a blue elephant and a purple monkey as they search for shade, sing together, and challenge wildcats who want to make a snack of Monkey. These unlikely friends bicker, but as Monkey tells Elephant, "I like you just right." The digitally created art is sometimes static but aptly captures the text's humor.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) PS Illustrated by Pierr Morgan. Five city-dwelling kids of varying ages and ethnicities enjoy one another's company while taking advantage of what their neighborhood has to offer in summer, one letter at a time: "A is for Arm linkers," "B is for Book readers," etc. These homespun descriptors are an inspired way to introduce the alphabet, and the loose, happy illustrations couldn't be more inviting.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Pierr Morgan. A series of strange and scary noises at bedtime sets rabbit BunBun wondering who could be making them: "Crusty Dumply Ogre?...Grimy Gooey Ghoulie?" (It's little brother FonFon pulling a toy duck down the hall.) Onomatopoeic language and playful ink and gouache illustrations will draw children in while the story's comforting ending might help them dismiss some bump-in-the-night fears.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) PS Illustrated by Pierre Pratt. Little Monkey wakes up too early. His family sleeping, he decides he's big enough to explore the jungle alone in search of companionship. Though Little Monkey has adventures visiting Steady Sloth, Proud Parrot, and Sly Boa, Schaefer reassuringly shows that growing up doesn't mean outgrowing one's family. Pratt paints the lush jungle setting in thick, wide acrylic-paint strokes.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Pierr Morgan. In a lively text complete with sound effects, a diverse group of youngsters pretends to be clowns, dinosaurs, and more, with the help of the classroom dress-up box. Morgan's clever illustrations reflect the spirit and spontaneity of imaginative play; she superimposes the outlines of the make-believe world over the figures of the children as they caper across the pages.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pierr Morgan. On Mei Lin's birthday, she and her classmates transform their art project into a faraway dragon-dance adventure. The rhythmic text's "whish-whoosh" sounds and "swirl-whirling" motion of the journey will captivate young listeners. The lively mixed-media illustrations cleverly merge fantasy and reality, invoking a jubilant celebration of art, imagination, and culture.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) PS Illustrated by Pierr Morgan. In the cool evening after the heat of Africa's day, animals create a song--zebras stamp their feet, giraffes rattle leaves, and hyenas howl. Translated into words, their song urges people to care for the earth. The illustrations, which begin fairly realistically and become more fanciful as the animals' song spreads, are stunning, but the environmental plea is somewhat simplistic.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen. Little Kessy gets the important task of running to the island's tiny store for more laundry soap--"the biggest piece." On the way home his soap keeps coming in handy to help people, and he turns his mundane errand into a story of adventure. The book is set in the Truk Islands of Micronesia: the pictures feature lush tropical colors.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2004

(3) PS Illustrated by Pierr Morgan. This cheerful, rhythmic account of preschoolers using their imaginations throughout the school day--e.g., at lunchtime, they become tigers who "slip, sloop, slurp" their noodles--is illustrated with images inspired by Chinese ink-brush paintings. Throughout are fanciful illustrations that feature thick outlines and colorful patterns, and at one point birds are superimposed onto the kids as they play at recess.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christine Davenier & Christine Davenier. Packed with animal sounds, repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia, this text is an enjoyable read-aloud. Night sounds draw a barnyard full of animals out to dance, but darkness leads to confusion over partners. The night-toned illustrations feature friendly, animated animals. Schaefer creates a fresh story, with age-appropriate humor added by the animal confusion ("My dear, did you say 'moo' or 'meow'?").

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Emilie Chollat. Spoiled Louie loves to blow hard on his French whistle, scaring animals and making babies cry. When his cousin takes a turn, she plays it soft and sweet, "like in Paree." A smattering of French words adds pizzazz to a tale that builds to a highly satisfactory conclusion. Gleeful illustrations capture the personalities of impish Louie and his steadfast cousin.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Julie Lacome. Each of the books in this series contains four simple stories that usually end with a satisfying twist or joke youngsters will enjoy. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition, clear, entertaining illustrations, and introductions (to be read by an adult) that briefly summarize the action; adults get useful tips on helping beginning readers gain confidence. Review covers these Brand New Readers titles: Kazam's Magic, Hurray for Rosa!, Beep! Beep! It's Beeper!.]

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Elizabeth Rosen. This fictionalized elaboration of how Dvorák was inspired by the song of a scarlet tanager that he heard in Iowa reads fluently, showing how Dvorák's American Quartet reflects that inspiration. Illustrated with color-saturated paintings, the book bravely attempts, without including a musical score, to reproduce the birdsong and to suggest Dvorák's own music.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) PS Illustrated by Vanessa Cabban. It's bedtime, but the forest children--bears, hedgehogs, rabbits, and toads--all have reasons to stay up: they want to sing or play or look for food. Then "wise Grandma Owl" tells them a story about themselves, and they go off to sleep. The pencil and watercolor illustrations feature engaging families of animals against rich blue-and-green foliage under a darkening night sky.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert