(2) PS Illustrated by Emilie Gill. Because Hen is determined to do things herself ("I'm not a baby chick anymore!"), she declines invitations from Cow, Horse, and Pig to help her carry a bag of flour to her home, where she plans to bake some bread. Fox sits waiting in the forest's ferns and butters her up when they meet ("You are undoubtedly fabulous at everything you do"), so Hen invites him to join her. But never fear: Gill's detailed illustrations indicate that smart Hen is on to him. The side-eye and scowl she directs at Fox show she won't be fooled. After Fox dramatically lunges at her and her pot of soup, Shaw returns readers to Hen's three friends, who suspect trouble. They race to Hen's intending to save the day but discover that she has everything under control. Hen serves as a sympathetic stand-in for this satisfying story's audience. Gill's fine-lined illustrations rest on a palette of muted earth tones with a vivid copper that brings a visual pop to the pages. There's much playful humor ("Hen appeased me with the peas!" says Fox in the end) in this entertaining take on the classic "Little Red Hen" story.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault. A woman magically weaves memories, feelings, and sensations into cloth and makes an exquisite dress. Piece by piece, she removes those vital, unique parts to satisfy a local merchant's limited vision; when the weaver's children create a beautiful quilt from the discarded pieces, everyone wants one. With soft, lovely illustrations, this folkloric-feeling original story emphasizes staying true to one's creativity. Quilting ideas are appended.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kevin M. Barry. In this rhyming retelling of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," the lazy, chore-avoiding apprentice invites a sly vampire salesman into the wizard's house to demonstrate a vacuum cleaner. The diabolical machine sucks up the entire house, but the wizard arrives in time to rescue his penitent apprentice. Gray-scale illustrations with touches of color emphasize the creative tale's wild action. An author's note about retellings is appended.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bruno Robert. Destined to become Santa's snack on Christmas Eve, resourceful Gingerbread Boy reins in the household's two unruly puppies and helps Santa clean up the mess they've made. Instead of eating him, an impressed Santa hires the cookie as watchman for his toy shop. Lively pictures, many cookie's-eye-view, illustrate this amusing (if sometimes halting) rhyme in the style of "The Night Before Christmas."

Reviewer: Martha Sibert