(2) PS Illustrated by Richard Jones. An inviting voice employing the conditional "if you were" guides readers through a book that gives them a glimpse into life as an elephant (here, according to a note in the back matter, the African bush elephant). Readers learn about an elephant's habitat, social networks, diet, self-care (including mud baths), communication (elephants "drum out a warning," sending messages through the very ground, depicted in the illustrations as quilt-like patterns), and more. The text includes pleasing alliteration ("You'd guzzle gallons and gallons"), an ­exuberant tone ("You'd be a fountain spraying rainbows around!"), and satisfying and rhythmic verbs ("You'd slide and you'd roll and throw dirt all over"). Using a palette dominated by an earth-toned ­copper and incorporating subtle ­patterned textures throughout, Jones depicts the elephants in simple, rounded shapes with dots for eyes. Elephants are shown protecting, nurturing, and even soothing one another, images young readers will find comforting. (In one such illustration, observant readers will see two birds hugging atop an elephant's back.) An opening moment of humor is ­delightful: if you were an elephant, you'd "turn the next page with your trunk, not your hand." Either way, readers will want to keep turning the pages of this ­engaging and informative picture book.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Mack. One-eyed extraterrestrial Dewey is getting used to Earth, except that a bully makes fun of his speech. When Dewey can't pronounce love on Valentine's Day, the teasing intensifies until Dewey teaches classmates to say "I love you" in his alien language. As in Time for (Earth) School, Dewey Dew, issues of diversity and inclusion are explored lightly and with humor; Mack's cartoons communicate emotions fluently.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Mack. One-eyed extraterrestrial Dewey dreads starting school--especially on Earth. He feels out of place ("there were lots of kids in lots of different colors but none of them were...blue") until an Earth friend makes everything "ootay." This new-to-school story explores diversity and inclusion through a kid-friendly space-alien lens. Mack's expressive illustrations help translate Dewey's alien-speak (e.g., green tears fall as "he dorfled").

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by R. G. Roth. A boy explains how when he's sad, Blues Guy comes and commiserates through song; then they go comfort others ("scary bullies, beauty queens, / little old ladies from New Orleans"), smoothly making the author's point that nobody is immune to sorrow. The art, which employs collage elements, recalls that of Ezra Jack Keats, albeit without his gallant color scheme.

Reviewer: Nell Beram