(3) K-3 This German import introduces important philosophical ideas to young children with respect for their capacity to wonder: "How will I see the world when I grow up?" "Why am I afraid of what I don't know?" Teckentrup's illustrations, reminiscent of block prints, successfully use color, shape, and texture to convey the feelings behind the "big questions" and invite readers to explore their world.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Teckentrup's signature die-cut engineering within her textured illustrations is used here in service to simple rhymes observing the similarities among animals. For instance, thanks to a cleverly placed cutout, the rhymed line "We play the same games..." appears on a spread featuring gamboling deer and on the next page featuring woodland rabbits. Even young readers will comprehend the human application of the book's unifying message.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 The shapes, sizes, and uses of feathers as well as the structure and purposes of wings are thoroughly explained and beautifully illustrated. Discussions include the ways in which feathers protect birds from the elements and advertise their assets to potential mates. Teckentrup's art is particularly effective in conveying the fluff and fringes of feathers, and the way they splay in unfurled wings.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(1) 4-6 Adapted by Shelley Tanaka. Translated by Shelley Tanaka. "We have such a strong connection to weather, we can't help but wonder about it." Teckentrup's words and illustrations embody this connection, modeling curiosity and wonderment. Moody, textured images play with the relationships among art, nature, and light to explore the nuances of weather phenomena. The details encourage both careful, continuous observation and appreciation for the endless varieties of weather. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(4) PS In Teckentrup's third pair-themed matching book (The Odd One Out; Where's the Pair?), double-page spreads each include one object, among many, without a counterpart. Forgettable rhymes lay out each picture puzzle ("Match up the toadstools-- / there's two of each kind. / But there's one with no pair, / which you have to find!"), but the crisp digital designs are eye-catching and appropriately challenging.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) PS In Bee, concise rhymes explain the insect's life ("Visiting flowers of every hue, / She has a special job to do"); honeycomb-shaped cut-outs in the textured, spring-hued art show the bee attracting co-pollinators. In the illustrations accompanying Christmas's classic verses, two elvish kids marvel as the famous totems accumulate around a tree; again, Teckentrup comes through with her die-cut-engineering wizardry, highlighting the holiday gifts. Review covers the following titles: Bee and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 This part-aesthetic, part-scientific consideration of eggs (mainly from birds but also those of insects, reptiles, fish, and amphibians) includes musings on the form and structure of eggs, the nests built to shelter them, and the role of eggs in human culture. The spare illustrations use a gorgeous mellow palette to represent the varieties of eggs and their producers.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 A child narrates her dream journey, on which she's accompanied by a friendly lion (first seen as a stuffed animal), before she wakes up to a crisp, sunshiny morning. Despite some uneasy rhymes, Teckentrup's verse is carried by lyrical imagery. Although often muddied by dark colors and grainy elements, the layered, textured illustrations hide tantalizing, shadowy images, creating a wonderfully surreal dreamscape.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) PS Various animals use balloons to float over a sleeping tiger. Each page encourages readers to help the animals safely cross: "Let's pet Tiger's tummy...That will help her sleep." Stork accidentally pops the last balloon and wakes Tiger--just in time for her surprise birthday party. Tiger non-threateningly takes up most of each double-page spread, and the glossy balloons are eye-catching.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) PS In Bee, concise rhymes explain the insect's life ("Visiting flowers of every hue, / She has a special job to do"); honeycomb-shaped cut-outs in the textured, spring-hued art show the bee attracting co-pollinators. In the illustrations accompanying Christmas's classic verses, two elvish kids marvel as the famous totems accumulate around a tree; again, Teckentrup comes through with her die-cut-engineering wizardry, highlighting the holiday gifts. Review covers the following titles: Bee and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Oskar, a bird, "loves the deep blue ocean... / ...and soft green grass," and so on. Oskar is pictured enjoying each of his passions in what appear to be silkscreened images, expertly composed. So won over will readers be by the affirming bird that they will gladly ponder the question posed on the book's last page: "What do you love?"

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Double-page spreads contain similarly patterned animals in Teckentrup's mesmerizing mixed-media art, while the text asks viewers to find the matching pair of animals in each group. In this companion to The Odd One Out: A Spotting Book, the awkward rhymes don't always make it clear exactly what to look for, and some puzzles are much trickier than others, but overall the book is engrossing.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(4) K-3 Little Penguin misses his friend, who lives on a far-off iceberg, so he crosses the ocean to reach her; each spread showing his course features a flap that expands his journey (e.g., "He swam above bobbing jellyfish... / and below a tickly octopus"). It's a cool concept, but the restricted palette of mainly grays, somber blues, and black grows monotonous.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Winter is coming, so Little Bear and his mother say good night to their friends, one by one: Badger, Mommy Fox, Deer, etc. Don't expect drama: the story a bit too transparently means to show forest animals in their dwelling places and teach readers about their sleep habits. But the art, which resembles woodcuts in an autumnal palette, is lovely.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Rhyming text asks which animal doesn't match the rest in its group--the one bat that's asleep, the one turtle inside its shell, etc. Teckentrup's mesmerizing mixed-media art contains repeating patterns of animals, which makes finding the odd one out a challenge. Despite a couple of bumpy rhymes (and pandas whose "white as snow" bellies are actually gray), this book is solidly entertaining.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) PS This entertaining book, reminiscent of Where's Waldo? and Richard Scarry, combines three German imports in one volume. Readers search for the Bunny family and a multitude of other animals as they go about their business throughout the day in three different locations. There are many small stories playing out in the detailed illustrations. Questions in the minimal text direct readers' attention.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS These excellent concept books employ spare text and digitally rendered illustrations of animals to teach counting and differentiation. Sturdy foldout pages add a surprise element for preschoolers and present points of comparison effectively and cleverly. Parents of toddlers and early childhood educators will find these books useful for building pre-reading skills; children will just enjoy them--again and again. Review covers these titles: Animal 123 and Animals Spots and Stripes.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) PS These excellent concept books employ spare text and digitally rendered illustrations of animals to teach counting and differentiation. Sturdy foldout pages add a surprise element for preschoolers and present points of comparison effectively and cleverly. Parents of toddlers and early childhood educators will find these books useful for building pre-reading skills; children will just enjoy them--again and again. Review covers these titles: Animal 123 and Animals Spots and Stripes.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow