(3) PS Illustrated by Aaron DeWitt. A bedtime lullaby answers the question, "When they sleep, what do animals see?" Four-line stanzas feature kittens, turtles, chipmunks, and other animals dreaming of various pleasures, all of which include "you," the reader. The text incorporates rhyme and a panoply of active verbs, but its repetitive phrasing nonetheless lends it a soothing tone. The mixed-media illustrations depict a collection of sweet, softly rounded critters.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson. Twenty-six brief, mostly rhyming, first-person poems celebrate making things with all kinds of media: paint, clay, soap, glitter, socks, leaves, flour, yarn, and more. Every poem invites activity and underscores the pride and satisfaction that's frequently an outcome of creativity. Colorful mixed-media and paper-collage illustrations capture the joyful and often messy process of making "something new / with my hands / my head / my heart."

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. This collection of twenty-three poems celebrates all kinds of reading, from a new reader understanding "letters make words" to reading for pleasure by flashlight. With a gently varying meter, the poems are read-aloud perfect; the bright digital illustrations are a pleasing accompaniment. Standouts include "Stories," in which a girl learns about grief from Charlotte's Web, and a grandpa's gift of a poem in "Birthday Card."

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) PS Illustrated by Dylan Metrano. "Chickadee wears a wee black cap. / Jay is loud and bold. / Nuthatch perches upside-down. / Finch is clothed in gold." Simple rhyming text pays homage to common birds, describing characteristics of mockingbirds, robins, pigeons, and more. Careful cut-paper illustrations provide visual details to complement the avian appreciation. Additional information on each of the twenty birds is appended. Websites.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Robbin Gourley. These poems celebrate forests throughout the seasons, each one observing a different woodsy subject with an original twist: snow footprints are the "Forest News" ("Articles are printed / by critters on the go"); moss is "an emerald carpet"; even poison ivy is given attention ("One green / touch can itch / so much"). The watercolor illustrations reflect the thoughtful simplicity of the verse.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley