(3) K-3 Illustrated by Philip Hopman. In this zany tale, Tom cures his father's fear of animals by secretly training exotic pets to pose as pieces of furniture. When the trick comes to light, Dad admits the animals aren't so dangerous after all. A matter-of-fact narrative makes the preposterous seem possible, and the detailed tongue-in-cheek illustrations demonstrate how a polar bear, for example, can pretend to be an armchair.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by Kees de Boer. The title of this strange story says it all. After showing his friend, Mimi, his "little peepee," Little Monkey decides to start a one-monkey circus, in which his only trick is peeing. After Mimi demonstrates her own skills, he lets her in on the circus act. The subdued color palette helps keep the potty humor in check.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Philip Hopman. Having heard about "stern teachers and homework and bullies," Davy avoids school on his first day and builds his own version. His school on wheels inspires the students at the real school to take off from their humorless teacher. The protagonist's creativity and the narrative insouciance is reminiscent of Hoban or Dahl, while the illustrations resemble a painterly Blake.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Philip Hopman. Twenty-two orphans happily clamber all over their stone manor orphanage playing with nothing but their imaginations. When a stern headmistress forbids them to do anything even slightly dangerous, they outwit her, spreading their joie de vivre her way. Watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations capitalize on the text in comic detail.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt