(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mary Reaves Uhles. Soft, cozy watercolors provide a realistic backdrop for this sweet secular Christmas story about finding your voice. Ava's family doesn't think she'll stick with the tuba, but she's motivated to continue as she practices for a surprise Christmas concert. The text, suitable for reading aloud, balances dialogue and narration. An author's note discusses "Tuba Christmas" traditions and interesting facts about the lesser-appreciated instrument.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jaime Corum. For each letter of the alphabet, a singsongy rhyming quatrain about America's most famous horse race shares space with a dramatic oil painting and a wordy sidebar exploring famous horses, Derby parties, "My Old Kentucky Home," and other racing topics. Though the sunny treatment is too long-winded for a read-aloud, horse fans will appreciate delving deep into their favorite subject.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by John Manders. Finnegan, a horse (and the narrator), and his partner, T.J. Fox, a New York City police officer, are a great team. They work the crowds in Times Square and find a little lost girl from Wyoming. Lively paintings filled with warmhearted caricatures of all kinds of city residents and tourists accompany the far-fetched but engaging text. Information about mounted police is appended.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Tales of Young Americans series. Illustrated by Robert Gantt Steele. After the Bishops' son dies in World War II, do-gooder Lily volunteers to create a victory garden in their backyard. Lily is warned not to disturb Mrs. Bishop, but eventually (and not surprisingly) they become friends. The story, though wordy, is heartfelt, as are the somewhat stiff paintings. An appended spread provides historical context.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Victor Juhasz. From "A is for Ancient Greece" to "Z is for Zeus," poems for each letter of the alphabet focus on Greek myths. Sidebars on most pages round out the broadly sketched verses ("Escaping Circe and the Sirens' song, / the one-eyed giant, the cannibal throng, / Odysseus sailed the restless sea, / home to Ithaca and Penelope"). Cartoonish drawings (some unfinished-looking) display the action. Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz