(3) K-3 The Birthday Queen is preparing for "your" party; she has birds deliver the invitations, takes over for the palace pastry chefs, etc. There are hints in the luminous art that this might not be a fairy tale after all (the party guests resemble modern-day kids), but readers won't guess the solid-gold twist: turns out the tireless queen is "your mother."

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Throughout the day, adorable pug Duffy takes a "before breakfast nap," a "mid-day nap," which runs into his "early afternoon nap," etc. But in between he has time for errands and playing with his loving humans. The simple story and charming pup's-eye-view illustrations, which include clocks showing the time passing, perfectly capture Duffy's doggy behavior and expressions.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(2) 4-6 In this graphic novel, two brothers' camping/hiking trip into the heart of an erupting volcano turns increasingly bizarre and treacherous. Unexpectedly reunited with their mother, a renowned volcanologist, they finally get some answers. The pictures vividly capture plot, characters, and setting with bold lines, dramatic colors, and creative special effects that make tangible the brothers' peril.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2008

(4) 4-6 Making of a Champion series. This ambitious series strives to cover all aspects of the featured sport, from its history and development to the equipment and skills required to succeed. Sidebars, color and black-and-white photographs, diagrams, and charts combine with a detail-rich text to provide a busy, thorough, and well-researched introduction for the hard-core sports enthusiast. Directory, reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Making of a Champion titles: An International Soccer Star, A Basketball All-Star, A Football All-Pro, A Baseball All-Star, A World-Class Ice Skater, and A World-Class Boxer.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) PS Illustrated by Don Wood. Written in the same second-person style as the first book about the little Mouse, this companion has an updated look, featuring glossy pages and a brighter color palette. This offering is more daring--little Mouse shares his presents with the bear, who has none, even though it means risking a trip to his cave. The ending is unsatisfying (the mouse goes to bed before opening his gift from the bear), but this will be a story-hour hit.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) PS Illustrated by Don Wood. Reissued again in board book form, this miniature version of the Woods' offbeat picture book features the same ten little pigs cavorting on a child's fingers. The text is brief enough for the small format; some of the details of the piggy fun are harder to see, as each pig is now only about one inch tall.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano