(4) K-3 Illustrated by Greg Ruth. With questions in their hearts, a group of people of various ages and races searches for Old Turtle. Upon finding her, each asks a question--about purpose, happiness, evil, and more--and the giant turtle sagely responds. Warm-toned, dreamlike pencil, watercolor, and digital illustrations reflect the hopeful words, but (as with previous Old Turtle books) the appeal to children is limited.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) PS Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. Without saying the words, different animal grandpas express love for their grandchildren in many ways: tousling hair, winking, tying shoelaces, or "teaching you to throw a super-duper, screaming yellow zonker sinker ball." Rendered in pencil and finished digitally, cozy vignettes and double-page spreads highlight the special relationships between grandfathers and their grandchildren in this sentimental story.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. "When a dad says 'I love you,' he doesn't always say it in the plain old ordinary way." This amiable book lists what fathers do to demonstrate their love for their children. The pencil and digitally finished illustrations show a variety of doting animal dads spending time with their youngsters--making pancakes, answering questions, and gamely singing the same song over and over.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Barry Moser. In December 1941, Winston Churchill spent the holidays with Franklin Roosevelt. They formed an alliance to fight the Axis Powers and crafted a charter for the United Nations. Wood's snapshot of this moment in history includes a few humorous anecdotes that add levity to an otherwise solemn text. Moser based his impressive watercolors on photographs from the period.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(3) K-3 Illustrated by P. J. Lynch. Wood's poetic prose, sentimental but effective, invites young readers to savor their individual experiences while exploring the beauty and wonder of the natural world: "No one but you can feel the rain kiss your skin / or the wind ruffle your hair." Children of different ethnicities interacting with nature are the focus of Lynch's beautifully textured double-page-spread oil paintings.

Reviewer: Henrietta M. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. More sermon than story, Wood's text describes his family's care for one another and for a rosebush over several generations. The explicitly (and repetitively) stated message, which a young Wood learns from his great-aunt Mary, is that nurturing something (or someone) invests both caregiver and the cared for with part of the other's essence. Warm watercolor illustrations show scenes of the Wood family, both past and present.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jim Burke. Author Wood tells how he resented the extra reading practice his second-grade teacher required of him. Slowly, though, he finds a story with which he connects. Ultimately the adult Douglas thanks his teacher for her "gift of extra time and extra care" with a copy of his first published work. Expressive oil paintings reflect the picture book memoir's inspirational and encouraging tone.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) PS Illustrated by Andy Wagner. Max, Karla, and Bo are three very bored savanna animals. They dream up all sorts of adventures to have when elephant Mama Mirabelle returns. This PBS series tie-in will appeal mostly to fans of the show (a DVD featuring one episode is included); for other readers it won't have much attraction. The digital illustrations feature some effective use of photography.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. These new editions are smaller in size (both in trim and number of pages) than the originals, but their humorous take on parenthood remains intact. The text tells all the things parents are incapable of--sleeping late, limiting kisses to one--but the pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations tell a different story. Review covers these titles: What Dads Can't Do and What Mom's Can't Do.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. These new editions are smaller in size (both in trim and number of pages) than the originals, but their humorous take on parenthood remains intact. The text tells all the things parents are incapable of--sleeping late, limiting kisses to one--but the pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations tell a different story. Review covers these titles: What Dads Can't Do and What Mom's Can't Do.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. In the style of What Dads Can't Do, this book's young, green reptilian narrator lists all the things his grandmother can't do, such as baking cookies alone, playing Chinese checkers without laughing, and going to sleep before reading "a story--or six." The breezy watercolor and pen illustrations show grandmother and child enjoying each other's company.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jon J Muth. After a "truth" breaks in two on its fall to earth, people find one of the broken pieces, which reads "You are loved" and which they fight over. Finally, a little girl meets with Old Turtle, who gives her the other half of the truth: "and so are they." Fans of the original Old Turtle will find this book, featuring handsome, expressive watercolor and ink illustrations, equally moving; others may find it overlong and self-conscious.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. Following the format of What Dads Can't Do, etc., Santa appears as a jolly green dinosaur who can't do such "regular" things as drive a car (it would hurt the reindeer's feelings) or shave (no one would recognize him). The one way in which he is "just like you and me" provides a satisfying ending for an amusing picture book. Modest watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations match the mood and enhance the humor.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. On each double-page spread, the text describes a retreat, such as a cavern or the museum where a young boy seeks quiet. Facing the text page, an illustration sets a lavish fantasy in that same place (an early human's cave or an old master's studio). The last quiet place is "inside of you." The lack of progression grows tedious, but the realistic, detailed oil paintings invite imaginative play.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. In this companion to What Dads Can't Do, a little dinosaur lists all the things that moms can't do on their own, such as picking out clothes, making lunch, and watching scary movies. The humorous illustrations, which tell a somewhat different story (the little dinosaur really needs his mom's help), playfully capture this loving relationship from morning to bedtime.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. The point of view never waivers as the young, green, reptilian narrator enumerates all the things dads--and especially the green reptilian one pictured--can never do. Dads "can't cross the street without holding hands," they "lose at checkers and cards," and "Dads can push, but they can't swing." However, the airy watercolors with pen- and-ink provide a slightly different perspective. All dads should be so incompetent!

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by P. J. Lynch. Grandad explains the different ways all living things--trees, rocks, streams, and human beings--can pray. Only when the narrator is older does he understand his grandfather's words; young readers may also find the concepts somewhat difficult and the lyrical, metaphorical text overlong. Nevertheless, the book, illustrated with sentimental but vivid paintings, will be useful for starting discussions about prayer.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Yoshi & Hibiki Miyazaki. In his poetic text, Wood describes how all the elements of nature, including people, participate in the ongoing creation of the world. The watercolor, colored pencil, and acrylic illustrations, featuring scenes from around the world, help unify the text. Though children figure prominently in both text and artwork, the concept of the book may appeal more to adults.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 This Cree Indian legend explains why it looks like there is a rabbit in the moon, and how the crane came to have long legs and a red crown. Wood's retelling is simple and captivating, and a brief author's note lists the source for the story. Though Rabbit's appearance is somewhat inconsistent, Baker's watercolors are otherwise appealing, ranging from soft and dreamy to bold and striking.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.