(2) K-3 Illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo. Riley likes to tear up old newspapers, line stuffies up by size, and draw colorful swirls. But when Bossy Older Cousin Emma and her sister, Violet, come to visit, Bossy Emma says Riley's games are boring and insists on noisy play and having tea parties. Alborozo's mixed-media illustrations are all rounded corners, soft lines, and gentle pastel hues, giving the book a peaceful feeling appropriate to its quiet protagonist, a contrast to the cousins' more raucous forms of play. When Bossy Emma and Riley glare at each other, though, it's clear there's a difference between being mild and being a pushover. Riley wants Bossy Emma to understand that she isn't the only one who knows how to play, so Riley enlists the assistance of Charlie, a gray pooch with floppy ears and a waggy tail. When the kids' game of fetch turns into Charlie's game of keep-away, the children chase him "until we all fall down laughing." The language here is straightforward and instructive, and an appended author's note reveals Miller-Lachmann wrote this based on her experiences. ("It was only in adulthood that I found out I was autistic.") Negotiating relationships with children who play differently is a universal experience, though, and this will strike a chord with many readers.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo. This book's "old dog" prefers to take things slow, but the arrival of a new baby has sped up his family's life to "fast fast fast!" His daily walks are now rushed, leaving no time for smelling the grass or searching for just the right rock. Dozing in a sliver of sunlight, old dog dreams of bygone days when there was time for long walks and "balls and lakes and fields." He wistfully yearns for a friend to join him for afternoon ambles and impromptu leaps into leaf piles. A particularly poignant double-page spread shows old dog hanging his head and tail ("His heart thumps. His tail does not") in loneliness. But then a new pair of feet hits the ground and toddles over. Old dog and small girl become fast friends, and together they roll down grassy hills, jump in leaves, hunt for the perfect rock, and fall asleep next to each other in the "soft gold room." The illustrations, which combine brisk pen-and-ink lines with soft watercolors, convey the weariness of old dog, the contagious energy of small girl, and the tender bond they share in this cheerful and touching story of unexpected companionship and the value of an unhurried life.

Reviewer: Emmie Stuart | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(4) PS StoryPlay series. Illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo. A bear child and parent wind down for bed in a simple story with cozy illustrations. This installment in a series focused on early literacy "shines a spotlight on sequencing" ("they started the tickle... / that led to the wriggle..."). Intrusive discussion prompts are included throughout the story; appended activities help parents further "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) PS Illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo. Best friends Tim and Tim do everything together--until new kid Tom enters the picture and threatens to drive a wedge between them ("Tom likes to crazy-dance. Tim does, too. / Not Tim"). Negotiating evolving friendships through compromise is not a new theme, but this book does it justice with a spare text and gentle yet humorous illustrations suited to the youngest readers.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl