(4) 4-6 Ghastly McNastys series. Illustrated by Ros Asquith. The Ghastly McNasty pirates are back to wreak more havoc. While Jamie (Tat's cousin) battles the McNastys at sea, Tat and Hetty search for the lost treasure. When they reunite and join forces, they foil the pirates (for now). This third series volume, though more disjointed than its predecessors, offers an engaging mix of eccentric characters, goofy meta-commentary, and high-seas action.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Ros Asquith. The awful McNasty brothers are pirates staking out Little Snoring on Sea in search of treasure. Villagers Tat and his friend Hetty (think a young Hermione Granger) find the treasure first and must outsmart the pirates and help Tat's family avoid eviction. This transitional reader is full of pirate-speak and humorous asides to readers; engaging illustrations help break up the text.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ros Asquith. This chatty, informative survey covers all the bases, from families formed by birth and adoption to foster and blended families. Same-sex and single parents are represented in the friendly cartoon art and text; mixed-race families are depicted in the illustrations. The tone is light, though Hoffman acknowledges that things don't always "go smoothly." A teddy bear appears on most spreads, adding its own commentary.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2015

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ros Asquith. While not actually "big" in physical dimension, this overview is vast with purpose: to recognize and validate a range of family configurations. Each two-page spread ("Homes," "Jobs," etc.) features simple, generally upbeat (though occasionally sobering--"Some small families live in big houses...And some people can't find anywhere to live") text. No matter the mood, Asquith's illustrations give every vignette a light touch.

Reviewer: Nell Beram