(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Peter Bailey. Twins Toby and Tess share their lunch with an old man named Teller; in return he spins them a story in rhyme. Over subsequent meetings, the bearded man (eventually revealed as Merlin) tells the children four more tales knit together by prose. Old-fashioned-looking silhouettes and black-and-white line drawings illustrate the well-designed volume.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) YA Illustrated by Peter Bailey. Morpurgo's writing is thoroughly enjoyable in this collection of previously published short stories and poems with accompanying essays. The pieces cover a wide range of emotions, from tales that are haunting ("The Giant's Necklace") to those that are heart wrenching ("For Carlos, a Letter from Your Father"). Evocative fine-lined black-and-white illustrations appear throughout. Timeline.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Peter Bailey. Ibby is reluctant to stay with her rambunctious cousins, Alex and Francis. The three discover their long-lost magician uncle's book, Magic for Beginners, which allows them (not always intentionally) to shrink, levitate, and become invisible. Inevitably, the fun leads to trouble and also a surprising discovery. Crosshatched black-and-white line drawings display the humorous misadventures.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Peter Bailey. Canine narrator Jack helps thwart a burglary ring and save some woods from demolition. The narrative is often funny, but Jack's disjointed train of thought and the inconsistent use of "Jackspeak" (glossary provided) can be confusing. Sarcastic comments from Jack's cat housemates are footnoted. Frequent line art helps illustrate the action (though some of the drawings look like rough sketches).

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Peter Bailey. David is horrified when a kitten moves into his home and transforms into a huge feline spirit-beast who seduces the family into abandoning their normal lives and doing only its will--mainly, petting and feeding it. The ending leaves important questions unanswered, but the illustrated novella will find an audience among readers looking for a quick and scary read.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Peter Bailey. Although his humans think Jack, a yellow Labrador retriever, is not too bright, he ably and humorously provides for the mother of his puppies and rescues his human who has a broken leg. Jack, who narrates, has a dog's understanding of the human world, giving the story the breathless quality of a bouncy puppy, sometimes tedious but often funny.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Peter Bailey. As a group of animals journey to hear the greatest story ever told, they tell rhymed stories that include an Anansi tale and a version of Rip Van Winkle. When they reach their destination, the book ends, and we hear only the first line of the Tale of Tales: "Once upon a time...." Illustrations add humor and energy to a book perfect for sharing.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Peter Bailey. Spider, abandoned at birth and adopted by a shepherd and his wife, doesn't speak or move the way other children do. His mental disabilities keep him out of school, but Spider has remarkable abilities with the animals around his farm home. Though the characters are less real than the setting, details of place and time leave the reader with a strong picture of farm life in World War II England. Glos.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth