(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. Mole and friends Squirrel, Frog, and Bird try to bring the sky to her underground home. The four animals decide "there must be no way to catch the sky," before figuring out "a way for it to visit" (a window). The story isn't particularly exciting, but it does have some clever moments; the critters are oddly proportioned in Bogacki's warm, fuzzy-textured illustrations.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(2) K-3 Monkey Reader series. Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. In this second book about monkey siblings (Monkeys and Dog Days), big-brother Pete builds a model of the universe. While impressing little bro Max with scientific knowledge, Pete also makes him feel insignificant (like "a speck in the universe"). Bogacki's illustrations, with soft colors and blurry lines, convey gentle feelings even amidst brotherly discord. Banks does a fine job combining facts with story.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2009

(3) K-3 Monkey Reader series. Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. Monkey brothers Max (younger) and Pete (older) demonstrate their ability to care for a new pet dog. But when the novelty wears off, Max ends up doing most of the work. This four-chapter easy reader teaches about responsibility and pet care in a realistic and nondidactic way. The tenderly expressive monkey-brother illustrations complement the story well.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. The snow, the lights, tree shopping--a girl describes for her young brother every traditional aspect of Christmas. She concludes by telling him that he is what makes this Christmas special. The boy looks too old to qualify as a "new baby brother," but otherwise the illustrations, which seem to exist behind a scrim of icy white frost, are spot-on.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. Jenkins and Bogacki extend the theme of individuality explored in Daffodil. Identical triplet Daffodil is keen to show she's more than one in a bunch, and putting on a papier-mâché crocodile head helps her transform. Bogacki's rosy-cheeked children and soft washes create a homey setting, while lots of curves and movement capture Daffodil's spirited play and fierce assertion of self.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2007

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. A young girl explains to her baby brother all of the good things that happen while visiting Grandma and Grandpa, even passing along tips for the very long car ride (bring books, games, and "all your crayons"). The soft illustrations show the girl on previous visits enjoying every season with her grandparents. The quiet, gently amusing story will resonate with both adults and children.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(2) PS Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. Daffodil and her sisters are identical triplets. At parties Violet always wears a violet dress, Rose wears pink, and Daffodil wears yellow--"sour, fake-cheerful yellow that reminded Daffodil of pee." One day Daffodil rebels, and--surprise--Violet and Rose declare their misery, too. The same friendly curves define both the typeset and the lively pictures, a design well matched to a story about bending the lines.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2004

(2) PS Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. A rhythmic text and energetic pictures capture the anticipation of a favorite time of day--when Mama comes home from work. Papa happily dons an apron to make dinner, and children help tidy up to get ready for Mama's arrival. The left side of each spread describes the activity at home, while the right side follows Mama's trip through the city. The text speaks directly to the young child, for whom a parent's return is an everyday delight.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2003

(3) PS Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. In the author and artist's second rebus book, icons replace one or two words in each sentence and are defined in a picture-glossary at the bottom of the page. The text is scattered in segments across the illustrations and can be difficult to follow. That said, the story (about a turtle afraid to cross the river because of a big hippo in the middle) is sweet and funny, and the softly colored paintings are simply beautiful.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2002

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. In this book inspired by Venn diagrams, a girl thinks about the relationships among the "three humans, and two cats" in her family. She begins with similarities in appearance--"three with orange hair" (mother, child, one cat)--then moves on to other groups: "two who can read, and one who is learning." The curvilinear, faux-naive artwork conveys as much of the meaning and humor as the lighthearted narration.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2001

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. Rebuses, identified in sidebars on each page, help tell the engaging folkloric story of the three title characters, who coexist unhappily in the same tree until it falls down and they must hunt for a new home. The book presents a lively incorporation of childlike artwork and text, although the page layout gets too creative at times, making it hard for the eye to know how to proceed.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann