(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Boldt. In his fourth outing (following There's Nothing to Do!), Petty's high-anxiety frog faces a hard truth: he may want to frolic in the snow like his animal friends this winter, but because he's a frog, he must hibernate (i.e., be himself). As always, the frog's tale is told through dialogue balloons--the perfect conveyance for his comical angst, amplified by his mile-wide mouth.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Boldt. The dramatic young frog (I Don't Want to Be a Frog; I Don't Want to Be Big) is now bored. He canvasses his animal friends for ideas (Pig: "Have you tried sniffing around in the dirt?") and rejects every one. Finally, another frog convinces him, and hopefully readers, that it's okay to "just be"--a profundity harbored in a winning, expressively illustrated comedy.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: The Dino Files series. Illustrated by Mike Boldt. Aspiring paleontologist Frank visits his grandma at the Dinosaur Education Center of Wyoming, where a fossilized egg hatches adorable dinosaur Peanut. Frank and bratty cousin Samantha must keep Peanut a secret--first from a greedy neighbor and then from a film crew. Dinosaur enthusiasts will dig the Jurassic Park–lite premise, but trite dialogue and weak characters may bore others. Cartoonish illustrations add appeal. Review covers the following Stepping Stone titles: A Mysterious Egg and Too Big to Hide.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: The Dino Files series. Illustrated by Mike Boldt. Aspiring paleontologist Frank visits his grandma at the Dinosaur Education Center of Wyoming, where a fossilized egg hatches adorable dinosaur Peanut. Frank and bratty cousin Samantha must keep Peanut a secret--first from a greedy neighbor and then from a film crew. Dinosaur enthusiasts will dig the Jurassic Park–lite premise, but trite dialogue and weak characters may bore others. Cartoonish illustrations add appeal. Review covers the following Stepping Stone titles: A Mysterious Egg and Too Big to Hide.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: The Dino Files series. Illustrated by Mike Boldt. To avoid the press after photos of their dinosaur, Peanut, surface online, future paleontologist Frank, his fame-hungry cousin Sam, and Frank's dad take Peanut camping and discover a Nothosaurus, a prehistoric water reptile. Despite some illogical character motivations, this third book is an action-packed romp full of prehistoric creature facts; exaggerated cartoon illustrations add visual variety for new chapter-book readers. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Boldt. In this follow-up to I Don't Want to Be a Frog, a young frog explains to his dad why he doesn't want to get bigger: "I'll miss the legroom," etc. While the story is told in hilarious, Elephant and Piggie–like dialogue, the pert art hints at what's divulged toward book's end: the frog's real fear isn't growing big but growing up.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Boldt. Loud Lula is a problem in the library and is counseled at the schoolhouse to use her inside voice. When a wildfire threatens Pryor County, her thunderous warning not only alerts firefighters but also redirects the raging flames. In oversize font, Lula's booming voice graphically shakes every page; exaggerated scenes of tumbling objects and shocked faces match the predictable story's tall-tale tone.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Boldt. One young frog declares he'd rather be a cat, pig, rabbit, or owl than a wet, slimy, bug-eating frog. His dad has good counter arguments, but the little guy is convinced when a wolf says he eats cats, pigs, rabbits, and owls but not wet, slimy, bug-filled frogs. Silly illustrations of leggy frogs and quick-fire speech-balloon dialogue make for a humorous self-acceptance story.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Boldt. It's time for the dino pageant, but who stands a chance against regular crown-winner Tina Saurus Rex? However, this year she's up against heart-tuggingly sincere dino Maya Saura. Several rhymes trip up, but this droll look at altruism triumphs. Top-scoring visual touches include Stef O'Saurus, who has emeralds on her plates, and Sarah Topps, who spins Hula-Hoops on her horns.

Reviewer: Nell Beram