(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Rebecca Bond. Carly, a likable eleven-year-old orphan living in a ramshackle house on the edge of an ancient and enchanted forest, is nocturnal. She's terribly lonely until she encounters Lewis, a musically gifted rat, whose pack is suddenly and mysteriously dwindling. This is an old-fashioned, fast-paced fantasy with charming black-and-white illustrations and memorable characters, both human and not.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rebecca Bond. In this story about the construction of the White House, each spread has two narrative styles: paragraphs on aspects such as building materials and budget alternate with a bouncy rhyming "House That Jack Built" verse, providing accessibility to the information. Bond's fresh watercolors complement the light rhythm of the cumulative lines. Back matter offers additional historical context. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rebecca Bond. As her pioneer family journeys from Missouri to Oregon, young Rebecca collects scraps of cloth to keep in her quilt bag. When they finally get to Oregon, she hopes her father's "wandering feet" will stay put. Rebecca's narrative is quietly engaging. The expansive, light-filled acrylic illustrations display images both intimately homey (campfires and sunbonnets) and breathtaking (mountain passes and lush valleys).

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano