(3) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. After both dreaming of adventure, Dragon and Girl (Lovabye Dragon; Evermore Dragon) set sail to find the "far-est Far Away." The duo's journey--from home to away and back again--proceeds in playful language that often repeats sounds and words for a quality read-aloud. Muted, textural illustrations give the story, which includes a wink to Lear's "The Owl and the Pussycat," a dreamlike quality.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. Girl and Dragon play hide-and-seek in this gentle follow-up to Lovabye Dragon. Dragon isn't great at finding his clever friend until the sound of her lonely heartbeat calls him to the rescue when she secrets herself in too tricky a spot. Rhyme, repetition, and made-up words make this a playful read-aloud. Cecil's oil paintings use soothing muted tones and fine textures.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. A lonely young girl yearns for a friend--a dragon friend. In a cave under a mountain, a real dragon is dreaming of a girl for a friend. Once the "all-alone" girl's lonely tears make their rhyming way to his cave, the dragon follows them back (reversing the rhyming sequence). Joosse's buoyant verse keeps things light. Cecil's dreamy nighttime palette suits the lullaby mood.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. Brontorina Apatosaurus is a dinosaur, "but in my heart I am a ballerina." The children encourage Madame Lucille to let Brontorina join their class, but chaos ensues because the studio is too small. When an outdoor locale is found, Brontorina realizes her dream. This (very) tall tale is supported by expansive oil illustrations that capture the movement and humor of the conceit.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. En route to his urban neighborhood's block party, an exuberant boy asks kids the titular question. Their upbeat responses include "I wokka-wokka / like flamingos / in a flocka…" and "I wokka-wokka / like a clock / go ticka-tocka...." This ear-pleasing ode to individuality--"Nobody wokkas / in the same wokka way"--features spirited illustrations of kids busting a move or two.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Randy Cecil. Determined to find a moose, four children set off through the woods, across a swamp, and finally over a hilltop where, to their delight, they discover hundreds of moose. Colorful rhythmic language makes this a rollicking read-aloud. Youngsters will want to get close enough to the book to be able to point out the moose hidden throughout the autumn-hued oil illustrations.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) PS Illustrated by Randy Cecil. "We've got ears, and you do too. / We can pull them. / Can you?" Various animals such as elephants, zebras, and monkeys take turns pointing out anatomical similarities between themselves and humans. The distilled text will engage the very young, and no age group will be immune to the charm of the sumptuous cartoony images of the frolicking creatures.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. "Here's to the bugs! / The Leggy People! / Bugs! / Here's to the sting-y ones. / The weird and the wing-y ones." This chipper if insubstantial rhyming tribute to birds, fish, bears, insects, and, finally, people reverberates with enthusiasm and buoyant imagery. The bright, cartoonlike illustrations of happy creatures echo the singsong text's inclusive good cheer.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. In this prequel to The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool, Irwin of Coriander wants to be a hero, but he is incapable of properly boasting or swaggering, so instead settles for selling caramels. When he attracts the attention of the princess--and her wicked witch sister--Irwin's true nature is revealed. Humorous pencil drawings enhance this silly fairy-tale spoof.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. "1 is a snail" (because a snail has one "foot"), "2 is a person. / 3 is a person and a snail. / 4 is a dog" and so on; eventually, "50 is five crabs . . . / or ten dogs and a crab." While this unusual approach--using feet to count to 100--may confuse at first, it will also lead some children to "aha" moments about grouping and higher mathematics. The humorous illustrations are instantly appealing.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. "Skinny-legs-tall" Willie is looking forward to taking her raft out on the river for the first time, but her silly relatives show up and sink it with their well-meant but ridiculous offerings. Instead of a watermelon or bicycle, all Willie needs are hugs and kisses for her trip. The text is full of figurative language that adds to the humor, and the illustrations aptly portray Willie's foolish but lovable family.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. Rose, Princess of Couscous, is a nontraditional princess. She has a great personality but is not pretty. When she wishes for beauty, adventures ensue. This entertaining fairy-tale spoof--generously illustrated with whimsical pencil drawings--is full of humorous wordplay, clever plot twists, and well-developed characters.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. Here is Goldilocks relocated to the American West. The stylized costumes and geographically generated idiom place the story less in the Wild West and more on the faux frontier of a dude ranch. Still, the language encourages dramatic reading aloud. The flat reds, purples, pinks, and oranges clash with one another, creating a dissonance much like the havoc Dusty Locks wreaks in the bears' house.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2001

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Randy Cecil. "Run as fast as fast can be. You won't get a bite of me." In this southwestern version of the Gingerbread Man, a tortilla escapes the griddle and runs away, chased by an old couple, horned toads, donkeys, rattlesnakes, and buckaroos. A cagey coyote finally tricks the tortilla into being eaten. Playful illustrations in a brown-gold palette set this one in the Texas desert.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(2) PS Illustrated by Randy Cecil. A chick, awed by the beauty of the world, breaks into song but is swallowed by a fox. To his horror, the fox finds himself spouting the chick's cheerful song and is eaten by an irritated wolf, who in turn starts singing--and the chain of song-infected sufferers begins. Jaunty, lushly colored paintings wring every possible bit of humor out of the goofy situation in this hugely amusing read-aloud.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1999