(3) K-3 Illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Coauthor Leffler (the adult daughter of Cocca-Leffler), who was born with cerebral palsy, describes how she loved attending public school. Sadly, "it hadn't always been that way" for kids with disabilities. In 1971, seven kids (each named in a tidily illustrated vignette portrait) were denied schooling until their families' outcries led to Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia, which secured the right to public education for children with disabilities. The text describes events and facts gently while making a strong case for the ruling; the illustrations showcase people with disabilities on every spread. A wealth of appended contextual material, including a timeline and selected sources, enriches the historical account.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Smart about... series. Illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper & Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Presented as a boy's school report, this book uses photos and childlike drawings with dialogue balloons to impart information about the cacao tree and chocolate's history, production methods, and nutrition. The book's light tone and tasty topic are sure to appeal to young readers. An experiment, recipe (using chocolate chips, marshmallows, and chow mein noodles), and chocolate facts are appended.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Smart about History series. Illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Presented as a student's school report, this introduction to the Pilgrims is enlivened with childlike drawings, color photos, and purportedly handwritten captions and comments. Sections include: "My Favorite Pilgrims," "Not-So-Scary Indians," and "Pilgrim Manners." Lots of interesting facts and a light tone make this fun to read.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) PS Illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. "Hey, Sun! Jump out of the dark. / Jump into the morning sky." A young girl jumps her way through the day, stopping long enough to appreciate those things--a cat, a frog, raindrops--jumping around her. The mixed-media illustrations rely heavily on the smooth, vivid tones of pastels and the fluid curved lines of both text and picture composition to convey this energetic romp in rhyme.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt