(3) PS Illustrated by Nancy Cote. "Which shoes does Sherman choose on a rainy day? / Galoshes keep him dry when he goes out to play." This is one of ten questions with rhymed answers that concern a little boy and his footwear. The concept is clever, educational, suspenseful--and the execution's awfully cute. Gouache and watercolor-pencil illustrations show the rosy-cheeked tot beach-combing, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Cote. Big Mama, a kindhearted grandmother, and her friendly black Angus bull calf, Baby, are inseparable. As Baby begins to grow, it becomes obvious to everyone--except Big Mama--that Baby needs a more suitable home. The story is sentimental, but the book's gentle full-page acrylics depicting the Texas countryside and small-town camaraderie bring Baby and Big Mama's unique friendship to life.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) PS Illustrated by Nancy Cote. "Mrs. Fickle likes her pickles. / She plants each tiny seed. / Mrs. Fickle likes her pickles. / They're growing fast indeed." The tempo of the minimal, repetitive rhymes doesn't quite match the slower pace of the illustrations, which do most of the storytelling: bright gouache colors show Mrs. Fickle planting and canning cucumbers--and then eating her beloved pickles.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Cote. Rachel's mother is too busy to make latkes, so Rachel talks her elderly neighbor into cooking some. The two make a mess, but Mrs. Greenberg assures Rachel that it's a "wonderful" mess: "My house hasn't felt this lived-in in years!" Colorfully patterned illustrations ably show Rachel's frazzled parents and their messy though cozy home, contrasted with Mrs. Greenberg's sparklingly clean house.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Cote. Everyone in Jenny's multicultural town prepares for the Fourth of July celebration. The fireman cleans his truck, the Dalals display their new citizenship papers, the mayor reviews her speech, Luis salutes the flag, and Jenny leads the parade. Jenny's dog runs through the cheerful illustrations, tying the different sections of the simple rhyme together.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Cote. Twenty members of Jesse's family (including the dog) take turns giving thanks in rhyme around the Thanksgiving table. What could be a series of banal, sentimental platitudes prove interesting due to Kimmelman's thoughtful characterizations and willingness to acknowledge life's intricacies (e.g., divorce and adoption). The illustrations have an unpolished, cartoony quality but capture the affectionate mood.

Reviewer: Nell Beram