(1) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. "Helen and Fred Martini longed for a baby," begins this engaging picture-book biography. Fred spends his days working at the Bronx Zoo, while his wife Helen stays at home in their city apartment, dreaming and planning for a child, until the day Fred brings home a lion cub who needs a surrogate mother. Helen accepts the role with pleasure. Warm, retro cartoon art captures all the adorable and humorous antics of baby animals as Helen undertakes fostering first the lion cub and then, later, four tiger cubs. The art makes it easy to forget the wild nature of these giant cats who like to snuggle and sit in laps, and the interplay between the pictures and the lively text creates a heartwarming and upbeat atmosphere. When the time comes for the tiger cubs to return to the Bronx Zoo, Helen quietly but tenaciously follows and stays with them, ultimately making a space for herself at the zoo and becoming the first woman zookeeper there. This tribute captures all of the delight and empowerment of Helen's story while only hinting at some of the possible challenges. An author's note places the events in the early 1940s and delves a little deeper into Helen Martini's story, touching on historical issues in zookeeping as well as women's roles in the workforce. A selected bibliography is included for readers looking for additional context.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(2) PS Illustrated by Julie Downing. This cheerful adventure reveals the nightlife of buoyant baby Tessa, who grows a pair of small but efficient wings and levitates out of her crib. She spins and tumbles around her room; come dawn, she's back in bed, fooling the grownups and saying her favorite word: "Up." The watercolor illustrations in baby-friendly colors are an energetic celebration of curves--fat dimpled knees, button nose, and pudgy fingers.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. Lotus, a mute Chinese girl shunned by the other kids, finds companionship and purpose when she saves a magnificent, wounded crane. Feather dances when Lotus plays her reed whistle, which delights the other children, who become Lotus's friends. Downing's watercolor and pencil illustrations provide ample visual interest to balance the lengthy text; details recall Chinese landscape painting, enhancing the book's cultural specificity.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(3) K-3 Scholastic Reader series. Illustrated by Julie Downing. In three brief stories, vampire Scarlet and mummy Igor argue over what to do and eat, what to name a kitten, and whether to draw or paint. Eventually this odd-couple learns how to compromise. Feder's early-reader text addresses experiences that are relatable to children. Downing's spare pen and watercolor illustrations give the "spooky friends" distinct and humorous personalities.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. This book provides a fascinating perspective on U.S. presidents by focusing on the personalities and influences of their mothers. Each mom has her own section, descriptive epithet (e.g., Barbara Pierce Bush, "The Outspoken Mother"), amusing anecdote, and cartoonlike portrait; sidebars in varying formats contain important dates and facts. Gherman's engaging text offers vivid characterization of these historic women and their powerful sons. Bib.

Reviewer: Dorcas Hand

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. Teddy can have anything he wants in the ice cream shop, "just for me." While deciding what to order, he envisions a pastel-hued ice cream land where he reigns as king. Singsongy text touts the joys of not sharing--until Teddy finds himself alone and decides that two spoons are better than one. The slight story is enhanced by creatively composed illustrations.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. George's imaginary friend, Nobody, wakes him up one Sunday morning, and they proceed to play messy games and concoct crazy breakfast ideas--which, fortunately, George is not allowed to cook "when Nobody was around." When parents arrive there are no repercussions. Messy but pleasing illustrations mirror the disarray and the humor of Rosenberg's delightful wordplay.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) PS Illustrated by Julie Downing. "Pounce and wrestle on the floor. / Hold on tight for tug-of-war." This celebration of play features animal and human youngsters and their parents engaged in species-appropriate activities (e.g., people at the beach, puffins surfing waves, kangaroos leaping, elephants rolling in mud). Soft-edged illustrations accompany the occasionally forced rhyming text. "Play Tips" conclude the book.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. Each night Sang-hee's father lights the mountaintop fire that begins the chain of bonfires informing the king that no enemy boats have been seen. When his father is hurt, Sang-hee must take his place. Aptly capturing a young boy's point of view, this well-written story, set in nineteenth-century Korea, is accompanied by handsome if somewhat romanticized illustrations.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. When Tom, a mouse with wanderlust, boards a train, an old woman finds him in her room and becomes his traveling companion. The illustrations are from Tom's perspective, from his lowly vantage point on the floor of the closet or caught in the rush of human feet. Told in four brief chapters, this quiet tale of comradeship between two previously lonely globetrotters has an inviting freshness.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2002

(4) K-3 In a somewhat rambling story, Nathaniel's spry one-hundred-year-old great-grandfather becomes discouraged when he can't find any fellow centenarians with whom he can swap stories. Nathaniel, of course, comes up with a plan to restore Greatpaw's spirits. Sepia-toned watercolors help differentiate Greatpaw's stories of the past from action in the present, which is rendered in bright hues.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julie Downing. Small watercolor vignettes set on a white background illustrate thirteen familiar stories from the Old and New Testaments, including Noah's Ark, Daniel in the lions' den, the Nativity, and the Resurrection. Read aloud, the well-written text is simple enough to be understood by preschoolers.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) K-3 Using lively images and alliteration, these seven riddle poems describe different forms of water, from morning mist to ocean waves to a bedtime bath. Readers have a chance to guess the answer before it is revealed on the following page. Cheerful watercolors show a girl as she enjoys some of water's many forms throughout the day.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.