(4) PS Illustrated by Donald Dreifuss. When eight of her dozen ducklings disappear while out for a walk, Mother Duck consults Farmer Donald, who discovers them trapped in holes that once held fence posts. That's the extent of the story, but Dreifuss's stunning illustrations boast unusual color juxtaposition and allow readers to know the ducklings' whereabouts before they are found.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Donald Dreifuss. This story from the perspective of a now-vacant birdhouse discusses its past tenants (industrious wasps, disruptive chipmunks, a chickadee family) in the year since it was put in the ground. Amazingly, Ziefert sparks genuine empathy with her fictional memoir of an inanimate object. The large-scale illustrations shimmer with color, and the close-ups of images inside the birdhouse effectively involve the reader.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Donald Dreifuss. Pumpkin the dairy goat tells the reader all about herself, including her penchant for trouble, her likes and dislikes, and her experiences at the fair, where she doesn't win a ribbon--but comes close. The simple, strictly goat's-eye-view text matches beautifully the colorful, naïve oil paintings. Notes at the end of the book provide salient facts about Nubian and Toggenburg goats.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano