(3) PS Illustrated by Jay Fleck. A band of friendly-looking animal pirates searches for gold in this gently swashbuckling book. Rhyming couplets filled with pirate jargon accompany plainly composed, rich-hued images depicting the animals' daring sea exploits. After braving a pod of "wicked whales" and tickling a giant squid, the adorable crew flees a fearsome mouse: an appropriately silly ending for an adventure heavy on toddler-friendly thrills.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jay Fleck. Holt presents parallel stories of the geological development of diamonds and the life of her grandfather Tracy Hall, inventor of lab-made diamonds. While the poetic text is a strong read-aloud, the book's complex science may be better suited to older children. On balance, Fleck's pencil and digital illustrations, with strong shapes and sharp angles, give young readers a visually stimulating entry point. More on both topics is appended. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jay Fleck. Curious and absentminded Flo, the smallest panda, likes taking her time and lounging ("her number-one saying is 'Get floppy!'"). Although this frustrates the other pandas with their daily tight schedule of activities, her "floppy," relaxed ways are more appealing after a near-disaster. Spare, brightly drawn illustrations and occasional speech-bubble dialogue complement the simple message that slowing down can be a good thing.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) PS Illustrated by Jay Fleck. The unseen narrator of this clever book attempts to teach Black Belt Bunny, who's great at martial arts, how to make a salad ("because that's what bunnies eat"). Black Belt is reluctant to try something new until he discovers he can karate-chop salad ingredients. The little bunny never utters a word, but the narrator's comments and the expressive, digitally-colored pencil illustrations speak volumes.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jay Fleck. A boy and his animal friends, an elephant and a cat, show readers how opposites can go from straightforward ("In? Out!") to more complex depending on one's perspective ("Who is ahead and who is behind...is different for everyone standing in line"). An amusing rhyming text and nostalgic, flat digital illustrations present a nuanced examination of the concept of opposites.

Reviewer: Katie Sutton

(4) PS Illustrated by Jay Fleck. Doting parental voices rejoice over a new baby: "You're everything LITTLE, / wee sock and wee shoe, / You're everything PLAYFUL, / our peek-a-boo you." Adults are the best audience for the sappy verses of this baby-shower book. Nevertheless, it's easy on the eyes, with uncluttered graphic illustrations of adorable animal families rendered in simplified shapes and bold swaths of color.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert