(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Robert Florczak. Cowboy Cully comes to help Evan and his widowed mother on the ranch every winter. After he's pitched from his horse, he's found by Evan, who nurses him back to health. Then, taking his cue from Cully's many tales of cowboy grit, Evan bravely asks him to stay and be part of the family. Realistic oil paintings heighten the feelings in this prairie tale, which, though heavily melodramatic, still tugs on the heartstrings.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Robert Florczak. Dickens is perfectly tongue-in-cheek describing seven-year-old "Princess" Alicia, who courageously slaves away caring for her eighteen brothers and sisters while the family endures all manner of disaster. A magic wish-bone, properly employed, leads to the early arrival of payday, good fortune, and soon, Alicia's wedding to Prince Certainpersonio. The illustrations often give surreal results out of step with Dickens's spot-on tone.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Robert Florczak. In this evocative retelling of a story from The Arabian Nights, a fairy in a blue jug supplies Settareh with clothes for the prince's New Year celebration; later, Settareh's stepsisters almost thwart the happy ending by turning her into a turtledove. The hyperrealistic illustrations look artificially posed, but the architectural details and richly colored costumes effectively conjure up the Persian setting.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert