(3) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. At night, Daddy begins work as a train conductor in London while son Harry is at home in the country with Mummy, Gran, and Baby, enjoying the end of his day; spreads alternately show Daddy's and Harry's routines. This reassuring night-in-the-life is made even more so with cozy ink and watercolor art that captures the joyful reunion when Daddy's day ends and Harry's begins.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. In previous books, pig Rufus has been to school and aboard a pirate ship; now he's ready for a new frontier: space. Unfortunately, the space center has a no-pigs policy ("pigs pester the pilot," etc.). Rufus's ability to read overturns that policy--and is part of the Rufus books' charm. Gorbachev's ink and watercolor illustrations make Mars look as inviting as a rumpus room.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. The pig star of Rufus Goes to School decides to be a pirate over summer vacation. He fails to impress real pirates with pirate shtick, but his literacy wins them over: only Rufus can read the treasure map. Rufus is an appealingly tenacious little scamp, and Gorbachev makes comically clear that the Scurvy Dog's crew couldn't shiver a single timber.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Piglet Rufus wants to attend school, but he's sent away. Not until Rufus shows the principal his favorite book and an earnest desire to read, does Principal Lipid change his mind. Gorbachev's ink hatching over soft watercolor adds texture to the art, and the focus on Rufus's small stature and fervent facial expressions will likely melt hearts.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. When Squirrel (Squirrel's World) asks his friends to play, Mouse is too busy, Turtle is too slow, and Rabbit too set in his ways. But Squirrel makes them play anyway, with somewhat disastrous results. Later, he worries they're mad at him, but they ultimately have fun, fun, fun. Gorbachev's distinctive sketchy ink-and-watercolor illustrations enhance the amusing vignettes told with lively repetitive language.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Little Bunny, an only child, decides to avoid loneliness by spending the night with a friend. Unfortunately, all his friends keep him awake: Bear snores, Skunk sprays by mistake, and so on. Little Bunny goes home and--not surprisingly--finds his own bed much more satisfactory. Gorbachev uses watercolors and a fine black line to create engaging characters for this humorous if over-familiar story.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. On Christmas Eve, as Little Bunny's siblings hang ornaments high on the tree, they tease him for being the smallest one in the family. That night he dreams of cavorting with the ornaments-come-alive, who appreciate him; humorous scenes show the small rabbit socializing with the toys in the tree. Gorbachev's sketchlike, effortless-looking ink and watercolor illustrations bring the endearing characters to life.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) PS Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. One night, just as the barnyard animals are trying to sleep, four wild turkeys burst noisily onto the scene. When the irate farmer threatens, "I'm gonna have a turkey feast!" the farm animals do their best to hide the intruders. Bouncy rhyming text counts from one to ten and back down, with amiable illustrations lending energy and humor.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Over the course of a day, hyperactive Squirrel tries, tries, tries to help Mouse, Turtle, and Rabbit, with varying degrees of success. In the last chapter, Squirrel disturbs his friends while attempting to say good, good, good night but does find a way to help Rabbit overcome his fear of the dark. Lively ink and watercolor illustrations underscore the animals' personalities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. When Skunk awakens in the spring, she searches for her friends but finds no one. Perhaps they've forgotten her over the winter. But no, they're waiting for her down by the lake with a surprise talent show. The pleasantly rhyming story lacks tension and emotional involvement, though Gorbachev's sketchy illustrations, showing forest animals dancing, juggling, and singing, are engaging.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Lively verses describe various vehicles, including a sailboat (a "white-sailed / wave dipper") and a truck who returns home "wagging his tailgate behind him," all propelled by anthropomorphized animals. The title of each poem is also the name of the vehicle, but, confusingly, sometimes the titles are part of the poem and sometimes not. The whimsical illustrations are reminiscent of Richard Scarry.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Grandma Cat bakes and serves her family an apple pie. While the cats sleep, Grandma Mouse discovers the last piece and shares it with her family, who nap while an ant family carries away the last crumbs. When all families wake up, they bake another pie together. While the plot lacks conflict, the detailed and colorful art creates a warm, bustling environment.

Reviewer: Jannifer Cantelmi

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. "I'll give the mailman a hug and ask him to send it to Granny," says Owen, a pig. Postal worker Mr. Nevin hugs Ms. Porter, who sorts the mail, Ms. Porter hugs driver Leroy, and so on until, at her end, mail carrier Shelly delivers the hug to Granny. The Richard Scarry-like animal characters enact this clever concept with friendly humor and much expression.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2005

(3) PS Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. It's hard to be small, but when a little bear cub pays attention, there are clues that he's growing after all. His pants are shorter, his bike helmet doesn't fit, and he can do things that he couldn't do before. Gently reassuring, this amiably illustrated story will remind even the smallest that they're growing slowly but surely.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. More often than not, the silliness in these twenty stories is displayed by a gullible character who does foolish things. Although deftly drawn, the comic cartoon illustrations are somewhat monotonous, and the extensive bibliography is an inadequate substitute for proper source notes describing the origin of each piece. Nonetheless, young readers will chuckle over the ridiculous misadventures of the characters.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Little Bunny, an only child, is lonely in the night, so he visits his friends, but is bothered by Squirrel's crunching, Skunk's smell, Porcupine's loose quills, Bear's snoring, and Owl's night-owl hours. Predictably, he ends up at home. The pen-and-ink illustrations, which use sketchy texture lines and are filled in with watercolor washes, add a touch of humor to this appealing, if slight, bedtime story.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt