(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Brita Granström. This is an informative and playful picture-book introduction to the British Library's wide-ranging collection of more than 150 million items. Manning highlights some of its most prized possessions, including the ancient St. Cuthbert Gospel, the Magna Carta, and Shakespeare's First Folio. Beautiful collage art incorporates photographic images of the items into its design. Spreads also include sidebars of additional information about each piece. Glos.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Brita Granström. This lively story of a dolphin baby and his caring mother is infused with scientific details about dolphin developmental milestones in the first six months of life. While the main narrative concentrates on one particular dolphin as he matures, smaller text on each spread provides more general information about the species. A touch anthropomorphized, the illustrations do convey dolphins' high intelligence. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2012

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Brita Granström. In this second story starring Florence and her stuffed-animal monkey, Arnold, Florence keeps inventing reasons why she can't sleep: Arnold needs a lullaby, wants a story, etc. Lewis's narration strains for a child's voice ("I...yawn a yawn BIGGER than Arnold's tummy"), but young readers will root for her protagonist regardless. The joyfully jumble-filled scenes feature Florence's bedtime-delaying drawings.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Brita Granström. This book explores the eating habits of ten dinosaurs. Each double-page spread includes a short, trite poem, fairly random sidebar information with small line art, and an expansive watercolor and pencil illustration of the creature, mostly with its food of choice hanging from its mouth. The book isn't substantial enough for a meal, but dino fans may discover some tasty morsels. Glos.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Brita Granstrom. Banned from the cookie tin for a week after gobbling too many cookies, Florence dreams up a series of amusing but unsuccessful schemes to wangle a cookie from her mother. Finally Mom relents somewhat, and they make chocolate-covered bananas together. Large, animated illustrations give the determined Florence (and her mother) a distinctive presence. A recipe for the bananas is included.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Brita Granstrom. Saturday the chick is sure there's "more to life" than the mundane activities suggested by his mother, a hen of no imagination. After a week of unsuccessful ventures, he discovers the perfect role model: a rooster. Readers might wonder where the rooster was before, but Saturday's persistence is admirable, and the handsome watercolors add to the humor of his quest.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Brita Granstrom. A baby indulged with toys of every description and a wide variety of chairs and cribs would rather play with house keys and fall asleep snuggled up with her family. The simple, rhyming story about what it really takes to satisfy a baby is humorous and realistic. Granström's loose-limned sketches tinted with Oxenbury-esque pastel colors feature a large, round baby who almost crawls off the page.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) PS Illustrated by Brita Granstrom. While trying to discover who says boo, preschoolers visiting a farm learn the noises that various animals make. Although the sporadic rhymes are banal, the language is frequently inspired: a pig "sqwuffles in the mud"; an owl says "tu-whit, tu-whoo!" Toddlers will love both the book's punch line (the preschoolers themselves say "Boo!") and the candy-colored images featuring animals big enough to span facing pages.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Brita Granstrom. The rhythm of the rhyming text falters occasionally, but the illustrations don't quit. Sunny watercolors of round toddlers and their pets (real and stuffed) encourage active play--stretching backs, wriggling shoulders, bending knees, and more. The simple pastel-colored backgrounds are especially age-appropriate and help spotlight the action.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges