(4) PS Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. Duddle Puck refuses to quack. He'll cluck, honk, oink, or neigh, but no amount of concern, anger, or coercion from the other farm animals will make him change his ways. When the farmer gets involved, Duddle Puck prepares for a face-off, with entertaining results. Vibrant earth-tone watercolor illustrations are more engaging than the tongue-twisting, unwieldy rhyming text.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. A broadly sketched timeline (beginning "4,400 years ago" and moving through the centuries) details humans' fascination with exotic animals and consequent development of zoos. In ancient times, possession of wild animals indicated ruling power; in more modern times, wildlife in captivity promoted close observation and led to appreciation and conservation. Cartoony illustrations add interest and some humor to the conversational text. Bib.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. North and Hall use their formula from Because You Are My Baby and Because You Are My Daddy to describe the teacher-student relationship; instead of exploring a tender emotional bond, they flit through an arbitrary geography lesson: "Because you are our teacher, / We'll explore the world with you." Soft watercolors taking readers from Antarctica to Venice have the greatest appeal.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. Kyle writes a play about a moon; Katie writes a play about the stars. The play they write together about both moon and stars is best. (All three short plays are included in the book.) Emergent readers may appreciate the basic vocabulary and the encouragement to keep writing. Muted illustrations with a retro-1950s feel support the simplicity of the message.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) PS Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. In uneven rhyming couplets, a dad assures his daughter of just how much he would do for her: "If I were a carpenter, / I would use my saw and drill / To build two wooden go-karts for racing down the hill." The pictures have a retro patina but some spunk as well; however, nothing distinguishes this latest entry in the which-book-loves-you-more sweepstakes.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) PS Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. A farmer's horses love hay, his geese gobble corn, and his dog wags its tail, but his cow only eats cookies. Thick black ink outlines the subdued watercolors showing a jolly farmer caring for his menagerie. While the rhyming text is accessible, some of its placement is odd. Also, the story's denouement--farmer and cow dunking cookies in fresh-squeezed milk--is a tad bizarre.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. Using rhyme, repetition, and alliteration, the poems in this collection take a dog traveler and his bird companion to different cities around the world. From Washington, D.C., to Tokyo, Hopkins describes with gentle adoration the elements of city living. Hall's brush, ink, and watercolor illustrations skillfully incorporate landmarks (e.g., the Eiffel Tower, Venice canals) and complement the poetry with thoughtful perspectives.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(4) PS Illustrated by Marcellus Hall. "If I were a sailor, I would sail the world with you." So begins this catalog of special things a mother would do for her child if she was a mountaineer, rock star, diver, quarterback, etc. This rhyming testament to a parent's endless love is more about mom than babe, but muted retro-style brown-hued watercolors keep it from becoming unbearably schmaltzy.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden