(4) PS Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. Through simple rhyming facts about animals' grooming habits ("Polar bear scrubs her face with snow"), children are encouraged to bathe: "How do YOU take a bath? Do you lick from head to toe...?" Approachable mixed-media illustrations in soft pastel hues demonstrate the similarities and differences. The lack of distinction between bathing and other grooming habits and behaviors ("Pig wallows in the mud...") is somewhat confusing.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. Voigt establishes an energetic, curious, joyful, impulsive tone as we follow Toaff, a young gray squirrel, over the course of four seasons. This set of adventures (from storms and predator attacks to understanding the strange behavior of humans) is likely to have special resonance for those young readers who don't default to patience and are inclined to leap before they look.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(4) 1-3 Unicorn Princesses series. Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. In these chapter-book fantasies, unicorn-believer Cressida visits the Rainbow Realm, a magical land ruled by unicorn princesses, where the human girl saves the day during various royal crises (e.g., she helps Princess Sunbeam restore her magical powers in Shine). The simple language, plentiful illustrations, and themes of teamwork and believing have appeal, but some plot points feel forced and conflicts are wrapped up a little too tidily. Review covers these Unicorn Princesses titles: Bloom's Ball, Flash's Dash, Prism's Paint, and Sunbeam's Shine.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Unicorn Princesses series. Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. In these chapter-book fantasies, unicorn-believer Cressida visits the Rainbow Realm, a magical land ruled by unicorn princesses, where the human girl saves the day during various royal crises (e.g., she helps Princess Sunbeam restore her magical powers in Shine). The simple language, plentiful illustrations, and themes of teamwork and believing have appeal, but some plot points feel forced and conflicts are wrapped up a little too tidily. Review covers these Unicorn Princesses titles: Bloom's Ball, Flash's Dash, Prism's Paint, and Sunbeam's Shine.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Unicorn Princesses series. Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. In these chapter-book fantasies, unicorn-believer Cressida visits the Rainbow Realm, a magical land ruled by unicorn princesses, where the human girl saves the day during various royal crises (e.g., she helps Princess Sunbeam restore her magical powers in Shine). The simple language, plentiful illustrations, and themes of teamwork and believing have appeal, but some plot points feel forced and conflicts are wrapped up a little too tidily. Review covers these Unicorn Princesses titles: Bloom's Ball, Flash's Dash, Prism's Paint, and Sunbeam's Shine.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Unicorn Princesses series. Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. In these chapter-book fantasies, unicorn-believer Cressida visits the Rainbow Realm, a magical land ruled by unicorn princesses, where the human girl saves the day during various royal crises (e.g., she helps Princess Sunbeam restore her magical powers in Shine). The simple language, plentiful illustrations, and themes of teamwork and believing have appeal, but some plot points feel forced and conflicts are wrapped up a little too tidily. Review covers these Unicorn Princesses titles: Bloom's Ball, Flash's Dash, Prism's Paint, and Sunbeam's Shine.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. In the kingdom of Petrossia, disaster strikes when "mathemagician" Pieter and alchemist Teresa accidentally turn the despotic Czar's son, Alexander, into a fluffy kitten. After the initial humor of the premise, the pun-filled, whimsical tale gradually--and naturally--becomes deeper, verging on philosophical as the plot develops. Footnotes and asides throughout keep things interesting; grayscale illustrations are also included.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) PS Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. "So here's the thing. I love you." In this funny valentine (successor to Next to You: A Book of Adorableness), an unseen parent narrator expounds on unconditionally loving a child as humorously nostalgic illustrations show animal babies doing not-so-lovable things (e.g., a young skunk surrounded by a dark cloud moves the narrator to say, "I can't lie--some things are a bit tough to take").

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. The youngest readers can practice their animal sounds with this rather sentimental rhyme in which a pair of human parents reveal to their kids what animal parents are saying to their young when they make their characteristic noises (quack, baaa, etc.): "PSST! Guess what? It's I LOVE YOU!" In the soft-focus illustrations, the human family watches large-eyed, smiling animals in parent-child groupings.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. Peppy French snail Escargot--in a striped shirt, neckerchief, and beret--asks readers to help it reach a salad. While the interactive text creatively incorporates French words and snail facts--and encourages trying new foods--the final twist is confusing. Pastel-colored, digital-looking illustrations with varied pacing and perspectives help the expressive invertebrate stand out.

Reviewer: Janet Daniels

(3) PS Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. During a walk in the woods, an (unclothed) adult panda and cub debate the necessity of a certain clothing item (Child: "Pants look good." / Adult: "Pants look ridiculous--on a panda"). But something is tailing them that's more serious than their argument. Davies captures the particular voice of a youngster's rationalizations, while Hanson's mixed-media illustrations depict the characters' emotive facial expressions.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) PS Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. "Lambs. Pandas. Koalas. Penguins. / Cute, cute, cute, and cute. Until you came along. Now? Sorta so-so." A parent addresses her child in lovingly funny text accompanied by illustrations of baby animals out of Golden Books central casting. This offering succeeds at both of its gambits: one look at each old-fashionedly guileless animal will inspire the "Aw..." reflex, and the modernese-tinged narration is somehow genuinely heartwarming.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 1-3 Sylvie Scruggs series. Illustrated by Sydney Hanson. Now in fourth grade, Sylvie Scruggs (The Best Friend Battle) joins the junior ice hockey team, and people are finally noticing how good she is--including mean fifth grader Jamie. When Sylvie starts getting pranked at practice, she's sure it's Jamie and recruits friends to stop her. With a relatable conflict and strong themes of friendship and fairness, Sylvie's fans will welcome this winning installment.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman