(4) PS Illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper. Ralph's World will be familiar to Disney Channel viewers; this book based on a dozen of Ralph's songs will appeal primarily to those existing fans. The lyrics, although witty and child-centered, don't always translate well to the page, and reading them aloud without knowing the tunes is perplexing. Harper's playful illustrations reinforce the lighthearted mood. Chord charts and a CD are included.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) K-3 Smart about... series. Illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper & Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Presented as a boy's school report, this book uses photos and childlike drawings with dialogue balloons to impart information about the cacao tree and chocolate's history, production methods, and nutrition. The book's light tone and tasty topic are sure to appeal to young readers. An experiment, recipe (using chocolate chips, marshmallows, and chow mein noodles), and chocolate facts are appended.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey