(4) PS Illustrated by Rebecca Harry. Ignoring his friends' warnings to build a den, Fox plays throughout the fall. As he wishes regretfully on a star, a mysterious present falls from the sky (where Santa's sleigh is just visible); Fox shares the package's contents with friends, who kindly help him make a winter home. Despite the too-convenient resolution, Fox has an appealing joie de vivre in the foil-accented acrylic illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Rebecca Harry. Harry, a fluffy brown-and-white puppy, makes a friend and discovers his doggy strengths--his bark and sense of smell--after he slips out of his leash and gets lost at the park. Soft-focus pastel backdrops and fuzzy, huggable animals who wear their emotions on their faces accompany bland text and a predictable plot line. Harry's human owners occasionally appear stiff.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) PS Illustrated by Rebecca Harry. Ruby the duckling is always lagging behind her four bigger siblings. But because Ruby notices things that the others miss (like a dark storm cloud), she's able to save the day. This sweet story will be enjoyed by habitual dawdlers. The bright, soft-edged, and friendly illustrations are full of clever details for Ruby--and the reader--to linger over.

Reviewer: Karen Watts

(4) PS Illustrated by Rebecca Harry. In a nest, all but one of five duck eggs hatch at the same time. Ruby eventually hatches, and she eats and swims "in her own time." Ruby doesn't lose any time learning to fly, though her parents worry that she'll never return. The sweet images and story may be precious, but the message that it's okay to do things at your own pace may reassure some.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen