(3) K-3 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. The crayons from The Day the Crayons Quit (rev. 11/13) and The Day the Crayons Came Home (rev. 9/15) (among others) are back in this fun-size book. Excited about the holiday, the gang heads out in color-appropriate costumes and high spirits. But Orange (pumpkin), Green (witch), Gray (wolf), and Peach ("I'm naked") don't have a clue about what to say. White (ghost), Black (bat), and Purple (vampire) try to coach them, but it's going to take more than hints like "think holiday" and "be polite." Fans of the colorful cast will enjoy this silly confection.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Sensitive and simple ink-and-wash illustrations by Jeffers add some resonance to this luxe tenth-anniversary edition of Boyne's sentimental Holocaust fable. The bookmaking is handsome and substantial; Boyne contributes a new introduction to his otherwise unchanged text.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Fred, an imaginary friend, loves spending time with the lonely kids who wish for him--until each meets a "real friend" and poor Fred fades away. Then Fred meets Sam and begins an unusual friendship in which the rules change. Jeffers's delicate ink drawings and Colfer's lighthearted but sensitive tone are a perfect match in this quirky tale about friendship and growing up.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. The personified crayons who revolted against their little-boy owner, Duncan (The Day the Crayons Quit), send indignant postcards from their various travels. Ultimately, Duncan does right by his neglected crayons and finds a solution to which any self-respecting art supply could aspire. Zippy and delightfully full of itself, this clever epistolary picture book could stand alone.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. After his parents' deaths, Stanley Potts runs away with a carnival. He meets Pancho Pirelli, who performs the death-defying act of swimming with piranhas. Pirelli takes Stan under his wing, grooming him to become his sidekick and successor. Almond offers up some lighthearted fare, complete with an old-fashioned intrusive narrator and numerous spot illustrations. The silliness is tempered by unsentimental, clear-eyed wisdom.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. When Barnaby was born, he floated up to the hospital ceiling. To his ultra-normal parents' embarrassment, he never grew out of this condition, leading them to cut the tether keeping him earthbound. Barnaby's adventures floating around the world--and coming to terms with his own weirdness--make up Boyne's quirky be-yourself tale. Jeffers's delicate black-and-white illustrations enhance the story's humor and drama.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. All Duncan wants to do is color, but the crayons have gone on strike, and they've left Duncan a pile of letters listing their grievances. As the drama unfolds, Jeffers's spare crayon illustrations pop off the white background, adding movement and momentum to the imaginative narrative. The vibrant final spread addressing each color's concerns leaves all parties with an amicable resolution.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2013

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Noah, eight, "couldn't bear to stay [home] any longer." The bulk of the book consists of dialogue between Noah and "the old man," a puppet maker. Noah's troubles emerge in response to the man's parallel experiences; meanwhile, Pinocchio references accumulate. Like Collodi's classic, this story is weighed down by its message. Still, it's briskly told and provides a sympathetic take on a sober topic.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2011