(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. The Islamic greetings Salam Alaikum (informal) and Assalamu Alaikum (formal), meaning "peace be upon you," provide the poetic refrain for this picture book comprised of lyrics to British Muslim singer Harris J's international hit. The messages regarding love, peace, and community are augmented by (somewhat overly) cartoonish digital illustrations showing a diverse urban community of adults and children helping one another. Music not included.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. José earns money to buy himself a pair of rocket shoes. High-spirited rhymes describe him and other children "zooming, zipping, hopping, soaring. / Sky-high flying, world-exploring." After some rooftop high jinks, the mayor bans the shoes until José uses the forbidden footwear to rescue a neighbor and her cat from a snowstorm. Colorful digital illustrations depict a diverse cast of characters and plenty of action.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 1-3 Good Crooks series. Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. Twins Billy and Jillian secretly love doing good deeds, even though their parents are crooks. They're beginning to suspect they are adopted and head to the hospital to investigate. Along the way, the twins try to help a skunk who can't make a stink. Black-and-white cartoons complement the potty humor and silly hijinks. Lyrics to a "Stinky Style Song" (available online) are appended.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Good Crooks series. Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. Billy and Jillian have frightening urges--to do good deeds! This isn't great since crime is their family's business. Hijinks abound in the first two adventures of this chapter book series as the twins try to return a stolen zoo monkey forced into pickpocketing and then a pilfered, high-ransom TV-star pooch. Cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations pair perfectly with the twins' harebrained schemes. Review covers these Good Crooks titles: Dog Gone! and Missing Monkey!.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Good Crooks series. Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. Billy and Jillian have frightening urges--to do good deeds! This isn't great since crime is their family's business. Hijinks abound in the first two adventures of this chapter book series as the twins try to return a stolen zoo monkey forced into pickpocketing and then a pilfered, high-ransom TV-star pooch. Cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations pair perfectly with the twins' harebrained schemes. Review covers these Good Crooks titles: Dog Gone! and Missing Monkey!.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) PS Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. A raucous group of chick siblings can't settle down at bedtime, going bonkers each time Mama leaves the room. Their clever mom returns and joins in the fun, dancing wildly with her chicks until they're begging for their beds. Spirited digitally painted pencil illustrations capture the bed-bouncing, pillow-fighting joy of a sleepover--and the satisfaction of dancing oneself into a happy slumber.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. With Alan Abrahamson. Phelps enthusiastically explains his hard work: "My legs could press three hundred pounds sixty times in one workout...I could leg-press a Tyrannosaurus Rex and ten velociraptors!" It's a creative approach, though the multitude of numbers and examples can be more confusing than illuminating. Cartoony digital illustrations of Michael (and bulldog Herman) accomplishing incredible things give readers plenty to look at.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith