(2) K-3 Illustrated by Karin Littlewood. Author and illustrator imagine a small addition to the Nativity story: young Leah, who meets Joseph and Mary, arriving in Bethlehem for the census, after getting an unfortunate kick from their donkey. Leah's father is the innkeeper who finds room for the family in the stable. Otherwise, the story ­proceeds according to the Gospel of Luke, with Leah a helpful but theologically unobtrusive presence. Realistic watercolors capture both tenderness and drama.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Karin Littlewood. A young boy describes his father's depression. The child worries that it might be his fault and rejoices when--with medication and counseling--his father gradually returns to the family. The story effectively conveys some of the feelings around mental illness and uses visual and verbal imagery to describe the disease. This is a useful and affecting book.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Karin Littlewood. A young swan sets off on his first migratory journey with his parents and grandpa. When Grandfather falls during an ice storm, Father takes over as leader. The text, though overly dramatic, is ultimately reassuring. Midnight-blue-toned watercolor illustrations express the curvilinear shapes seen in the night sky and the swan's graceful bodies.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Karin Littlewood. After the deaths of Sieta's parents, she goes to live with her aunt in a place she thinks of as "Home Now." A visit to an elephant park allows her to bond with an orphaned baby elephant. The book is set in Africa, and the subtext (indicated by an author's note) is AIDS awareness. Deep-hued watercolor and gouache illustrations reflect the story's sadness and hope. Websites.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Karin Littlewood. Through painting his first picture, which alludes to his uncle's violent death in Somalia, new U.S. immigrant Hassan communicates his despair to his teacher and faces his homesickness and grief. This is a frank introduction to the harsh realities that some children face (Hassan recalls "the awful smell of burning and blood"). Although Hassan's story is complex, the watercolor images are busier than necessary.

Reviewer: Nell Beram