(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Dyckman's quick-witted, humorous text stars Shark, who interrupts a marine-animal crew making a live underwater television show. Shark feels very misunderstood, and shark facts shared throughout support Shark's claims. Magoon's expressive illustrations pop off the page, and word-bubble asides from fish plus fantastic page-turns sustain the suspense; the twist ending is reminiscent of Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Disappointed Rescue becomes a service dog rather than a seeing eye dog; meanwhile, human Jessica learns her leg has been amputated. Brought together, they form a powerful, caring bond working as a team. Based on a true story, the quiet and stirring text pairs beautifully with the spot art and full-page illustrations, which use color and white space to convey time, meaning, and emotion with great effect.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) PS Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Monkey wants Owl's big, shiny red balloon: it's "the only thing I've ever wanted, since right now." Owl refuses each of Monkey's suggested trades (teddy bear, sunflower, ball, etc.) until Monkey offers a sock. When the tables are turned, however, Monkey decides the sock might be more fun. Magoon's expressive illustrations share storytelling duties with Bernstein's spare, well-paced text.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Young Hazel and Wally Nut have a size complex, so they decide to plump up their volume: "They rolled through sticky mud and goo. / The more they rolled, the bigger they grew." The digital art keeps pace with the mounting absurdity, but as always with The Nuts books, the rhymes seem adrift without the corresponding (online) song to power them.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Theodore, who lives in a cave, wants quiet but struggles to find it with loud creatures around. He finally emerges, revealing himself to be a giant red dragon; an angry chase with a noisy boy in a knight costume ensues. Before long, though, a new and lively friendship begins. Smartly designed, this well-paced, entertaining tale features bold digital illustrations full of amusing characters and suspense.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Three knights are "guarding the castle / for their illustrious king" on Christmas Eve. When Santa tries to deliver presents, these well-intentioned protectors of the castle take a defensive stance. A fierce (not really) battle plays out with Santa catapulting sugarplums and more as he "storms" the castle. This rousing medieval "Night Before Christmas" parody jingles with wordplay. Cheeky illustrations brim with good cheer.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Hazel Nut can't convince her family to sing and dance along with her new song, so she calls in the big guns: "Grandma Nut / burst through the door. / She disco-danced / across the floor." As in the first Nuts book, while the boisterous digital art and punning asides are entertaining, the text lacks groove without the corresponding (online) song.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Two acorn children keep defying Mama Nut's wishes that they go to bed; finally she gets mad and they submit. This is one of those books that depends on the corresponding (online) song, which gives the rhymes a drive that they lack when experienced sans music. The digital art is peppy, pun-crammed, and illuminating: who knew that nuts had butts?

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Mike, "the biggest, toughest dog in the whole neighborhood," is embarrassed by the cute little bunnies that keep sneaking into his "big, mean car." However, they turn out to be good company, so Mike stops worrying about his image. This ultimately tender story's mixed-media illustrations comically play up the contrast between the adorable fuzzy bunnies and their hulking, loving bad boy.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. In this companion to Spoon, Rosenthal and Magoon again make utensils deeply sympathetic. Chopstick, having broken its leg, encourages its mate to "venture off on your own a bit"; they learn that separation has made them a stronger pair. The deadpan puns are consistently good, whether presented just textually or textually and visually, as when "Chopstick was quickly whisked away"--by a whisk.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Scott Magoon. In this fun-filled book, a boy uses his imagination to transform everyday routines into action-packed adventures: "If shopping carts were like boys...grocery stores would be RACETRACKS!" The illustrations are bursting with activity and inventive detail, depicting ordinary objects such as food, socks, and pillows as characters in some kind of lively recreation, race, or battle.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Mr. Prickles, a porcupine, has good reason to be prickly: the other forest animals callously spurn his many friendly overtures. Sadly, the more Chipmunk, Raccoon, and Skunk shun Mr. Prickles, the more bitter and unfriendly he becomes. LaReau's well-paced, pointedly pun-filled text shines a sympathetic light on her lonely protagonist, while Magoon's playful illustrations bring out the best in the spiky hero.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Otto loves cars. He eats "Wheelies" for breakfast, plays "Race Around the Playground," and even counts Jeeps to fall asleep. When Otto somehow turns into a car, he realizes that reading, eating, and swinging are now impossible. Heeding Mom's advice to "switch gears," Otto finds a comfortable balance as a car-loving boy. Colorful and stylish illustrations play up the automobile obsession.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Bernadette looks the part of a monster child, but she has "a deep...dark...secret": on the inside, she's a flower-picking, pet-loving sweetie bent on a group (monster) hug. The unmonsterly-monster story has been done before, but it's done well here. Magoon's digital art tempers its cuddly elements with creepiness (and vice versa).

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Granny Gomez's pet pig Jigsaw gets so big that he outgrows their house. But after she builds him a deluxe barn next door, they're both lonely. Even if readers can predict the story's resolution, they will acclaim the book for its barn-building, drum-playing Granny and its witty art, in which Granny and Jigsaw's exchanged glances say what their words can't.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Spoon, a humble young utensil, feels disenfranchised: Knife "gets to cut," Fork "gets to go practically EVERYWHERE," etc.; meanwhile, little does Spoon know that he's the object of the other utensils' envy. This tastefully punning (Spoon goes "stir-crazy") tale of envy and, finally, self-acceptance has improbably wide appeal, thanks to illustrations that somehow manage to anthropomorphize a clutch of cutlery.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Otto's baby sister, Anna, is always the center of attention--even at his birthday party. So as he blows out the six candles on his cake, Otto wishes she was never born. Suddenly, time starts moving backward: Anna is returned to the hospital (hooray!), but Otto himself gets younger and younger (uh-oh!). Amusing illustrations tinged with murky undertones convey Otto's mix of emotions.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Rabbit and Squirrel blame each other when veggies disappear from their respective gardens. They keep arguing even after they discover the culprit, though the optimistic omniscient narrator hopes, "One of these days, they'll grow tired of fighting." Sure, it's an allegory, but it doesn't hit you over the head due in large part to the amusing olive green–dominated digital art.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. On a trip to Scotland, oatmeal-loathing Katerina-Elizabeth tosses her breakfast overboard--to the delight of a pursuing ocean worm, who eats it and grows to become the Loch Ness Monster. Gorey-esque typeface and sepia, olive, and sea-green illustrations of a fin-de-siècle ocean crossing lend a delicious darkness to the lighthearted story, which concludes with a scientific note on picky eaters.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam