(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. Slade uses the moon's unique vantage to celebrate the twelve men who have walked on its surface, some of whose names will likely be new to readers. Watercolor illustrations capture the moon's rocky surface and other small details, the most poignant being the faces of the three Apollo 13 astronauts whose lunar mission was aborted. Extensive endnotes and photographs add richness. Reading list, timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. A baby chimpanzee, captured by the hunter who killed her mother, eventually finds sanctuary with a kind man and forms an attachment to his dog. As a postscript makes clear, this heartbreaking true story is calculated to generate support for Goodall's work with orphaned chimps ("Once [Rickie] needed Henri--now she needs you"), but it is engagingly told and illustrated with expressive art.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. "It's starting." This informative picture book deftly builds anticipation for the yearly spawning of the horseshoe crabs and the attendant migratory bird feast and scientific data collection. Realistic watercolor and pencil illustrations include mesmeric moonlit scenes, an endnote explains the crabs' importance to medical science, and helpful endpapers identify the crabs' body parts and their functions. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. This picture book celebrates an unlikely hero: the dung beetle. The fluid narrative covers habitats and behaviors of the three types--dwellers, rollers, and tunnelers--each of which relies on dung for food, liquid, and reproduction. Colorful watercolors add beauty and clarity to a fascinating look at these unusual "ancient symbols of life and renewal." Further information is appended. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. A snow leopard in Pakistan's Hindu Kush Mountains teaches her two cubs what they'll need to survive, such as how to hunt, take shelter, and "No matter what, stay clear of humans." Marks's illustrations effectively use watercolor for the snowy backgrounds and soft textured fur, with dark pencil for the animals' sharp features. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. Based on the true story of an orphaned polar bear, Markle's text explores the challenges a young female faces competing for food while waiting for the pack ice to arrive that will enable her to leave Wrangel Island for the winter. Marks's art, washed with blues and purples, conveys much about the harsh world of these animals. A note about global warming is appended. Reading list.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. In lyrical, understated text, Markle describes the life of a female wolf introduced into Yellowstone National Park, her encounters with a male wolf, and their pups: the first naturally formed wolf pack in Yellowstone National Park. Watercolor, pen, and pencil illustrations reflect the compelling creatures and dramatic scenery. An appended author's note tells more about the real Leopold pack. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. "No bigger than a thumbnail," the male hip-pocket frog carries his tadpoles in hip pouches until they've become froglets. Markle's text conveys the difficulty of the father frog's job as he hunts for food for thirty days in a habitat full of predators. Marks's watercolor, pen, and pencil illustrations show the Australian rainforest and its inhabitants dappled by sunlight. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. A koala and her joey escape a bushfire. Their arduous journey in search of a new habitat takes them into a suburb. Based on a true story, the account emphasizes the struggles of these wild animals to survive. Marks's soft watercolors depict the drama of this mother and child story but also convey much information about koala life. An author's note is appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2008

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. With an engaging voice and with facts cleanly woven into the narrative, Markle describes the first few weeks in the life of a baby Mexican free-tailed bat. Near the end, mother meets up with a deadly barn owl, but neither Marks nor Markle anthropomorphize, and Marks renders the bats with accuracy. Hope for the orphaned bat is offered through a new motherly connection.

Reviewer: Caitlin J. Berry | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2006

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Marks. An infant chimpanzee, captured by the hunter who killed her mother, eventually finds sanctuary with a kind man and forms an attachment to his dog. As a postscript makes clear, this heartbreaking true story is calculated to generate support for Goodall's work with orphaned chimps ("Once [Rickie] needed Henri--now she needs you"), but it is engagingly told and illustrated with expressive art.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(4) PS Translated by Kathryn Grell. Illustrated by Alan Marks. Pale, soft illustrations show young Ben refusing his mother's offer of a series of bed buddies: cuddly stuffed animals and even a live dog. His choice--a terrible stuffed devil--stands out in red, green, and brown, complete with pointed tail. Ben chooses the devil to "scare away the ghosts and monsters and keep [him] safe." Although it's abrupt, the unexpected ending gives this bland story a lift.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Translated by Ã?ngel Secreto. Illustrated by Alan Marks. Mr. Goose, a gentle bachelor, longs for a child of his own. The dog finds a huge egg for him, and a baby dinosaur hatches out of it calling him Mama. Taunted by the chickens, the little dinosaur runs away looking for his real mother only to find that all he needs is the love of his devoted adoptive father. Accompanied by expressive illustrations, this Spanish edition of The Little Green Goose reads smoothly.

Reviewer: Elena Abos Alvarez-Buiza

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Alan Marks. Mr. Goose desperately wants a chick of his own, so he adopts a stray egg and raises the unusual creature that hatches from it. When the "little green goose," who looks like a dinosaur, realizes he doesn't resemble his surrogate parent, he searches for his real mother, only to realize that he is already happy and well loved. A Swiss import, the unusual adoption tale will delight young readers.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) PS Illustrated by Alan Marks. When Caroline's mother tells her it will be ten minutes until lunch or twenty minutes until moonrise, Caroline tries to get a sense of how long that means by seeing how many toy trucks or daisies she can string together until each event occurs. It seems odd to depict Caroline and her mother as natural-looking field mice, since time is such a human concept. Nevertheless, the watercolor illustrations are inviting.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Alan Marks. Published spring 1998. These ten anecdotes illustrate some of the unexpected ways chimpanzees help each other overcome difficult situations, from wiping a sibling's runny nose to looking out for an orphaned adolescent. Goodall conveys a keen appreciation for the intellectual and emotional capabilities of these animals. The expressive pen-and-ink illustrations further bring out the animals' individuality.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Howard

(4) K-3 What's Their Story? series. These brief illustrated biographies chronicle the lives of prominent historical figures. The writing is clear for the most part, focusing on major accomplishments, while slightly glossing over the negatives. Each volume includes a time line. The quality of the illustrations varies, but despite their general appeal, the design and trim size keep the feel tipped toward the institutional. Ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 What's Their Story? series. These brief illustrated biographies chronicle the lives of prominent historical figures. The writing is clear for the most part, focusing on major accomplishments, while slightly glossing over the negatives. Each volume includes a time line. The quality of the illustrations varies, but despite their general appeal, the design and trim size keep the feel tipped toward the institutional. Ind.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 4-6 What's Their Story? series. Illustrated by Alan Marks. These brief biographies of three authors, two explorers, and one political activist present their subjects in clear and engaging prose. Accomplished half-page and spot watercolors on each page highlight key moments in each person's life. Time lines are appended to all but Eric (which features a source note) and Gandhi (a glossary). Ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) 4-6 What's Their Story? series. Illustrated by Alan Marks. These brief biographies of three authors, two explorers, and one political activist present their subjects in clear and engaging prose. Accomplished half-page and spot watercolors on each page highlight key moments in each person's life. Time lines are appended to all but Eric (which features a source note) and Gandhi (a glossary). Ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne