(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Spring arrives for first-grader Monty, and along with it comes his new baby sister, Mother's Day, the Memorial Day parade with his karate class, and a magic set from his grandmother. Monty's appealing everyday adventures are told with humor and insight and are accompanied by attractive line drawings. Monty's fourth chapter book makes a good read-aloud for younger audiences.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Monty Morris's third book focuses on surprises. Some surprises are terrific, like getting two parakeets for class pets; others, such as having an asthma attack in the carwash, are not good. But the most amazing surprise of all is the arrival of his baby sister. Monty's quiet but amusing adventures, shown in unfussy black-and-white watercolor illustrations, ring true to first-grade life.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Shy first grader Monty isn't sure he wants to be a "budding actor" in the school play. Later, he joins a karate class, one of the few sports he can do despite his asthma, and voluntarily participates in the class exhibition. This gentle story, illustrated with good-natured black-and-white watercolors, uses empathy and humor to win over readers.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Monty's nervous to start first grade because he has asthma. He gains confidence as he proves to be a good reader, finds a pet he isn't allergic to, and makes friends. Once Monty's illness is established and Hurwitz moves on with the story, Monty has some amusing low-key adventures. McGrory's black-and-white illustrations show Monty's initial timidity, then his growing sense of self.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) PS Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Behind its glamor, the circus and its performers seem ordinary to a young horseback acrobat, who leads a backstage tour featuring the trapeze artists (his parents), the strongman (his uncle), and the lion tamer (his tutor). Though marred by the rhyming text's occasionally awkward meter, this enjoyable visit is illustrated with art that captures both sides of the story.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Large type and few words tell how animals sleep: "We can sleep in a bed. / A hole. / Underground." Each animal featured is paired with a paragraph describing the animal and something (often only one sentence) about their sleep habits. Soft watercolors of sleeping animals illustrate the book.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anik McGrory. Sarah and Max vow to earn extra money to make a mountain of blintzes with which to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. But the two apply the coins from their extra jobs to more pressing family needs, and it is their children who save the day: they perform chores for neighbors in return for the necessary ingredients. The charming story is based loosely on a traditional Chelm tale. The cheerful illustrations are well drawn and replete with narrative detail.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn