(4) K-3 Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. All day long, each of grade schooler Louise's sneezes is answered with "Geez, Louise! COVER YOUR MOUTH, PLEASE!" Though the story has some nice details, it seems muddled about its purpose, with elements of an etiquette primer, a comedy, and a "feelings" book. Intentionally disheveled watercolors reflect Louise's under-the-weather day.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. Josh finds a sickly five-legged frog near his house. After the animal dies, Josh tries to take it to a scientist to find out whether the pond is contaminated--but is thwarted by his principal who takes the frog away. This humorous story featuring the exploits of a realistically mischievous fifth grader, shown in occasional black-and-white illustrations, doesn't sink under its environmentalist message.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. Thea's science project gets out of hand when the seed she plants grows and grows. Through a series of letters to various experts, Thea describes the plant and the odd objects (e.g., a golden egg, a singing harp) that appear. Loosely drawn illustrations keep the action moving and let fairy-tale-savvy readers in on the joke.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. A bad case of loud hiccups in the library starts the ball rolling in this circular adventure involving a hippo, a little sister, a sprinkler, a dog, an ice-cream cart, a humongous burp, and a courageous librarian. The pen, watercolor, and crayon illustrations add appropriate motion to the frenetically paced text. A humorous list of library rules is appended.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) PS Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. A young penguin enumerates in rhyme the toys required at bath time ("And what's a bath / without a whale? / Why, boring as can be"). Readers will likely see the punch line coming for miles--the toys leave no room for the bather--but the pages swelling with textured, charcoal-outlined playthings make this a joyful and eye-pleasing if slight addition to the kiddie-bath-book canon.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. When rabbit Peter becomes annoyed with his baby sister's antics, he takes her around the neighborhood looking for someone who wants to buy her. The amusing text and the sunny watercolor illustrations show the beguiling toddler charming her big brother, if not the neighbors. Peter finally returns home, happily convinced that while "nobody needs a baby," little Emily needs him.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. Mildred and Ed are inseparable, until her violin concert and his button exhibit are scheduled for the same day. To get ready, they "practice doing things alone" all week. In the end, they find that best friends needn't always be together to help each other out. "We can do anything," Mildred concludes. Amusing illustrations bring the mice and their surroundings to life.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 1-3 First Choice Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. In these four short chapter tales of sibling squabbling, Jake is tired of his copycat little brother Pete, but the two manage to get along (and even have some fun) in spite of their differences. Pedersen's crayon and watercolor illustrations emphasize the pleasure the siblings take in each other's company despite their warring words.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Janet Pedersen. When Mildred's eccentric friend Ed embarrasses her by reciting his own poetry in public, she deserts him for the more conventional Pearl. But Pearl is so self-centered that Mildred soon returns to Ed with new appreciation. Although details in text and artwork lend some appeal to these spindly legged mice, the story is predictable.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert