(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tamara Petrosino. Dogs of many breeds and sizes yip and wag through twenty-four bouncy verses highlighting doggy behavior. The cartoony pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations aren't all that accomplished, but they do show each pup's personality while differentiating among breeds. There are plenty of slobbering mutts and "snuggle-wuggles" to go around in these works of mildly amusing "dog-gerel."

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tamara Petrosino. Prudence Proovit's professor parents, who homeschool her, disapprove of fairy tales. When they try an "experiment" and send Prudence to school, she heckles her fairy-tale reading teacher and alienates her only friend. The book's up-with-imagination message is heavy-handed, but this punning tale is full of surprises. Though cartoony, the illustrations have panache.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 All Aboard Math Reader series. Illustrated by Tamara Petrosino. For their cat show, some kids think of ways to group their ten cats--by size, by eye color, etc.--but there's always a disruption within the groupings, and the kids have to think of another way to classify the cats. Finally, all ten wear themselves out chasing a mouse and fall asleep. The flat cartoons make the groupings clear, and, although the plot is clunky, the simple language makes the sorting concept accessible.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tamara Petrosino. After Rocky, a small dog used to peace and quiet, is adopted by a boisterous family with five bullying cats, he only wants to hide. One day when the children play too harshly with the cats, Rocky barks loudly, which stops the roughhousing and earns Rocky a place as an honorary cat. Stylized cartoon illustrations in a limited palette of orange, red, green, and blue give a zany, slightly retro look to the expressive animals.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley