(2) K-3 Illustrated by Doris Susan Smith. Mouse Henrietta, a gifted architect, designs unique houses for all her friends, be they mammal or fish or bird or amphibian or even insect. Rabbit’s underground home has a large root cellar; Frog’s house is built on stilts over lily pads; sun-worshipping Lizard’s cliff house features a rooftop ­solarium. The lengthy text is lively and engaging. (“Here she is at her drawing board, always creating for others.”) Illustrations, a mix of vignettes and double-page spreads, have an old-fashioned feel that suits the story (originally published in 1981); they are chock-full of fascinating details to pore over.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024