(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Smith-Ary. Frank wants to give Mrs. Kazinski "the best present in the world" for her eightieth birthday. His mother and the neighbors offer suggestions, but Frank comes up with his own idea: though he longs to keep it himself, he gives her a kitten to fend off loneliness. The illustrations for this heartwarming tale effectively establish the setting and endow the characters with distinct personalities.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Smith-Ary. Eleven of Sandburg's most accessible poems are arranged to suggest the cycle of a day on his farm. Two of Sandburg's favorite verses by other poets--Emily Dickinson's "Bee! I'm Expecting You!" and "The Horse Named Bill" by Red Lewis--also appear in the collection. Crayon and colored-pencil pictures, although occasionally awkward, have a homespun flair, depicting a multicultural group of children spending a happy day with Sandburg.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute