(3) K-3 Translated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann. Illustrated by Marco Somà. In this Portuguese import, when a "crown" (a human's lost ring) lands in a pond and a frog finds it, the pond's amphibious denizens agree that she's now the queen and must "give orders...and punish the frogs who don't obey." This delicious riff on the misuse of power is accompanied by predominantly green- and brown-hued art with Beatrix Potter–like delicacy and the subdued mirth of Arnold Lobel.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Translated by Laura Watkinson. Illustrated by Marco Somà. In this Italian import, a human couple adopts Boris, the baby with gills like a fish they find by a swamp. Boris is content with them until the day the wind brings an evocative salty smell. Boris tries swamp life but ultimately wonders, "Maybe our family is simply the ones we love?" It's a sweetly peculiar adoption story made all the more so by the nonchalantly surreal illustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram