(2) PS Illustrated by David Soman. Ms. Flamingo's cat Fluffy is missing, but Agent Lion is on the case...sort of. He means well and works hard--he is often shown with his tongue at the side of his mouth, like a child concentrating intently--but he's far from sharp-witted. During his investigation, he asks Ms. Flamingo if Fluffy has antlers and tries to peg a pigeon as the cat in disguise. As the lovable, bike-riding, snack-loving detective tries to find Fluffy, readers explore his town and the characters therein, rendered in pale watercolors; light teals and pinks with touches of vivid purple mark this cozy community of anthropomorphized animals. Occasional intentional contradictions in text and art accentuate the humor: the line "He took the absolutely most direct route" is illustrated with an aerial view of Agent Lion's circuitous path to Ms. Flamingo's home, marked by stops for popcorn, ice cream, and jelly donuts (his favorite). Expect more giggles over the visual hyperbole, such as a tall apartment building bending over due to the loud wails of Ms. Hippo's babies, awakened from their nap by Agent Lion. This spin on the bumbling detective trope will delight readers; children love to see a grown-up making so many mistakes, and Agent Lion has personality to spare.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. In the popular series' latest cheery story, "Ladybug Girl" Lulu wants to rescue all the dogs at the farmers' market adoption stand, but she settles for bringing them water. When her "Bug Squad" friends join her, they organize an attention-grabbing dog parade to help the dogs find homes. Ink and watercolor illustrations capture the costumed heroes' energy and spirit.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. At the natural history museum with Grandpa, "Ladybug Girl" Lulu is overly eager to know "everything about everything"--dinosaurs, gems, whales, etc. She learns a lot but realizes that she can't discover all the museum (and the world) has to offer in one day. Ink and watercolor illustrations emphasize Ladybug Girl's endearing zeal in this enjoyable entry in the popular series.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. Lulu (a.k.a. Ladybug Girl) is more excited about playing with Finny's (Grasshopper Girl) toy horse than with Finny herself. When the horse breaks, the girls work together to repair it, and then set it aside to pretend-fix other things. The child-driven resolution is satisfying, though not entirely realistic. Ink and watercolor illustrations capture the cute costumed girls' emotions and adventures.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. After her brother questions her costume choice, Lulu (a.k.a. Ladybug Girl) struggles to decide what to be for Halloween--until someone needs her help and she embraces her alter-ego once again. Soman's luminous ink and watercolor illustrations keep the pace moving, though the story is hampered by overly descriptive text. Still, many readers will relate to Lulu's problem.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. When Lulu, a.k.a. Ladybug Girl, heads into the snow to play, she finds unexpected obstacles as well as some pleasant surprises. The story has a few forced moments but nicely captures the sights and sounds of a snowy day. Soman's pictures joyfully depict Lulu's adventures and perfectly represent changing light across the winter landscape. A comforting, cozy addition to the series.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. Lulu (Ladybug Girl) promises not to let her dog Bingo run off during the family camping trip, but there are many distractions for the imaginative girl, and Bingo makes a break for it. The conflict is quickly resolved and from there the plot lacks a clear trajectory, but the lighthearted story, complemented by Soman's chipper illustrations, will appeal to Ladybug Girl's fans.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. Lulu is excited to swim in the ocean--until she sees how "big and noisy" it is. When her sandcastle pail is swept away, Lulu, a.k.a. Ladybug Girl, takes action. Soman's illustrations nicely juxtapose the ocean's diffuse shades with Lulu's red-saturated costume, constantly drawing the eye to Lulu. The text hits all of its points in a way that's a little too on-the-nose.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. It's a typical day at the playground, and friends Lulu and Sam can't agree on what to do. Enter Lulu's alter ego, Ladybug Girl, who quickly converts Sam into Bumblebee Boy to share her superhero ways. Soman's lively, saturated illustrations are the book's saving grace, subtly depicting changes through expressions and postures, while the more didactic text hammers its message home.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. Her parents are busy and her brother won't let her play baseball, so Lulu must entertain herself. Sporting red boots and polka-dotted wings, Lulu (a.k.a. Ladybug Girl), accompanied by loyal dog Bingo, aids an ant army, builds a stone-wall fort, and accomplishes other daring feats. The story's pacing may be a tad slow for younger readers, but Lulu's feistiness is contagious.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. Encompassing both the lively and reflective natures of H2O, these thirty-four poems demonstrate a telling sense of rhythm, dramatically effective line breaks, and, throughout, a trust in ordinary language. The lines are short, the rhymes varied and un-jingly, and splashes of humor accent the essentially lyrical mood. Modest and simple, the watercolor illustrations enhance tone rather than impose interpretation.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2002

(2) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. A clever man manages to find a wife for a stingy king willing to pay only one cowry shell as the bride-price; the woman herself also proves to be clever, tricking the king into sending loads of generous gifts. Soman's handsome collage art is as strong and distinctive as Gershator's text, deftly capturing the humor of the story in postures and facial expressions. A source note is included.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2000

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. An African-American girl is thinking about her big sister's upcoming wedding, and all the joy and sadness it will bring. The text is a little diffuse, but the feelings are real, and the black crayon and collage illustrations have a quiet elegance that suits both the spirit of the book and that of the occasion.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Soman. Published spring 1998. Molly and Ben share a friendship, a two-family house, and an annual birthday party. They fight shortly before the special day but have the party "for the sake of the grown-ups." In a contrived ending, they make up when each gives the other a special birthday gift. Soman's watercolor illustrations are expressive and best at showing the loneliness and longing Ben and Molly feel before they make up.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth