(4) K-3 Translated by Marianne Martens. Illustrated by Uli Waas. Three lonely snowmen try joining groups of people celebrating on Christmas Eve but are deterred by the heat and crowds they find indoors. Spirits are low until they are found by children who build a street full of snow people to celebrate together. While the illustrations are cheerful, the snowmen characters aren't developed enough to gather sympathy for their plight.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Uli Waas. During a Halloween sleepover in her classroom, Mary explains that she has no fear of ghosts because she has her own special star for protection. But the delight and wonder behind this idea are undermined on the last page, when Mary herself requests that the hall light be left on during the night. The children's antics are depicted with lighthearted, cartoonlike watercolors.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) 1-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Uli Waas. Siblings Flora and Barnaby acquire a pigeon named Jewel and seek advice on her care from their neighbor, old Gabriel, who owns pigeons himself. After Jewel escapes, Flora and Barnaby spend the winter helping Gabriel with his birds and are pleased when Jewel returns in the spring. Cheerful illustrations accompany this pleasant, though somewhat superficial and at times confusing, story.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert