(2) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Walrod. Imagine being a mouse who can't eat cheese. After Dolores breaks out in itchy spots and starts to sneeze, Doctor Ricotta confirms the worst: she's allergic. Walrod's illustrations of the three mouseketeer pals keep things lively with dialogue balloons and occasional comic-strip panels, while Howe's story sensibly avoids a fromage-y ending. Kids with food allergies will admire Dolores's take-charge attitude.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2009

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Walrod. This is a perceptive portrait of a friendship between the shortest and tallest boys in first grade: self-consciously diminutive Jake and new-kid Jacomo, who is too tall to fit through the school-bus door. Walrod's goggle-eyed cartoons accentuate Jacomo's differences, while Choldenko shows that the best way to get over your own insecurities is to help someone else overcome theirs.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2006

(4) PS Illustrated by Amy Walrod. Set to the rhythm of "This little piggy," this tale presents two unfriendly bands of pirate pigs and one mysterious locked box. Though the format grows tiresome and the pigs never develop individual personalities, intricate cut-paper illustrations add to the pigs' playfulness as they quarrel over the box and then work together to open it and enjoy the contents.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Walrod. The trio of friends is back in their second book. Here, Dolores is odd mouse out because she can't sing. She is heartbroken when she doesn't make the cut for the school chorus although her two best buddies Horace and Morris do. Strong-minded Dolores determines she will find a way to prove herself chorus-worthy. Using bright acrylics, Walrod's enthusiastic mice are all nicely individuated.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2003

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Walrod. On their way to a picnic with twelve sandwiches, two friends happen upon more friends, who have their own items to add to the feast. As they add guests, the friends recalculate how to divide up the food, which works fine until a thirteenth friend arrives--empty-handed. This clever introduction to division consists entirely of witty dialogue complemented by Walrod's quirky cut-paper illustrations.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Walrod. Three adventure-loving mice are best friends until gender stereotypes separate them, driving Horace and Morris into a rowdy boys-only clubhouse while Dolores reluctantly goes off to join the ultra-ladylike Cheese Puffs. The bold artwork suits the book's lively protest against conformity, instigated by Dolores when she convinces old friends and new ones to quit the clubs and go exploring.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Walrod. In an updated version of the classic tale, Little Red Hen makes a pizza pie, while the duck, dog, cat frolic in the streets. Only when it's time to eat the large pizza, does the trio finally offer to help--and they also do the dishes. Crisp cut-paper collage illustrations include clever details (the hen sports chunky-heeled shoes, then bunny slippers), which young readers will eat up.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger