(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mies van Hout. In this odd story, Lovey and Dovey are jailed for stealing socks. Lovey bemoans the view from prison, so Dovey sneaks out and brings her the sun, stars, a tree, etc. They're released, but now the real world is cold and gray. Only one thing to do: steal more socks. Cheery illustrations show their cell resembling more and more the natural world.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mies van Hout. A bored girl welcomes being kidnapped by a giant until she determines that he's not a "nice villain" but an "ordinary old child cruncher." Readers will be amused by the narrator's initial cluelessness and attempts to win over her captor. The illustrations, featuring dark-outlined figures in the foreground with gauzy, fuzzy-edged backgrounds, reassuringly reinforce the interplay between real and imaginary.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mies van Hout. A ghost appears in Charlotte's bed one night. She's less surprised by his existence than she is miffed by his selfishness ("Mine!" is his only word), which she devotes herself to curing. Due in large part to van Hout's nicely textured illustrations, children will recognize the smiley ghost's behavior as more immature than malicious and will sympathize with Charlotte's plight.

Reviewer: Nell Beram