(4) PS Illustrated by Cathy Morrison. This book encourages thinking about the ways birds, mammals, and reptiles care for their young. Each spread explains a different parenting practice with a trite rhymed couplet and a descriptive fact; both birds included show a mother and father actively participating. The detailed art features gentle, smiling faces that enhance the calm tone. A matching game and teaching guide are appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 Reading outdoors means that critters (insects, a snake, frog, etc.) keep landing on the pages of this book. Readers are encouraged to remove them ("Flip it over... Will the frog drop off?") while noticing how they move ("Nope! Treefrogs stick"). Conversational, humorous text in dynamic typefaces and colorful illustrations will keep kids engaged. An "Explore More" appendix offers activities and further information.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 An octopus evades various predators through camouflage, releasing ink, and other adaptations while searching for her own meal. The suspenseful present-tense narrative is supplemented throughout by additional italicized fact asides and moody, evocative illustrations resembling paper collage. Back matter includes more on octopuses and other marine animals along with activity suggestions aimed at teachers and parents.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Dubin. In an "Over in the Meadow" pattern, rhymed stanzas introduce African savanna animals, from one zebra to ten jackals. Enhanced by cut-paper-collage illustrations, the text features less-familiar vocabulary (graze, shrill, cunning); endnotes add to and clarify some misleading information (e.g., elephants don't have triplets). Tips for teachers, art correlations, and musical score appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cathy Morrison. "Nature is all around us, even in the city." This illuminating book invites readers to explore an urban environment with dog Scooter, who encounters bats under a bridge, starlings by a dumpster, etc. A rather awkward narrative gimmick prompts readers to spot what Scooter misses in the slick digital art (e.g., "He doesn't see the tracks... What he does see...). Extensive supplemental information appended.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ashley White. A child travels the world and addresses thoughts and questions to the moon in this dreamy book with quiet, mysterious-looking visuals. The violet and blue spreads with silhouetted images are highlighted with different views of the bright moon. Back matter provides information about the real-life locations the child visits, facts about the moon, and related activities. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Dubin. This twist on "Over in the Meadow" depicts far-flung animals in their mountain habitats with their offspring. Berkes's rhyme scheme struggles at times, but she packs a lot of information into her verses and the ensuing back matter. Dubin's richly layered cut-paper illustrations add texture and include a hidden animal in each spread. Suggested activities and a musical score are appended. Map, reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) PS In this introduction to common bird songs, a simple text offers "translations" into phrases (which may be confusing) but also shares basic facts about a wide variety of species. The digital renderings of the birds feel a bit lifeless but provide close-up details for curious readers who may be interested in searching their own backyards. "Fun Facts" and suggested activities are appended.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cathy Morrison. Two raindrops, Pitter and Patter, introduce the hydrologic cycle as they fall and greet successive animals, vegetation, and minerals above and below ground. They finally unite in the ocean and evaporate together. Colorful illustrations with slightly anthropomorphic animals fill each spread; the intact raindrops remain improbably but helpfully visible. Back matter explains and suggests projects for children and teachers. Reading list.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Roberta Baird. "This is the algae / that carpets the swamp / where Gator hides." In this cumulative tale, which features swamp mainstays including a duck and a sunfish, Gator is hiding from the reader as well; kids (they needn't be sharp-eyed) can spot him in every glossy, slickly illustrated spread. The book's back matter provides further information on swamp life. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Trina L. Hunner. This story, accompanied by detailed illustrations, introduces numerous creatures that live near a coral reef. It follows Kiki the green sea turtle as she hatches, avoids predators, grows, and returns to her home beach to lay eggs. The informational text is paired on each spread with a superfluous two-line rhyming stanza. Useful additional facts, activities, and a map are appended.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cris Arbo. Careful, realistic illustrations in this guessing book show a fruit or vegetable growing in a garden; a page turn shows each being harvested, prepared, or eaten by a child. The uninspired but adequate rhyming text hints at each plant's identity, and the reveal includes a related recipe. Additional information on produce, plant parts, and cooking terms are appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Dubin. Based on the song "Over in the Meadow," a sometimes-strained rhyming text introduces ten animals and their babies in different river environments. Large, beautiful cut-paper collages encourage counting to ten and contain hidden creatures. Each spread includes a map showing the river location and the numeral. Facts about rivers and the featured animals, author and illustrator's notes, and musical notation are appended.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Invited to sing along, readers are introduced to twelve insects and their unique sounds. Dramatic but sometimes gaudy illustrations provide an up-close look at flying, burrowing, and crawling insects in a variety of environments. A simple sentence is followed by bold-faced sound effects that energetically stretch across the pages, emphasizing volume and rhythm. Back matter includes activities and further information about each insect.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 Dramatic but sometimes gaudy illustrations provide an up-close look at twelve amphibians and their unique sounds. A simple sentence is followed by bold-faced sound effects that energetically stretch across the pages, emphasizing volume and rhythm and enticing kids to sing along. The inclusion of other unidentified animals in the various environments may raise questions. Back matter includes activities and further information about each animal.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) PS Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Jo and her grandfather visit the woods, where they hear and see a variety of creatures. Patterned after the song "Old MacDonald," the parallel to a noisy barnyard doesn't quite work in Quattlebaum's text--could even an astute naturalist hear a turtle? ("everywhere a shuffle-shuffle")--but pleasant art and informative back matter on forest ecology may engage young hikers.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Dubin. Textured paper collage illustrates this version of the familiar counting song "Over in the Meadow." With a different woodland creature and a set of its tracks on each page, children learn names for animal babies, such as turkey poults and raccoon kits. Back matter fills out information about the animals, while tips from the author and illustrator and hidden pictures throughout add interest. Music is appended.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ann Jones. In following Granny, the one-hundred-year-old matriarch, through her travels, we learn about the intimate workings of a pod of killer whales. A baby is born, the whales hunt for salmon, and they join another pod for an "orca party." Soft pastel paintings illustrate the sometimes awkward text. Additional information about this real-life pod is appended. Reading list. Websites.

Reviewer: Betsy Thomas

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Trina L. Hunner. When a stray cat appears at a community farm, she is welcomed by the farmers and makes herself at home among the plants. Molly the cat's presence steers the text's discussion of organic farming, with back matter adding more details about topics such as crop rotation, companion planting, and compost. The child-friendly illustrations, including photos of the real-life Molly, complement the approachable story.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Consie Powell. Comparing nature to a patchwork quilt with "many different habitats all pieced together to create our wonderful planet," this book features animals and plants from different ecosystems and introduces terms like interdependence, domestication, and camouflage. Detailed illustrations effectively use geometric shapes in a patchwork pattern; vignettes frame a central image in colorful if static compositions. Additional information is appended.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian