(2) PS Illustrated by Laurel Aylesworth. A growing family is exciting, but for young children this time can also bring anxiety. A little girl with a beloved stuffed bear in tow enjoys a "paddle-on-the-lake day" with her mother in their blue canoe. The girl is excited to become a big sister and eagerly tells her bear all the big-sister duties she will take up, such as helping put on a life jacket. But the girl's excitement is mixed with feelings of trepidation. She worries that the canoe might not be safe for "coming-soon baby," that her mother might be too tired or busy for their outings, that the baby might not even like canoeing. The girl's mother lovingly calms every worry. McFarlane incorporates important life lessons, such as "it's OK for different people to like different things." Poetic language throughout describes the abundant wildlife (e.g., "Lazy dragonflies sun on lily pads, and pond skaters skip across the water like miniature rowboats"). Aylesworth's lush watercolor illustrations beautifully enhance McFarlane's figurative phrasing, fro the opening pages detailing a verdant water's edge to a tender moment on the dock in a purple-hued twilight. The family theme is further reinforced as the girl encounters different animals in their family units, such as a mother mallard and her fuzzy ducklings.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Hollie Mengert. Dashing "cat about town" Luis and pampered housecat Tabitha fall in love at first sight. Their desire to be together is repeatedly thwarted; ultimately, Luis wins over Tabitha's owner with a daring act of heroism. Reminiscent both in plot and visual aesthetic of Disney's classic Lady and the Tramp, this feline star-crossed love story has a tongue-in-cheek humor that keeps it on the right side of sappy.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher