(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jim Daly. When the spring thaw begins, a girl and her grandfather go out to tap the maples, and soon a crowd of family and friends gathers to help with the work--and fun--of making syrup. Together they collect sap, haul firewood, clean and fill jars, and eat the new sugar poured out on snow. Chall's evocative descriptions and Daly's intimate oil paintings capture the warmth of a centuries-old tradition.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) PS In this jaunty story in rhyme, Amanda Lynne's mother continually calls for her daughter to help with the baby, repeating, "What an angel he can be." The pictures tell a different story: Amanda Lynne prevents one mishap after another and cleans up after her rambunctious brother. The illustrations use simple lines and bright colors to show, despite the chaos, Amanda Lynne's wry affection for the "angel baby."

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) K-3 Photographs by David Ellwand. In this photographic picture book inspired by Greek myth, Midas Mouse ventures out into the sunlight for the first time and wishes that everything he touches would turn to gold. A matte gold overlay on the well-composed black-and-white photographs makes the transformed objects stand out; little gold pawprints prance across the white spaces. Unusual graphic design and smooth writing combine for a remarkable offering.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Thirteen roughly metered, sometimes rhyming poems reflect East African life from a western perspective, although the loose, cartoony watercolors of Africans imply that Tanzanians or Kenyans are the ones speaking. Still, the portrayal of crowded buses, rainy season, and East African foods, as well as liberal sprinklings of Swahili words (most used correctly), will give readers a sense of this culture.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) PS Alfie's back (along with little sister, Annie Rose, and other old friends) as the star of this counting romp. The paintings are cozy and capture a child's wonder at the variety of his world, but preschoolers may be frustrated by a thin story line and the random repetition of some numbers. Though this is not the most effective counting book, Alfie fans will welcome him back.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(1) 1-3 Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Part magical savior, part tall-tale hero, Big Jabe personifies the triumph of African Americans who escaped from slavery. Nolen recounts her original tale with a light touch and lyrical voices that add depth and resonance to its imagery and serious overtones. The gouache and watercolor illustrations convey both the lush summer and the rigorous life of the slaves. This powerful story will be particularly effective shared aloud.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2000

(3) PS Illustrated by Paige Miglio. In a grassy, idyllic playground, increasing numbers of bunnies play together, adding a new bunny in each verse. Younger readers can simply count the bunnies, but more advanced readers can explore different number combinations, either in simple equations (3+2=5, 4+1=5) or in the pastel-colored illustrations (i.e., three blackberries in the pail plus two outside makes five).

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 In a tall tale/song, Arnosky tells of the large white-legged moose he encountered one day--without his sketchbook. While the overlong text struggles to come up with rhymes, the watercolors are masterful. Bold dark outlines and fall colors show the illustrator as a confident Daniel Boone type who becomes timid in the presence of the moose. Easy piano arrangement and guitar chords are included.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(2) PS Illustrated by Jan Ormerod. Young readers will enjoy finding Josie in every picture as she engages her parents and older brother in a game of hide-and-seek played according to Toddlers' Rules: her hiding place constantly changes while her seekers pretend not to see her. This rhyming text is given an updated look with Ormerod's spirited pen-and-colored-ink illustrations, which artfully walk a fine line between the sweetly idyllic and the realistically ordinary.

Reviewer: Kathleen T. Horning | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1999

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Henri Sorensen. Paired with new illustrations--expansive oil paintings of natural scenes and ethnically diverse people--the quiet text explains how people can understand God's nature by observing the world He created. Fitch describes the ways that characteristics of the sun, air, trees, mountains, and oceans reflect the character of God. Proponents of many faiths will embrace this book's message.

Reviewer: Anne St. John | Horn Book Magazine Issue: February, 1954

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. Thirteen poems encompassing an ever-widening perspective use the art of weaving as an overly obvious metaphor to explore the life and experiences of a mixed-race young girl who is herself "a pleasing / living, breathing tapestry / christened Aneesa Lee." As colorful as the yarn Aneesa works with, the tempera and gouache paintings burst with "berry, apricot, and cherry / Lemon, tangerine, and peach." Glos.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Melodye Benson Rosales. This slight collection includes verses about African-American characters experiencing different types of love. Included are poems about crushes on the opposite sex, a child's-eye-view of loving family members, and love between friends. Some subjects would seem to appeal to pre-teens, others to younger children, making it hard to know what audience the book is intended for. Realistic paintings accompany the poems.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. The book briefly discusses slavery practiced as the result of war or debts, but the major focus is the practice of slavery based on the race of the enslaved. The writing is crisp and is liberally punctuated with brief quotes from works by slave traders, slaves, and those whose lives came in contact with both. Historical prints and photographs and Cooper's paintings support and extend the text. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Deborah L. Thompson

(3) PS Illustrated by Mark Buehner. A rhyming text shows how a monster mama lovingly combs cobwebs from bangs, takes her darling swimming in the swamp, and sings lullabies "of things that shriek and moan and creep." Buehner's lively illustrations are filled with suitably spooky details, yet the bright colors and humorous creatures keep the art and story light enough for preschoolers.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(2) 4-6 The walk to view mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda is rigorous, to say the least. Through handsome paintings and carefully focused text, the Lewins recount their 1997 venture into Bwindi, offering intriguing glimpses of both the rarely seen animals and the ambiguities of ecotourism. Concluding pages offer quick facts on physical characteristics and behavior. Ind.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1999

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Giulio Maestro. Geared specifically for the advent of the new millennium, this overview of timekeeping begins with prehistoric "calendar sticks" and stone structures, and continues through today's ultra-precise atomic clocks. The text takes a broad multicultural approach, showing how science, history, and societal differences have influenced the calendar; the color illustrations are executed in styles that match the eras and cultures discussed in the volume. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) PS Baby Elephant can't sleep without his teddy bear, so Elmer the patchwork elephant lends out his own stuffed animal and plows through a surrealistic jungle of bright colors to find the missing toy. Elmer, who always knows how to laugh at himself, exhibits his usual appeal in this simple story with its gentle humor and expressive animals.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt

(4) PS Illustrated by Henri Sorensen. A mother elephant lulls her offspring to sleep with a song about the dreams other wild animals have as they enjoy their quiet slumber. Serene oil paintings complement the tender relationship between adult animals (ostrich, lioness, gorilla, rhinoceros, zebra) and their young. The singsong bedtime verse offers little verve.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Simple prose describes some properties of teams, such as wearing uniforms, cooperating, and planning. Large, colorful photos from around the world illustrate the different ways adults, children, and/or animals can work together to accomplish a goal. A pictorial index identifies the country of origin of each picture and offers more information, while a world map at the end of the book locates each country.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Colin Bootman. A closely knit family enjoys quiet comforts in a collection of short episodes narrated by a young girl. Visiting with aunts young and old, planning a doll and cat wedding, cooking corn-pudding and crab-apple jelly, and eating a midnight feast are all part of the fun. The contemporary African-American family in a country setting is realistically portrayed in the lively oil paintings.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt