(3) K-3 My Readers series. Photographs by Isobel Springett. An abandoned fawn finds a surrogate mother when she's introduced to a Great Dane named Kate. Originally published as a picture book, this edition features an abridged text for beginning readers. Less is more; the succinct text lets readers focus on the book's real draw: the touching close-up photos of this interspecies friendship.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) K-3 My Readers series. With Sheila Keenan. In this beginning reader/nonfiction chapter book, clear step-by-step directions and unobstructed diagrams and cross sections outline how waste is produced by the body, disposed of through a toilet, sent to either a septic tank or sewer system, and purified. Macaulay's humor is evident as he reminds readers that the language of science can be both precise and lively. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2013

(3) K-3 My Readers series. With Sheila Keenan. Macaulay places a discussion of the biology of the eye and the physics of sight in the context of a game of soccer. As a girl uses her eyes to play, concepts including the eye's structure, how light enters the eye and travels through the lens, and how images are interpreted are covered. The illustrations use creative perspectives to showcase the science. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 My Readers series. After the familiar opening--"One of Carl's friends needs help..."--benevolent rottweiler Carl babysits a sick puppy while its daddy takes the others for a walk. Carl offers the fickle pup water, a snack, and more; Puppy finally just needs a nap. The limited vocabulary, helpful repetition, simple story arc, and tender illustrations are all well suited to the newest readers.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 My Readers series. Adapted by Susan Bishay. Pony Molly, rescued after Hurricane Katrina, loses a leg after a dog attack; she is fitted with a prosthetic ("with a smiley face on the bottom") and becomes a visiting therapy animal. The true story of this resilient animal is told through simple text and awkward photographs. Young horse lovers will overlook the bland storytelling and focus on the inspiring pony.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) K-3 My Readers series. With Sheila Keenan. Macaulay brings his signature brand of illustrated expository nonfiction to a younger audience. This book revisits a subject Macaulay has written about previously, but the topics are here presented with the needs of developing readers in mind. Notable for the amount of technical details packed into thirty-two pages, the narrative invites readers to envision themselves in the action; words and pictures effectively weave information into this framework. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2013

(2) K-3 My Readers series. With Sheila Keenan. Macaulay brings his signature brand of illustrated expository nonfiction to a younger audience. This book revisits a subject Macaulay has written about previously, but the topics are here presented with the needs of developing readers in mind. Abounding with Macaulay’s sly, mischievous wit, the narrative invites readers to envision themselves in the action; words and pictures work in tandem to effectively weave information into this framework. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2013

(3) K-3 My Readers series. In this easy reader starring the beloved rottweiler, "One of Carl's friends needs help. Who can it be?" It's Mama Cat; her mischievous kitten has climbed up a tree and can't get down. Large print, controlled vocabulary, simple sentences and story arcs, supportive pictures, and plentiful white space make this a good choice for the newest readers.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 My Readers series. Both books begin: "One of Carl's friends needs help. Who can it be?" Simple stories starring the beloved rottweiler follow. In Baby Duck, Carl helps locate a stray duckling; in Puppies, Carl dog-sits three active pups. Large print, controlled vocabulary, simple sentences and story arcs, supportive pictures, and plentiful white space make these a good choice for the newest readers. Review covers these My Readers title: Carl and the Baby Duck and Carl and the Puppies.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 My Readers series. Both books begin: "One of Carl's friends needs help. Who can it be?" Simple stories starring the beloved rottweiler follow. In Baby Duck, Carl helps locate a stray duckling; in Puppies, Carl dog-sits three active pups. Large print, controlled vocabulary, simple sentences and story arcs, supportive pictures, and plentiful white space make these a good choice for the newest readers. Review covers these My Readers title: Carl and the Baby Duck and Carl and the Puppies.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 My Readers series. Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. Night owl Harry Cat's new lifestyle--as a celebrated actor--causes jealousy in homebody Tucker Mouse ("Harry is a star now...I have to let him go"). When Harry realizes Tucker's feelings, he quits the play to spend time with his friend. These aren't the Tucker and Harry that George Selden fans know, but the story, with its imitation-Garth-Williams illustrations, is mildly diverting.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 My Readers series. Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. In Rescue, Harry Cat helps Tucker Mouse escape from a shop (Chester Cricket doesn't appear in this story). Tucker becomes the manager of a bug band (whose noisy rehearsals originally drove him crazy) in Beetle. While Feldman's text and the Ivanovs' look-alike art aren't on par with Selden and Williams's original work, these are two perfectly pleasant easy-reader episodes based on beloved characters. Review covers these My Readers titles: Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Harry to the Rescue and Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Tucker's Beetle Band.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 My Readers series. Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. In Rescue, Harry Cat helps Tucker Mouse escape from a shop (Chester Cricket doesn't appear in this story). Tucker becomes the manager of a bug band (whose noisy rehearsals originally drove him crazy) in Beetle. While Feldman's text and the Ivanovs' look-alike art aren't on par with Selden and Williams's original work, these are two perfectly pleasant easy-reader episodes based on beloved characters. Review covers these My Readers titles: Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Harry to the Rescue and Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Tucker's Beetle Band.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 My Readers series. Illustrated by Lillian Hoban. The Hobans' classic story concerns the grumpy family whose mood is turned around by "a little wandering lost good feeling" unearthed from a field of flowers by Baby Brute. This edition is "formatted especially for beginning readers," with new line breaks and reading levels assigned to it (Level 2, AR: 4.4).

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS This sturdily bound compendium of six of the Carl stories is a little big for lap-reading but handsome in its own right. It's also valuable as a survey of Day's artistic development, moving from oils to watercolor but always displaying rich tones, plenty of warmth, and subtle humor. Neither the first book, Good Dog Carl, nor Carl's Christmas is included.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) K-3 Just in time for the new Shrek movie comes this thick, large-format volume that includes Shrek! (1990), The Amazing Bone (1976), Brave Irene (1986), Spinky Sulks (1988), Doctor De Soto (1982), and Caleb & Kate (1977), plus an introduction by Eric Carle and a concluding "About the Author" section. Readers sucked in by the movie tie-in will be charmed and amused by Steig's five other picture-book classics.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz