(3) 4-6 When Miguel's Spanish-speaking Dominican aunt comes to visit his newly divorced mother in their new home in Vermont, her colorful ways at first embarrass him, then eventually endear her to him. What the story lacks in a clear central conflict, it makes up for with vivid characterization and evocative imagery. Dominican Spanish words flavor the narrative like so many of Tía Lola's spices.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) PS A curious raccoon climbs into an abandoned canoe and accidentally floats away from his family. He encounters a variety of swamp animals, both scary and interesting, before being reunited with his family downstream. The raccoon's simultaneous fear and curiosity at being on his own for the first time are expressed better in the endearing illustrations than in the somewhat slack telling.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ursula Arndt. This illuminating book, decorated with black-and-white line drawings, explains the history of Valentine's Day, including the various customs observed around the world. Barth's thorough research yields many unfamiliar stories of how various Valentine traditions and symbols came to be associated with February 14. Several activities have been added to this edition. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler | Horn Book Magazine Issue: February, 1974

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Little Bear wonders what it's like to be grown up, so Mama Bear has him climb on her back and shows him how he'll stand up tall, run fast, and swim deep--all with her by his side. The ending is flat and sentimental, and every illustration consists of the two bears in various poses against a snowy Arctic landscape; despite this compositional monotony, the mother-child relationship is well depicted.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) K-3 In his third picture book, Spike spends the night in a kennel for the first time. Everything about the experience is strange and scary, until a nighttime romp in the yard with the other dogs shows him kennels aren't so bad. The expressive cartoon watercolors imbue the book with zest where the flat telling does not, though young readers will relate to Spike's feelings.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) 4-6 While camping with their families in England's West Country, Pati and Simon hear rumors about a panther living on the moors. Intrigued, the budding teenage naturalists decide to track it. Considerable scientific information is woven into the narrative, and though their pursuit is conveniently speedy and fruitful, these informed, capable kids' adventure will appeal to naturalists who like an energetic read.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Linda Saport. Tupag is too busy dreaming to help fish or gather berries in his dark Arctic village. Finally forced to leave, he encounters Raven, who grants Tupag one of his dreams--a season of light--and Tupag returns to become the village storyteller. Despite the somewhat dubious implication that laziness is acceptable if balanced with imagination, both the story and the rich pastels have an engaging lyrical quality.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) 4-6 Exploring the Science of Nature series. These concise, well-paced books explain the scientific basis of these natural phenomena and examine the impact they have on plant and animal life. Also addressed are parallel topics, such as the burning of food for energy and the aural reflection of echoes. Captioned photos illustrate the pages, and a few appended activity ideas expand on points from the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) 4-6 Exploring the Science of Nature series. Each of these concise, well-paced volumes explores a broad topic by examining a variety of instances in the plant and animal worlds. Numbers discusses such issues as quantity of offspring, life span, and symmetry; Survival, issues of natural selection, adaptation, and extinction. Adequate photos illustrate concepts from the text. A few activity ideas are appended. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) 4-6 Exploring the Science of Nature series. Each of these concise, well-paced volumes explores a broad topic by examining a variety of instances in the plant and animal worlds. Numbers discusses such issues as quantity of offspring, life span, and symmetry; Survival, issues of natural selection, adaptation, and extinction. Adequate photos illustrate concepts from the text. A few activity ideas are appended. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) 4-6 Exploring the Science of Nature series. These concise, well-paced books explain the scientific basis of these natural phenomena and examine the impact they have on plant and animal life. Also addressed are parallel topics, such as the burning of food for energy and the aural reflection of echoes. Captioned photos illustrate the pages, and a few appended activity ideas expand on points from the texts. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Each of these books tells four simple stories that end with a satisfying twist youngsters will enjoy, though Rosa's tales are comparatively flat. First-time readers are aided by short sentences and repetition; clear, entertaining illustrations; and introductions (to be read by the adult) before each story that briefly summarize the action. Adults get useful tips on helping their children reader gain reading confidence.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) K-3 Emily, who loves drawing, loses the first-grade art contest. She feels like a part of her has been taken away, and indeed she appears translucent in the watercolor illustrations until she begins drawing again at the behest of her best friend. Filled with touches of humor and authentically childlike emotions, this book explores the subjectivity of opinion and the importance of personal conviction.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Henry Cole. Clara is a plain cabbage caterpillar who will become a cream-colored butterfly, and the flashily hued Catisha mocks her for it, until Clara rescues Catisha from the beak of a hungry crow by using her plainness as camouflage. The slight tale--sometimes overwhelmed by conspicuous alliteration--is enlivened by Cole's accomplished blend of realism and cartoon charm.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Graham. Emerson's familiar poem and prayer of thanksgiving for the natural world finds its modern complement in Graham's impressionistic paintings, which depict a family's overnight hike in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Both Emerson's evocative words and Graham's lush illustrations, in which the landscape is the dominant character, convey a reverence for nature. A short biography of Emerson is appended.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) PS A boy draws a picture of a rabbit and daydreams about what they could do together, deciding that if it were real, he would let it go free. The spare text achieves an understated intimacy, and the gouache illustrations employ a striking effect: finely textured realistic depictions of the boy and the rabbit are set against backgrounds rendered with the simplicity of a child's drawing.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) 1-3 Road to Reading series. Despite his great-aunt's warnings, Martin stares into the eyes of the fox that visits the yard each afternoon. They magically trade bodies, and each gets to experience life as the other for a day. This fanciful tale, illustrated with spry black-and-white line drawings, brims with the flavor of fables and will appeal to any child who has daydreamed about living in the animal world.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Layne Johnson. Chad is worried that Ben, his developmentally disabled little brother, will ruin his family's first camping trip. Although the trip has its ups and downs, including Ben's being teased by two boys, Chad keeps it all in perspective. Illustrated with textured watercolors that are occasionally stiff, the text honestly portrays both the humor and the frustration of living with a developmentally disabled sibling, a subject discussed in more detail in the author's note.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(3) PS Illustrated by Joung Un Kim. As night advances, a mother and child observe the various animals--such as moths, bats, and owls--that take wing outside their window: "Whose wings? / Firefly's wings, / Glimmer, glow, and hide." The gently rhymed and repetitive text, along with the bold, lushly colored illustrations printed on sturdy paper, make this an appealing and age-appropriate choice for toddlers at bedtime.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Nash. On her family's farm, Tabitha has a pet horse, who has a pet cow, and so on down to the cat, whose pet is Tabitha. The repetitive text gets cumbersome and the ending is flat, but the way the animals bestow their own characteristics on their pet--the pig names his pet rooster Oink and teaches him to roll in mud--is entertaining, as are Nash's whimsical cartoon illustrations.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler