(3) 4-6 I Want to Be series. The subject of fashion design--from fabric production to the runway--is thoroughly covered in text and clear color photos. The book highlights different careers within the fashion industry and mentions some elementary and high schools that offer classes in textile design or fashion skills. A list of resources, including fashion museums and modeling agencies, is included.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(3) K-3 In the style of Azarian's A Farmer's Alphabet, bold full-page woodcuts with colorful watercolor washes fill the pages of this alphabet book about gardening. Many aspects of gardening are included, from Japanese gardening to composting and sowing seeds. Children and adults both will enjoy the book's humor and subtlety. A brief introduction by the author-illustrator gives some insight into her love for gardens.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Jason loves bears from books, in zoos, and "he even loves bears he'd never seen." He admires their size, strength, and boldness, and it never occurs to him to be afraid of them until his big brother tells him about bears in the house that want to eat him. Richly colored, humorous acrylic paintings show Jason overcoming his fears with his own bravery in this good read-aloud choice.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) PS Animals Are Fun! series. Simple information accompanies large color photographs in these animal introductions for younger readers. Choppy texts highlight each animal's special features, habitat, feeding habits, and rearing of young. A sometimes unclearly labeled photo at the end of each book reinforces anatomic features unique to each animal. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) PS Animals Are Fun! series. Simple information about the frog's habitat, anatomy, life cycle, and feeding habits accompanies large color photographs showing the different species. Although the text is occasionally choppy, younger readers will understand the concrete facts it provides. A labeled photograph highlighting the frog's anatomy is appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) PS Animals Are Fun! series. Simple information accompanies large color photographs in these animal introductions for younger readers. Choppy texts highlight each animal's special features, habitat, feeding habits, and rearing of young. A sometimes unclearly labeled photo at the end of each book reinforces anatomic features unique to each animal. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) PS Animals Are Fun! series. Simple information accompanies large color photographs in these animal introductions for younger readers. Choppy texts highlight each animal's special features, habitat, feeding habits, and rearing of young. A sometimes unclearly labeled photo at the end of each book reinforces anatomic features unique to each animal. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pam Paparone. At bedtime, Julia plays with her three stuffed animals and her cat. In the imaginary world of Husher Town, a microdrama unfolds when Bear becomes the mailman but has no mail. All is resolved when Julia provides a sackful of "letters" (her homework papers) and packages for the animals. The rich, brushy acrylic paintings add zest to the slow-moving, quiet story.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Arthur Geisert. Once again, the Geiserts introduce readers to a typical American town. A quick overview of a mountain town's history, as well as details of seasonal changes and the daily life of the townspeople create a full and accurate picture of a year's cycle. For readers observant enough to follow the townsfolk doings, half the story is told in the carefully etched color illustrations.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(3) 4-6 Starting with Nature series. Illustrated by Heather Collins. This thorough introduction to the life of a flowering plant includes pollination, seeds, seed transportation, surviving the winter, and plant defenses. Step-by-step instructions for activities give the young naturalist a hands-on understanding of the anatomy of plants and flowers, plant care, and garden ecology. Detailed, realistic watercolor illustrations are labeled for clarity and assist in plant identification.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) K-3 MathStart series. Illustrated by Marsha Winborn. When Grandma's cat has kittens, Joey and Lisa pick Pepper as their own, and Lisa writes a year's worth of monthly journal entries about Pepper. The colorful illustrations are busy with details, holiday references, and facts about cats, which may overshadow the concept at hand. Included at the end of the book are a year's calendar and suggestions for parents to help clarify the concept of time.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) K-3 "I know that some people / call it a weed, / but to me the dandelion / is a noble breed." This singsongy rhyming text sketches the life cycle of a dandelion through spring and summer. Effectively composed illustrations zoom in and out, providing informative detail as well as visual panorama. Posada includes factual information about the flower, a recipe, and some activities at the end of the book.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(3) 4-6 Naturalist's Apprentice series. Illustrated by Wendy Smith. Ross follows the life of Chiura Obata from a young budding naturalist growing up in Japan to a successful Japanese-American nature artist. Well-organized chapters chronicle Obata's traditional Japanese education and his move to the United States in 1903. Sidebars include superfluous tips and activities for young artists; reproductions of original artwork and black-and-white photos enhance the text. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) K-3 Looking for shelter, a traveling rat winds up inside a museum of natural history, where he finds warmth, interesting surroundings, and friendly fellow squatters. A mishap with a dinosaur skeleton leaves the group out in the cold until they repair the skeleton and win a place on the museum staff. Unnecessary dialogue dilutes the humor, but Stevenson's loose watercolor cartoons energize this whimsical story.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(4) K-3 Ten mice visit an imaginary museum filled with paintings "inspired" by real-life masterpieces, which are identified at the end of the book. As the mice view the thematically grouped artwork, they comment simply on what they see ("That fruit looks yummy"). The bright gouache illustrations are engaging; and though the dialogue is uninspired, it does provide an accessible model for talking about and appreciating fine art.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(2) PS Illustrated by David McPhail. Young Growl Bear spends his lonely days wishing for a friend. Sadly misunderstood, he has scared all the forest animals with his only utterance--"Gr-r-r-r-r-r-r!" Finally, Old Owl realizes the cub is simply too young to have learned how to speak yet. McPhail's warm ocher-washed watercolor and pen-and-ink artwork newly illustrates the affecting story, adapted from Austin's Growl Bear.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 1999

(3) K-3 How Artists See series. Each double-page spread includes reproductions of a painting, sculpture, statue, print, or photograph and simple questions in a brief text, to introduce young readers to art appreciation. Though facts and dates are omitted in the discussion of individual works, brief artist bios at the back of the books fill in the gaps. A list of museums exhibiting the work of the featured artists is appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(3) K-3 How Artists See series. Each double-page spread includes reproductions of a painting, sculpture, statue, print, or photograph and simple questions in a brief text, to introduce young readers to art appreciation. Though facts and dates are omitted in the discussion of individual works, brief artist bios at the back of the books fill in the gaps. A list of museums exhibiting the work of the featured artists is appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff

(2) K-3 When Will's father suggests a canine for a companion, avid astronomer Will knows just what he wants--a moondog. He builds a rocketship and heads for the moon, but when a stowaway "mangy mongrel" from Earth saves his life, Will realizes that the pet he wants has been under his nose the whole time. The simple, buoyant story features a rhyming text, while clean colors in the illustrations give life to the fantastic moondogs, moonscape, and swirling starry skies.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 1999

(4) K-3 In a fairly predictable story, Jack the bear follows a sign to a local museum where he begins a frustrating yet visually enjoyable search for a bear named "Art"--failing to understand that art is all around him. A kind guard explains Jack's mistake and encourages him to return later for a tour. Photographs of the artwork are collaged onto the illustrations, giving the reader a view of works held by the Delaware Art Museum. Ind.

Reviewer: Liza Woodruff