(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Käthi Bhend. In this picture book for older readers, an orphan is left alone on Earth. He explores the heavens and discovers that the sun, moon, and stars are devastating illusions and sources of even more loneliness. The story, adapted from a play by Georg Büchner, is dark, morbid, and frightening--just right for middle schoolers. The illustrations evoke a fairy-tale feeling and leave room for imagination.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. A bear deep in winter sleep is dreaming of the Nativity when a rabbit running from hunters jumps into his cave. They discuss the bear's dream, with the rabbit supplying a short interpretation of the Christmas story. Soft watercolors mostly in shades of blue, white, gray, and brown illustrate this subdued and sentimental tale.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Christa Unzner. This simplified prose version of the play emphasizes Romeo and Juliet's romance while eliminating all subplots and secondary character development. Unzer's sophisticated, graceful, layered illustrations are the book's greatest strength. Bits of original text are interlaced with the delicate ink drawings and sometimes-translucent painted pictures.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Ivan Gantschev. After an avalanche separates snow leopard cub Siri from her younger brother, she is caught in a steel trap while searching for him. Freed by a game warden, Siri makes her way home to the snow cave where she finds her brother waiting. Illustrated with soft pastel watercolors, this somewhat wordy and anticlimactic story includes factual information about snow leopards.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Jeska Verstegen. Mother, Father, Ben, and Becky Beaver spend their time happily splashing around. When a storm threatens to destroy their lodge, their resourcefulness and willingness to work together pulls them through--although Kuiper doesn't stoop to saying this. The book's other main pleasure is its textured images of the not-too-anthropomorphized beavers in action.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Vanessa Hie. The Hempels want to bake a cake but can't find the whisk in their messy kitchen. Cleaning the kitchen they find a pillow, which belongs in the bedroom; cleaning the bedroom, they find a toothbrush; eventually they find the whisk, bake a cake, and--make a mess. Humorous illustrations and the rhythm of the text make this an entertaining read-aloud.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. After being teased for riding a bicycle with training wheels, young dinosaur Stego Saurus removes them and promptly falls over. Encouragement from a larger young dinosaur convinces him to put them back on. The don't-run-before-you-can-walk message is communicated quite clearly, but the illustrations--of brightly colored, perpetually smiling dinosaurs--have a puzzling surreal quality.

Reviewer: Sharona Siegel

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. When Finn complains about the food his mother cooks--he'd rather have "an unhealthy, unbalanced meal"--she decides to let him choose what to eat for a day. Finn fills a shopping cart with candy and junk food, but by dinnertime he feels sick and just wants some spaghetti. The lively, colorful paintings deserve a better, less pointed story.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Maja Dusi­kova. In a reversal of the stereotypical monster-under-the-bed story, Mona, a monster who lives in a "chilly attic," can't sleep for fear of scary children under her bed. When the children actually appear, both parties get over their fears quickly and become fast friends. The predictable and flat story is nicely illustrated with attention to homey (both monster and human) details.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Amelie Jackowski. Foul-tempered Badger sets off on a walk, spreading bad cheer. Later he feels better and is ready to play with the other animals--but why is everyone so rude? The story, illustrated with cheery paintings, teaches a worthwhile lesson, but the resolution (a bad-mood party and an apology) is too easy. However, this might be just the thing to turn a frown upside down.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Quentin Gréban. Fay the mouse is frightened by a dog who growls at her on her way home from school. Her father figures out, however, that the dog just wants to be friends and is trying to get her attention. The pleasant illustrations for this slight, somewhat saccharine story make the most of the contrast between the small mouse and her large surroundings.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Cristina Kadmon. After Baby Bear finds out about the traditions of Christmas from the forest animals, he is crushed to learn that bears sleep through it. While Baby Bear is hibernating, his animal friends surprise him by waking him for a Yuletide visit--a too-easy solution suggesting that interfering with nature is no big deal. The illustrations feature realistically proportioned animals in seasonal activities.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Cristina Kadmon. Sebastian the turtle's father explains some of the things a father does for his children, using other animals as examples: "A father shows his children how to hop from stalk to stalk in the cornfield." While kids won't learn any science lessons (many of the animal fathers mentioned don't raise their young), they might enjoy guessing each animal from the clues Father gives as well as from the cheerful illustrations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Eve Tharlet. Wags, a puppy who worries about everything, is especially terrified when she gets separated from her family at the farmer's market. Friendly animals try to help, but Wags is sure she'll never see her family again. Readers will enjoy the amusing twist that reunites the puppy with her parents. Her fears and joy are heightened in the soft, appealing watercolors.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Nora Hilb. When cat Finn and hamster Max move into a new neighborhood, four tough cats tell Finn he can't join their gang unless he stops being friends with Max. Max and Finn's temporary solution leaves both pets unhappy until Max rescues the gang leader and is allowed to join the prowlers. The wordy story is illustrated with kittenlike cats in bright colors.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. This version of "The Three Little Pigs" has three rabbits setting off on their own. Dizzy with their new independence, only one heeds their father's warning to dig a burrow for a dwelling. She alone is safe from a hungry fox and must scheme to protect her brothers. Although the story is moralistic, the delicate, unusual artwork is appealing.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Lieselotte Schwarz. A small star longs to visit the earth, so the moon turns him into a sea star, and he investigates the ocean and many lands. Years later, he returns to the moon, leaving behind a starfish shell for a young child to find. The warm, luminous illustrations justify the book's large scale, but the lyrical text is self-consciously allegorical to the point of being grating.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Nina Spranger. Pablo, a former performing pig who enjoys his retirement in a small field at the edge of the city, narrowly escapes the butcher and finds a new home in a garden after his hut is bulldozed to make room for a development. Originally published in Switzerland, the sweet but slight text features an appealing character in an unlikely situation. Detailed watercolor illustrations capture both landscape and characters.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Uli Waas. During a Halloween sleepover in her classroom, Mary explains that she has no fear of ghosts because she has her own special star for protection. But the delight and wonder behind this idea are undermined on the last page, when Mary herself requests that the hall light be left on during the night. The children's antics are depicted with lighthearted, cartoonlike watercolors.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Jeska Verstegen. Bailey the bear is eager to grow up--until he discovers how difficult tracking down berries, honey, and fish can be. Children will respond to the mother-child affection and recognize Bailey's struggles as he learns to find food for himself instead of relying on his mother. Unfortunately, the tale is told with saccharine prose and equally precious illustrations, which occasionally fail to match the story line.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin