(3) PS Illustrated by Cat Min. Bear floats through the sky in a hot air balloon, waving to his friends and refusing their invitations to climb, snack, and swim with them. But Bear has a secret: he doesn’t know how to get down. His brave (literal) cry for help brings the other animals to his aid, and he finally enjoys a cozy evening by the fire. The watercolor, colored-pencil, and digital spreads are lovely; the text gently delivers an essential lesson.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Patrice Barton. Rosie is so fed up with a constantly one-upping classmate that she does something unconscionable to the girl's plant-growing project--and then finds a way to make things right. There's not a misstep in sight, from Wortche's sure plotting to her subtle ending. Barton is uncanny at capturing the body language that says so much about children's moods and attitudes.

Reviewer: Nell Beram