(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Roberts. In this Prince and the Pauper reimagining, a pig's accidental discovery that he can masquerade as the human prince provides the perfect opportunity to indulge his sweet tooth via the royal kitchen. The discovery of Pignatius's trick infuriates the palace staff, but the prince is delighted to have a double. Bently's rollicking rhymes match Roberts's lively illustrations filled with culinary delights and witty details.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) PS Illustrated by Sarah Massini. A rhythmic, rhyming "recipe" consists of parts of a child's nightly routine, such as these instructions for bathtime: "Add to water (not too hot). / Stir a little. Then a lot." In the peaceful illustrations, a bevy of smiling toy animals follow the directions, including a teddy bear who reads the book "A Recipe for Bedtime" (so meta). Choose this for a quiet evening read-aloud.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) PS Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Jack and his crew create a ship made of sand, battle fearsome pirates, and find a picnic full of treasures. The text and illustrations depict a perfect day at the seaside complete with an ice cream treat. Oxenbury's signature illustrations give the text an added layer of sweetness and capture Jack's imaginative adventure.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) PS Illustrated by Bella Bee & Lucy Fleming. While the stories are fairly ho-hum, these vehicle-focused books will nevertheless thrill young plane and train enthusiasts. Will the jet deliver the king's crown in time? Can the passenger train rescue the mail train? Preschooler-friendly digital illustrations feature animal characters (koalas in Plane, dogs in Train). Bold type highlights vocabulary such as dials and boarding steps. Picture glossaries appended. Review covers these titles: Plane's Royal Rescue and Train Is on Track.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) PS Illustrated by Bella Bee & Lucy Fleming. While the stories are fairly ho-hum, these vehicle-focused books will nevertheless thrill young plane and train enthusiasts. Will the jet deliver the king's crown in time? Can the passenger train rescue the mail train? Preschooler-friendly digital illustrations feature animal characters (koalas in Plane, dogs in Train). Bold type highlights vocabulary such as dials and boarding steps. Picture glossaries appended. Review covers these titles: Plane's Royal Rescue and Train Is on Track.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mei Matsuoka. While doing the shopping for his mom, Simon Squirrel and his friends end up in a magical balloon--riding around the solar system, picking up items on Mom's list, and having adventures. "On Neptune they hoped to get space fish and fries. / Instead all they caught was a scary surprise!" Large illustrations, featuring wacky space creatures, reinforce the zaniness of the bouncy rhymes.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Roberts. "Munching away," eight grazing sheep stumble upon an air show, stuff themselves into a plane, and jet off on an adventure--can-canning in France, fleeing a Tibetan yeti, and waking Egyptian mummies. "Travel is fun!," sure, but (predictably) the sheep are happy to make it home. Roberts's fine-lined illustrations match the old-fashioned feel of Bently's rip-roaring, British-flavored rhymes.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. Snappy rhymes remind the reader that, while parents can be major nags, they have many points to recommend them--e.g., "Parents are towels for / wiping your grime on. / They're whirlers and twirlers / and tree trunks to climb on." Reinforcing the kid's-eye-view narration, some illustrations are pleasingly faux childlike: several images seem to have been attacked with crayon.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mei Matsuoka. Lou Pine, "a wily old wolf," craves lamb for dinner. With Rambo the Ram standing in his way, Lou must plan a way to infiltrate the flock. He bullies Little Red's grandmother into knitting him a sheep costume, but he underestimates Granny's own trickery and is finally served his comeuppance. Inviting and humorous collage-like illustrations accompany the rollicking rhyme.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 1-3 Vampire School series. In these third and fourth supernatural send-ups set at a vampire elementary school, fangy friends Lee, Billy, and Bella save the school play when the star loses her voice (Stage Fright) and investigate their werewolf substitute teacher (Teacher Screecher). The goofy puns, breezy pacing, comical black-and-white pictures, and gentle subversion of a familiar setting make these an easy sell to humor fans. Review covers these Vampire School titles: Stage Fright and Teacher Screecher.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 1-3 Vampire School series. In these third and fourth supernatural send-ups set at a vampire elementary school, fangy friends Lee, Billy, and Bella save the school play when the star loses her voice (Stage Fright) and investigate their werewolf substitute teacher (Teacher Screecher). The goofy puns, breezy pacing, comical black-and-white pictures, and gentle subversion of a familiar setting make these an easy sell to humor fans. Review covers these Vampire School titles: Stage Fright and Teacher Screecher.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 1-3 Vampire School series. Illustrated by Chris Harrison. Lee and his friends attend vampire school. In these first two series entries, they have exciting adventures with werewolves, bats, and Fangless folk. The harmless ghouls also form solid friendships and model a good work ethic. Easy-to-read texts, with occasional changes in font and cheerful black-and-white drawings, make the books approachable and engaging. Review covers these Vampire School titles: Casketball Capers and Ghoul Trip.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 1-3 Vampire School series. Illustrated by Chris Harrison. Lee and his friends attend vampire school. In these first two series entries, they have exciting adventures with werewolves, bats, and Fangless folk. The harmless ghouls also form solid friendships and model a good work ethic. Easy-to-read texts, with occasional changes in font and cheerful black-and-white drawings, make the books approachable and engaging. Review covers these Vampire School titles: Casketball Capers and Ghoul Trip.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(2) PS Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. In this classically sweet picture book, two preschoolers and a toddler build a cardboard-box fortress and protect it from dragons until darkness falls and their parents take them home. Bently's unforced rhyming couplets swing along, and Oxenbury, in gentle watercolors and crosshatched line drawings, showcases her gift for portraying the personalities and relationships of young children.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ben Cort. When a shark comes looking for a snack, all the fish take refuge in a nearby sunken ship. There, a squid offers the suggestion that they band together to appear like a whale and scare the shark away. It's not the most original premise (see Leo Lionni's classic Swimmy), but the bouncy rhyming text, illustrated with deep-sea hues, carries the story along.

Reviewer: David Elzey