(4) K-3 Illustrated by Pascal Biet. When Leo, a raccoon, agrees to teach his friend Lester the hippo some basic lessons in manners, the ensuing disasters prove to be more instructive. Young readers will enjoy Biet's lighthearted, playful illustrations and the amiable friendship that transcends the book's too pointed message.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pascal Biet. Crackers the cat gets fired from several jobs for being nice to mice, but the mice pay him back by helping him get his dream job in a cheese shop run by a mouse who ordinarily wouldn't hire a cat. Lighthearted watercolor cartoons depict, in humorous scenes, a gentle cat trying to break out of his stereotype: "But I don't want to chase mice. After all, they never chase me!"

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) PS Illustrated by Pascal Biet. When Henry uses magic pencils to draw six mice and a hedgehog on the wall, they come to life and wreak havoc in his room. Finally Henry draws a no-nonsense teacher, who takes charge immediately and leads the animals away. While the story is somewhat inconsistent and the quick resolution a bit disappointing, the watercolor illustrations comically depict the growing chaos and clutter.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pascal Biet. Much to a hungry wolf's surprise, the farm animals barely look up from their books when he comes to devour them. Instead, they tell him to quit disturbing their reading. The agile watercolor artwork exudes a dry wit as it follows the wolf on his quest to become as fluent a reader as the other animals.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann