(2) PS Young Fred parades around the house in pure joy wearing nothing but his birthday suit. He jumps off furniture, cartwheels down the hall, and finds himself in front of his parents' closet door. Maybe he will get dressed today after all. Fred considers the way his father dresses and extracts a shirt, tie, and dress shoes from the closet, only to find these items are far too large and complicated. Next he turns to Mom's wardrobe. A sharp pink dress, green sash cleverly assembled into a belt, and heels are just what Fred was looking for. Fred carefully maneuvers his way (in Mom's too-large shoes) over to the vanity so he can complete his look. Just as Fred attempts to apply lipstick (to his cheek), Mom and Dad walk in, catching Fred in his game of dress-up. At this point in the story, some readers might expect parental disapproval of Fred's self-expression, but no such reaction occurs. Instead, the whole family finds their own funky, fabulous outfits, and the fun continues. The witty, straightforward text enhances the tale's warmth and humor. Brown's digital illustrations take on a 1970s neon glow, best seen in Fred's rosy cheeks and Mom's bright red hair. And Fred's bare bottom will have readers giggling from the first page to the last.

Reviewer: Hill Saxton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(4) 4-6 Roz (The Wild Robot) has a new life as a farm robot, but nice as everyone is there, she longs to return to her island and her goose-son, Brightbill. With obstacles predictably paced and easily overcome, this sequel lacks tension, but gentle Roz’s fans will be happy to see that she gets home. Spot and full-page grayscale illustrations once again add to the story's atmosphere.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) YA Little McCardell is treading water in his poverty-stricken rural Idaho hometown; his grandfather is missing, his older brother jailed for domestic abuse, and Little's schoolwork is understandably suffering. Told in short, vignette-like chapters with unadorned poetic language, Little's story is bleak and heartwrenching but quite moving, with an eerie tension slowly building to a surprising conclusion.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(2) 4-6 Robot ROZZUM unit 7134--"Roz"--crashes ashore a deserted island. She gradually acclimates herself to life in the wild among the island's creatures, who themselves must adjust to her. Very short chapters, often ending with cliffhangers, make this a natural for classroom reading-aloud. Spot art with grayscale geometric stylization of the natural world lends both mystery and sophistication.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(3) YA Travis's family is poor; his homeless mother struggles with drug addiction; his grandmother is severely ill; and his best friend is assaulted by a gang member. But Travis and those around him use dark, often strange humor to help them cope. This gritty novel is honest about its characters' emotions, but their creative ways of handling difficulties make for an ultimately hopeful outlook.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) K-3 Bobby and his teacher (shown with monstrously green skin and sharp teeth) clash in class, but when they meet unexpectedly at the park, they begin to see each other differently--and Ms. Kirby looks decreasingly monstrous. Brown uses a cartoon-type format with panels and speech bubbles, and mixed-media illustrations, in a story that students and teachers will enjoy equally.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2014

(1) PS Mr. Tiger, bored in his very drab, very proper community, drops to all fours, sheds his clothing, and runs wild. This is a book made for storytime, with its bold mixed-media illustrations and a plot with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Children, who get tired of grownups and their requests for proper behavior, will relate to Mr. Tiger.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2013

(3) K-3 Lucy, the overly enthusiastic, tutu-clad bear from Children Make Terrible Pets tries to make a new friend. Forcing herself upon each critter, she insists, "Start liking me RIGHT NOW." It's not until Lucy believes all hope is lost that a new pal appears. Playful mixed-media illustrations include comical characters and word balloons that extend the humor (e.g., Lucy to an egg: "I can wait").

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Bear cub Lucy finds a human boy in the bushes. She makes the boy--called Squeaker--her pet, and all goes well...until it doesn't (he trashes the house, won't use his litter box, etc.). While this is a comedy and nearly every deadpan, mixed-media illustration will elicit grins, readers will surely be moved when Squeaker leaves the cub for a more suitable home.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Liam, who lives in a slightly surreal "city without gardens or trees or greenery of any kind," turns an abandoned railway into a green paradise. When his garden overruns the city, it's cause for celebration, not complaint. The book's look-for-beauty-where-you-least-expect-it message is best delivered in a series of dramatic acrylic and gouache wordless double-page spreads featuring the fruits of Liam's labor.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Bulldog Chowder is off to Fabu Pooch Boot Camp. Unlike the other pups, Chowder's fabulousness takes shape not in perfect posture, sparkling smiles, or breathtaking hair, but in slobbery trampoline bounces executed perfectly and with abandon. The retro-style acrylic and pencil illustrations render this second Chowder adventure as entertaining as the first.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Everyone (except his doting owners) thinks Chowder the bulldog is odd; he prefers reading newspapers to fetching them and loves gazing through his owners' telescope. One day he spies a petting zoo sign and hopes he can find some friends. Retro-style illustrations, varied design, and the occasional use of different typefaces add even more humor to this quirky celebration of individuality.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley