(2) K-3 Illustrated by Carmen Mok. This Canadian import straightforwardly takes on a difficult subject: the effects of parental depression on a child. Kim wakes each morning not knowing which version of her mother she'll have for the day. "Sometimes she's up, making breakfast, packing lunch. Today she's still in bed beside me." Our narrator doesn't appear outwardly worried; "I'm tough like Mum" is her repeated refrain. Kim packs her own lunch with what little she can find in the pantry, saving food for her dinner. When she attempts to rouse her mother for a school field-trip signature, Mum's curt response sends Kim away. The muted colors used in Mok's digitally edited gouache and colored-pencil illustrations give a heaviness to Kim's days and are fitting to the subject at hand. Fortunately, a supportive teacher provides some comfort, helping Kim navigate the field-trip problem (including the form's "I can't pay" box, another clue to one of her family's hardships), and allowing the girl to feel less alone. Children with a parent living with depression will see themselves in Kim's steadfast love for, and frustration with, her mother. Eventually, the two are able to connect after school, and Kim and Mum spend their evening reading stories and laughing together. Readers should come away from the story realizing that staying "tough" is not the only answer.

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

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tania Howells. Willow worries that she won't be able to smile on cue on Picture Day. The lessons here--that everyone has "their own special smiles" and that Willow can look "picture perfect" without a big grin--are reinforced by the childlike illustrations but somewhat obscured as the plot progresses. A reassuring, if not especially deep, walk through Picture Day.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tania Howells. Willow's bossy classmate Kristabelle bullies the whole class, and anyone who doesn't toe the line will be excluded from her "fantastic birthday party." The teacher seems oddly unaware, but readers can root for Willow as she finds the courage to neutralize Kristabelle's threat without becoming vindictive herself. Simple, childlike illustrations, rendered in Photoshop, reflect the emotions involved in classroom politics.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert