(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. These transitional chapter books recast well-known fairy tales with the principal, students, and staff of PS 88. Previously published as a picture book, Underwear follows snazzy dresser Principal Bundy as he's hoodwinked by two shifty tailors. Spell finds PS 88 overrun by enchanted brooms. Comical black-and-white illustrations support the lighthearted texts. Includes lists of characters, vocabulary words, and comprehension questions. Review covers these titles: Our Principal Breaks a Spell! and Our Principal's in His Underwear!

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. These transitional chapter books recast well-known fairy tales with the principal, students, and staff of PS 88. Previously published as a picture book, Underwear follows snazzy dresser Principal Bundy as he's hoodwinked by two shifty tailors. Spell finds PS 88 overrun by enchanted brooms. Comical black-and-white illustrations support the lighthearted texts. Includes lists of characters, vocabulary words, and comprehension questions. Review covers these titles: Our Principal Breaks a Spell! and Our Principal's in His Underwear!

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Designed to assist readers transitioning to longer, more complex texts, this reformatted chapter-book edition (previously published as picture book The Frog Principal) includes character and word lists, table of contents, story questions, and abundant black-and-white cartoons by new illustrator Blecha. Based on "The Frog Prince," the story about a beloved principal who is accidentally transformed into a frog but continues his job is silly and well paced.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(4) PS Illustrated by AntonGionata Ferrari. In this rambunctious and cheerful if rather pointless story, dino Rex takes his friend Stego for a spin through the city in his new sports car and can't resist honking his horn (repeatedly and illegally). After causing much havoc but also helping clear the way for a firetruck, he eventually gets a ticket. A rhyming text and chaotic mixed-media illustrations capture all the action.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Abby Carter. A lighthearted text posits yes-or-no questions about Ollie's field trip, such as "How will the class get to the aquarium?" Three silly answers are offered (e.g., "Will they go in a submarine?"); a fourth response is always the correct choice (a school bus). Along the way, a subtle lesson in proper field-trip behavior is conveyed. The breezy watercolor illustrations enhance the text's humor.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Ready, Set, Dogs! series. Illustrated by Heather Ross. While prepping for the Bark-in-the-Park dog competition, dog-morphing best friends Kate and Lucie test out their sleuthing skills when two dachshunds belonging to the owners of the town's new hot dog stand disappear. A light, playful tone turns a scary situation into a manageable one. Peppy black-and-white illustrations embellish this third installment's accessible chapters. Dog jokes, facts, and biographical authors' notes are appended.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Ready, Set, Dogs! series. Illustrated by Heather Ross. When Kate and Lucie's substitute teacher loses control of their class, the BFFs use their magical dog-morphing abilities to help out. This sophomore entry has it all: action, adventure, mystery, and humor, but the plot lacks focus. Ross's cute, expressive black-and-white full-page illustrations and spot art add spirit. Dog jokes and author essays are included.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 1-3 Ready, Set, Dogs! series. Illustrated by Heather Ross. Pup-crazy best friends Kate and Lucie, who live in a no-dogs-allowed apartment building, find magical necklaces that turn them into dogs whenever they wish. In addition to having an appealing premise, this series-opener is also a great introduction to dog rescue and adoption. Whimsical and expressive black-and-white spot- and full-page drawings are a welcome addition to the lively text.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Abby Carter. In this engaging question-and-answer book, readers follow Ollie as he prepares for school. Kids are asked straightforward questions, such as how Ollie will get to school. What follows is a series of potential answers paired with silly illustrated vignettes (will Ollie row a boat, ride a giraffe, or hop backward?); a page turn reveals the correct choice (he'll ride the bus).

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) PS Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. When Mr. Bungles the teacher has a clumsy day, his class ends up chasing their runaway hamster through the town. This comical story invites readers to come up with a rhyming word before turning the page to discover the end of the verse. The lively, detailed illustrations are as entertaining as the text; readers can track the hamster's footprints across the pages.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. When Mr. Bungles's alarm fails to go off, he realizes he has a problem: "Oh, no! I'm the teacher / and it's my rule / to never, ever ever be late for... / school!" Vibrantly colored illustrations show Mr. Bungles's frenzied attempts to get to class using increasingly far-fetched means of transportation. Interactive fill-in-the-rhyme text keeps pace with each page turn.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Illustrated by Bruce Degen. A jazz-minded mouse leaps up onto the piano, setting off a chain reaction of joyous music-making. Each character's musical contribution is drawn as a vibrant composition of line, shape, and color. When these visual representations of sound come together, the (psychedelic-looking) result is pure celebration. The rhythmic verse with its catchy refrain invites enthusiastic read-aloud participation.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doug Cushman. Each animal brings Mouse a surprise birthday gift. The text is in rhyme, with the gift revealed after a page turn ("Go on, take a look. / There are pages and pages / Of jokes in this... / 'Book!'"). Readers will enjoy figuring out the rhymes and guessing the gifts. Vibrant illustrations give the animals, especially Mouse, individual personalities.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Jan Ormerod. Dachshund Harry leads young readers through kid-meets-dog etiquette. The line-and-watercolor illustrations are as simple and patient as the text, placing the viewer in a straight-on and consistent position for Harry's how-tos, reinforcing the way the "lessons" build on each other. What is perhaps most engaging is the direct address from dog to child; grownups are relegated to holding the leash.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2007

(4) PS Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. This collection of thirty-three poems features rhymes for all aspects of baby and young toddler life, including diaper changing, eating, bathing, playing, stroller riding, and sleeping. The short poems are suitably simple and rhythmic though somewhat pedestrian overall. Admirably, the slightly busy but gentle watercolor illustrations show as many dads interacting with their babies as moms.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Alan Tiegreen. Beginning with an explanation of card-playing concepts such as shuffling the deck and dealing, clear, step-by-step directions show children how to play twenty card games, including Concentration, Go Fish, Rummy, and Poker. Lighthearted line drawings appear throughout what is sure to be a popular book among aspiring cardsharps. Bib.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Denise Brunkus. When Mr. Bundy, the school principal of P.S. 88, is accidentally turned into a talking frog, he fills in as substitute principal for himself, with amusing consequences, until a blow on the head restores his human form. Lively illustrations enhance the humor in this story based on the folktale "The Frog Prince."

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Thomas F. Yezerski. Although Puppy tries hard to be perfect, he discovers it isn't easy, and after making one mistake too many, he runs away. When his girl finds him, brings him home, and gives him hugs and treats, he finally realizes he already is perfect. The watercolor illustrations add humor to this warm story of acceptance, mistakes and all.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) PS Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. A ride in a stroller, a trip to the farm, bath time, potty time, and other familiar toddler activities and accomplishments are celebrated in this collection of encouraging rhymes. Many of the verses tend to plod along, missing the mark on rhymes and meter, but the playful illustrations make up for the lackluster poems.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. In the fourth book about the cheery Gator Girls, Allie and Amy prepare for a Halloween costume contest between the boys and the girls, and they restore a lost pet to its rightful owner. Munsinger's characteristic watercolor and ink illustrations are as light and amusing as the story, which will satisfy young readers as they reinforce their new reading skills.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth