(3) PS Illustrated by David Mottram. Mighty Tug, a cheery, hard-working tugboat, pilots in New York City's "busy, busy harbor." Told in rhyme and with lots of sound words, the story describes how she heroically hauls and guides all kinds of vessels, including a fireboat on a rescue mission. Rendered in watercolor and gouache and composed digitally, the blocky illustrations offer plenty of action and details for boat enthusiasts.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tom Knight. In this playful Halloween-themed retelling of the folktale "Stone Soup," three hungry witches have only a bone to eat. They beg local monsters for eerie ingredients such as earthworms, eyeballs, and cobwebs, promising there's no trick, just a tasty treat. Greens, blues, and oranges dominate the cartoonish, digitally colored charcoal and pencil illustrations. A soup recipe (substituting edible ingredients for witchy ones) is appended.

Reviewer: Amy Bennett-Zendzian

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. It's the day of the big parade, and puppy Biscuit is eager to participate. When a handful of balloons escape, it's Biscuit to the rescue. One to two sentences per page include lots of repetition and onomatopoeia ("Beep! Beep! Here comes the fire truck, Biscuit! Woof!"). Simple and sweetly illustrated, this book fits right in with the other "My First" easy readers starring irrepressible Biscuit.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Puppies Biscuit and Puddles accompany their little girl owners to fly kites in the park. They have their kites and string and now just need wind. It takes several tries, but with their pups' (adorable) help, the kites are soon soaring. Repeated words and doggie sounds make this a good pick for very new readers. As ever, Schories's illustrations have a sweet nostalgic feel.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. In a simple, repetitive story line, a puppy imitates a small child in the familiar bedtime drama of attempting to avoid lights out. The minimal vocabulary ("Woof, woof!" figures largely) and universally appealing subject make it a good choice for youngsters just beginning to read. This paper-over-board edition of Biscuit's first easy reader includes an appendix celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of I Can Read.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) PS Illustrated by Pat Schories. This somewhat over-hefty collection features twelve reformatted and redesigned Biscuit stories, originally published as either smaller-size easy readers or paperback picture books. Biscuit's simple adventures include going to the library, "helping" in the garden, welcoming a new baby to the family, and visiting a farm. The gentle stories and illustrations are slight but will appeal to Biscuit's preschool fans.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) PS Illustrated by Lorna Hussey. On his birthday, Bear discovers things he can now do "all by himself" (albeit with a little help), but he's disappointed he can't put fallen leaves back on the tree. Then he figures out an alternative: rake the leaves so partygoers can jump in them. Bear's growing independence will likely resonate with young readers. Amiable watercolor and graphite illustrations enhance the story's gentle humor.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Puppy Biscuit goes with his little girl owner to feed Mrs. Gray's pets. Everything goes well at first--Biscuit "helps" feed the fish and kittens. But when Biscuit discovers the box of new puppies, (adorable) chaos ensues. Sweet illustrations, one to two sentences per page, and lots of lively animal sounds ("Yip--yip--yip! Woof, woof!") make this a good pick for brand-new readers.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sarah Massini. Tulip, in a polka-dot dress and a crown, throws a cape on dog Rex and takes him outside. On their walk, Tulip writes down words she likes in her notebook, then combines them into her own fairy tale. Capucilli's follow-up to Tulip Loves Rex is equally lighthearted and charming; Massini's sweet mixed-media and Photoshop illustrations set the pair in a sunny city park.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) PS Illustrated by Lorna Hussey. "All the bears love school"--and snacks, and storytime, and the playground--but "not this bear." Finding a friend to play with helps, and when asked if he is ready to go home, previously reluctant Bear joyfully replies: "Not this bear." Sweet illustrations feature cuddly bears engaging in typical preschool activities, while the text respectfully acknowledges the anxiety of being separated from Mama.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sarah Massini. Since she was very young, Tulip has loved to dance, twirl, spin, and leap, and her parents "didn't mind a bit." When Tulip meets a friendly dog in the park, she helps him discover his special talent, which is much like hers: spinning and leaping. Swirling lines in this spirited book's mixed-media and Photoshop illustrations add movement and energy to Tulip's graceful moves.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Wearing a tutu, boa, and "sparkly crown," Katy Duck dresses for success when she goes to work with Mr. Duck. Katy "works" hard, but Mr. Duck has to rein in his new hire: dancing and piles of paper don't mix. Cole's lively illustrations put a spring in the slight story's step. New readers will appreciate the large type and wide leading.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Katy Duck is thrilled with her homemade dancing unicorn Halloween costume...until she sees Alice Duck's glimmery, shimmery mer-duck costume: "Tra-la-la. Boohoo!" Alice, however, admires Katy's creation, and dancing unicorn and mer-duck shimmer, glimmer, gallop, and twirl happily together. The simple story is slight but welcomes new readers with its large type and sprightly illustrations.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) PS Illustrated by Dorothy Stott. Only the narrator differs in these sweet, identical stories (same appealing art, familiar situations, sturdy pages, and small trim size) about a new sibling. In each, the older sibling expresses excitement and frustration, awaits a time when being older starts to be fun, and then finds the ability to soothe the baby--all leading to love and acceptance. Review covers these books: Hannah Is a Big Sister and Henry Is a Big Brother.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) PS Illustrated by Dorothy Stott. Only the narrator differs in these sweet, identical stories (same appealing art, familiar situations, sturdy pages, and small trim size) about a new sibling. In each, the older sibling expresses excitement and frustration, awaits a time when being older starts to be fun, and then finds the ability to soothe the baby--all leading to love and acceptance. Review covers these books: Hannah Is a Big Sister and Henry Is a Big Brother.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. On Read to a Pet Day, Biscuit and his little-girl owner go to the library, but the pup isn't interested in books. When the librarian offers one with a familiar-looking puppy on the cover, Biscuit jumps into a big cozy chair, ready to be read to. Sweet illustrations and lively repetition ("woof, woof!") pull new readers through the simple story.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Biscuit's little girl points to all the wonderful things in her garden. The puppy, however, is more interested in the birds. When he jumps on and spills the bag of birdseed, the garden is suddenly filled with far more than just pretty flowers. The pleasant pictures of the lovable pup carry the simple, amusing story.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Biscuit's little girl points to all the wonderful things in her garden. The puppy, however, is more interested in the birds. When he jumps on and spills the bag of birdseed, the garden is suddenly filled with far more than just pretty flowers. The pleasant pictures of the lovable pup carry the simple, amusing story.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) PS Illustrated by Pat Schories. This collection features nine Biscuit stories, originally published as smaller-size easy readers. Biscuit's simple adventures include helping his family prepare for Christmas, volunteering for show-and-share day, trying to play with kittens, and helping reunite a lost teddy bear with its owner. The gentle stories and illustrations are slight but will appeal to Biscuit's preschool fans.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Katy Duck is excited to be the flower girl in her aunt Ella's wedding. But she is disappointed to discover this means tossing flowers, not dressing like one. Her aunt solves the dilemma by encouraging Katy to dance like a flower down the aisle. Cole's brightly saturated illustrations are cheery, and beginning readers will take to the simple, upbeat sentences.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner