(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lessac Frané. When Jesse discovers his favorite book, The Swiss Family Robinson, on the "Book Boat" (one of the rental library/bookstores that cruised the Erie Canal in the early 1800s), he sets out to earn its price: twenty cents. The way this small drama looms large works well to illuminate the historical setting, which is also nicely evoked in vivid gouache paintings.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(3) PS Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. "At the park / the sky grows dark." Short rhyming lines describe children at play during a rainstorm. When lightning threatens, though, they head home in the car ("Wipers swish. / Sneakers squish"). Steptoe's loose cut-paper collages depict a warm, joyful scene. Both text and art do a fine job evoking a situation that every child will recognize.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Michael is looking forward to another summer on his grandparents' farm. But when his grandfather dies suddenly, Michael's life is thrown into crisis. His parents are busy, he's struggling with math--only his artistic talents keep him afloat. Cotten approaches grief realistically, but stilted dialogue and a too-abrupt resolution make for an awkward debut novel.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Beth Peck. Abbie loves to read but she hates needlework, yet learning to stitch a sampler is an important part of a girl's education in the early 1800s. How Abbie solves her dilemma makes for a simple yet satisfying story based on the author's research. The warm paintings add texture to the story, although the muddy faces feature frequently distorted expressions.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(2) PS Illustrated by Delana Bettoli. Cotten's rhyming couplets recount the Nativity story in quiet, cumulative verse that matches the tender mood of Bettoli's jewel-toned illustrations. The softly glowing paintings include details that are the book's real highlight. The hushed tone of both art and text make this an appropriate choice for lulling toddlers to sleep on Christmas Eve.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006

(3) PS Illustrated by Reg Cartwright. "At the edge of the woods, the grass grows tall, / the daisies dance, and the blackbirds call." These woods are teeming with animals, counted from one to ten in a rhyming, hypnotic refrain. In a humorous final spread, all the animals quickly hide when a sleepy bear lumbers into their midst. Preschoolers can easily count the friendly looking stylized animals in the large, bold illustrations.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan