(4) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Siblings trek across land and water--encountering animals wearing costumes and having adventures--while searching for the perfect pet. Lively acrylic-paint and digital collage illustrations show the kids' progress (along with an inset photo of the author, in animal disguise, on each double-page spread). Lyrics and guitar chords to the song "Animal Friends" are included; readers unfamiliar with Covert's tunes may be mystified.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) PS Illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper. Ralph's World will be familiar to Disney Channel viewers; this book based on a dozen of Ralph's songs will appeal primarily to those existing fans. The lyrics, although witty and child-centered, don't always translate well to the page, and reading them aloud without knowing the tunes is perplexing. Harper's playful illustrations reinforce the lighthearted mood. Chord charts and a CD are included.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Giselle Potter. As a boy, William Cameron Coup left home to run away with the circus. Starting at the bottom, he eventually became one of the industry's most successful and inventive entrepreneurs. This picture book biography relates Coup's story in an accessible (if exclamation-point-heavy) way. Potter's illustrations are beautifully rendered, interpreting Coup's life and world with quirky energy and imaginative color.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn