(3) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Halloween humbug Farmer Brown leaves candy on the porch, and hangs a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door. After hearing strange noises outside, he trembles under the covers. However, we know that his animals are hosting a Halloween bash. Well-paced text and appropriately shadowy illustrations assure listeners that the only foul thing afoot is a costumed fowl. The brief, sound effects–heavy text lends itself well to this new board-book format.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013; September, 2019

(2) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Farmer Brown and the barn animals (Click, Clack, Moo etc.) are invited to visit the local elementary school. He quells the animals' noisy enthusiasm with stern warnings: there will be none of that boisterousness. But when the recess bell rings, chaos ensues, and humans and animals alike happily run amok. The text's effective sound effects and repetition combine with expressive, relaxed-line watercolors for a funny and exuberant "quack"-to-school adventure.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(3) 1-3 Chicken Squad series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. In their fourth mystery-adventure, the four chicken siblings visit a farm for a family reunion and end up searching for missing jelly beans (and learning about the concept of perimeter). Themes of family and belonging are highlighted through the experiences of a lonely owl. Black-and-white illustrations supply clues and emphasize plot details. Another satisfying entry in the chapter book series.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 4-6 Nora uses a secret to blackmail her cousin Riley into riding a roller coaster with her, and Riley suffers a stroke due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Nora's first-person narration explores her guilt and the complex family dynamics that unfold as Riley recovers. Well-drawn characters and authentic details make this a compelling read. Footnotes, mostly explaining medical terms, aren't totally necessary but do add clarity.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Little Duck prepares for the Valentine's Day dance by decorating the barnyard with balloons, streamers, lights, and hearts; and by making valentines for all the chicken, pig, and sheep guests. When Little Fox follows the decorations to the party, Little Duck welcomes the unexpected visitor with her last valentine. Lewin's lively--and appropriately glitter-filled--watercolor illustrations sparkle, lifting up Cronin's kindhearted message of embracing difference.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(2) 1-3 Chicken Squad series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. In this fifth misadventure, Sugar digs a storm shelter for a potential weather crisis. The resulting wacky drama parallels real-life political issues as the chickens debate who is welcome to use the shelter. But when a true emergency strikes, the yard's animal inhabitants all bumble through it together. Slapstick humor, a large font, and regular spot art keep this early chapter book series entertaining and accessible.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Small. When their glass kingdom falls to ruin, the king and queen need the magical assistance of dirt-loving, forest-dwelling fairy Bloom, but they won't accept her on her (muddy) terms. Cronin, an ace at plotting, is in fine form here, resulting in a top-drawer girl-power-themed fairy tale. The elegant art is all the more impressive for dazzling under a layer of dirt.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 1-3 Chicken Squad series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. What is that new structure in the corner of the yard, and who lives there? In their third misadventure (The Chicken Squad; The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken), the goodhearted, demented poultry quartet investigates. Soon the mystery turns into an altruistic, if daft, rescue mission. Cronin is a master of comic misunderstandings, and Gilpin rises admirably to the challenge.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(3) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Birthday critter Little Duck mimics the party preparations of the other barnyard animals (e.g., gets a trim like the sheep, takes a mud bath like the pigs, etc.). This is yet another solid outing by Cronin and Lewin: breezy, funny, and a bit irreverent, as when, in Lewin's tour-de-force final illustration, Little Duck arrives at the party a mess.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS Illustrated by Renata Liwska. In this story of friends disagreeing but finding compromise, bear Boom has his heart set on going to the beach, but robin Twitty wants to hike. Each is determined to get his or her own way; snail Snot, meanwhile, finds someplace that satisfies all of them. Cozy, delicate-colored drawings and spare, child-friendly text will satisfy and perhaps enlighten readers, too.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(2) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. It's Christmas Eve, and Farmer Brown (Click, Clack, Moo) is putting the final touches on his decorations. When he hears a "pitter-patter on the roof," he runs off to bed, believing Santa has arrived. But it's Duck attempting his own Santa-like entry. Lewin's watercolors, with their slapstick situations and expressive body language, work beautifully with Cronin's humorous ("Ho! Ho! Uh-oh") text.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(2) PS Illustrated by Juana Medina. Playing fetch with the offstage narrator ("Stick?"), good-natured dog Smick is distracted by a "Cluck!" All ends in joyful doggy/chick friendship. Communicating Smick's boundless energy, digital art mostly consists of simple black lines against expansive white space. Minimal text cleverly plays with meaning via word order and context, encouraging independent reading and allowing readers to flesh out the story themselves.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2015

(3) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. The farm animals eagerly await the birth of Baby Duck, but they're not thrilled when she turns out to be a round-the-clock peeper. Forget that the story lacks the complexity of Click, Clack, Moo: Duck's ultimate solution yields a supremely funny visual punch line courtesy of Lewin's watercolors, which, as always, have a gratifying looseness that reflects Cronin's nerve-jangling plotting.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 1-3 Chicken Squad Adventures series. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. While retired search-and-rescue dog J.J. Tully (The Trouble with Chickens) takes a nap, four of the chicks in his charge investigate "something big and scary in the yard." Pinning down the specifics becomes an arduous--and humorous--task. Large font, short paragraphs, and straightforward sentences combine with expressive, endearing black-and-white illustrations to support new chapter book readers.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014

(3) PS Illustrated by Renata Liwska. A bear named Boom, a snail named Snot, and a bird named Twitty approach the day with different ideas of fun: one prefers to look for adventure, one to stay put, and the third to wait and see. Told with few words and expressive, gentle art, this is a quiet story about the satisfaction of friendships even when personalities differ.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) 1-3 Chicken Squad series. Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. When chicks Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie (The Chicken Squad) post a flyer advertising their services--finding lost things, fixing broken things, getting clients out of trouble, or bringing trouble to them--a number of mysteries collide. Full-page black-and-white illustrations and spot art escalate the characters' personalities. This early-chapter-book mystery allows new readers the satisfaction of being savvier than its featherbrained characters.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Harry Bliss. Written by Lori Haskins Houran. Pictures by John Nez. It's Mrs. Mulch's birthday, and Worm wants to give his teacher the right present. His friends and family try to help him think of an idea, but Worm ultimately puts the finishing touches on the perfect gift himself. Fans of the original Diary of a Worm picture book will enjoy this early reader filled with worm-y gags and friendly illustrations.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Halloween humbug Farmer Brown leaves candy on the porch and hangs a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door. After hearing strange noises outside, he trembles under the covers. However, we know that those Click, Clack, Moo party animals are hosting a Halloween bash. The well-paced text and appropriately shadowy illustrations assure listeners that the only foul thing afoot is a costumed fowl.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. In this satisfying companion to The Trouble with Chickens, retired search-and-rescue dog J.J. thinks that a roaming possum is what he has to worry about, whereas canny readers will want to warn him about the gorgeous Samoyed who has moved in next door. Everyone will enjoy such gems as this dog-to-dog insult: "If you were any less of a dog, you'd need a litter box." Zing!

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2012

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Laura Cornell. From "a brief historical overview" to malfunction trouble-shooting, this guide offers tips, rules, and advice for the care and maintenance of a mom. Readers may get a kick out of the text, which equates mothers with pets or household appliances, but the whole thing likely holds more appeal for adults in the know. Pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations evoke the rigors of motherhood.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden