(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sean Cassidy. Hanna Bear asks her animal friends to wake her from hibernation for Christmas, but it's not an easy task. The simple story is lively, but the predictable ending is a bit of a letdown. Cassidy's long-necked Hanna Bear is occasionally awkwardly rendered, but overall the illustrations convey the spirit of the season.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(2) PS Illustrated by Pauline Paquin. This story traces an Inuit child's steps toward independence. "When Katie was a baby...she rode on Mama's back under her big, flowery parka." One day, Mama tells Katie that it's time for her to walk. Despite her protests, Katie does walk--farther and farther each time. The lyrical text is unsentimental, and the oil paintings imply the beauty of the Far North while keeping the focus on Katie's small journeys.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2002