(2) PS Illustrated by Lydia Nichols. The book's funny premise--llama plus Hanukkah equal Llamakkah--pays off with an entertaining story of a llama family celebrating the Festival of Lights. Brief, peppy rhymes describe Hanukkah customs and activities, with a joyous holiday-centric refrain: "Singing so sweet. / Donuts to eat. / Gelt for a treat. / Happy Llamakkah!" Pastel-hued illustrations with cheerful patterns and blue-and-gold flourishes depict the dreidel-spinning, candle-lighting fun. An appended author's note tells more about the holiday; and for a Jewish take on the traditional Christmastime ugly sweater (see review on page 33), web-search "happy llamakkah sweater."

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Joshua Heinsz. "Boys play monster trucks with glee. / Girls bake cakes and serve hot tea." Gehl's energetic rhyming text and Heinsz's lively illustrations begin by setting up stereotypical gender ideas--then put on the breaks: "Except when they don't." The illustrations show kids doing and wearing what they like, gender expectations be damned. Sure it's single-issue, but the "be exactly who you are!" message is always welcome.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Weyant. A homeless dog sneaks into various shops and masquerades as a pillow, a stool, and a jacket. Each time, the same man buys the item, becomes dissatisfied, and complains to the store. Finally, he realizes the dog is "more of a Jackie than a jacket" and adopts her. Straight-faced and deadpan, the dialogue and cartoony illustrations together make the odd situation quite funny.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sarah Horne. Ana receives a chicken for her birthday instead of the amusement park tickets she requested. Little does she know that Abuela Lola--and the chicken--had the ultimate surprise in mind all along, which plays out amusingly in Horne's joke-filled cartoony illustrations. Repetition of the titular refrain throughout the story gives the text a lyrical quality.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(4) PS Illustrated by Joyce Wan. Chicks Peep and Egg are back for their fourth toddler-specific lesson; this time, Peep tries to teach Egg to use the potty, but Egg is adamant about "NOT using the potty." However, Peep (wearing a toilet-paper tutu) enlists a few tried-and-true tricks that eventually make Egg not want to get off the potty. Gehl's now-familiar repetitive formula is buoyed by humor and Wan's expressive characters.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) PS Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Two bears "who hate to share" fight over a pair of undies (leaving one bare). A pattern is established in the rhyming text: items are presented to animals, but there are always more animals than items, leaving one animal upset. The goofy situations are made even goofier through Lichtenheld's digitally colored illustrations, which are crowded on the smaller pages of this board book edition.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2014

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Maria Mola. Youngest child Lila tries to help her koala family prepare for Shabbat, but she keeps making a mess. Finally, she offers to make the challah; she practices all week, and after several failed attempts, Lila bakes a delicious challah with a special koala-perfect ingredient: eucalyptus. Gehl's story offers a unique perspective on a weekly ritual, and Mola's textured illustrations reinforce the warm, supportive family environment.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) PS Illustrated by Joyce Wan. Chick Peep must convince little chick Egg, caked in mud from playing with the pigs, to take a bath. Egg's initial reluctance ("too wet!"; "too splashy!"; etc.) will be familiar to young readers--and their caregivers--as will the playful solution (bath toys make all the difference). Despite this third Peep and Egg book's formulaic structure, Wan's thick-lined illustrations, featuring expressive farm animals, are preschooler-perfect.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) PS Illustrated by Joyce Wan. Eager for an egg to hatch, chick Peep tells Egg about the things they'll do together after it hatches. Egg refuses: everything is too scary, too high, etc. When Peep gives up trying to convince Egg, Egg is finally compelled to break out of its shell. The predictable story about overcoming fears is enhanced by graphically pleasing cartoon illustrations.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by Joyce Wan. Peep, dressed as a pink butterfly, can barely handle the excitement: "Trick-or-treating is going to be so much fun!" But Egg (now a chick after Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching) says it is "too scary...I'm not trick-or-treating." Bold colors, thick lines, and strategic use of white space and panels enhance this preschool-friendly tale about overcoming fears (and receiving candy).

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sarah Goodreau. In this retelling of the classic Aesop's fable, the animals' contest runs throughout Israel, from Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea as their finish line. Along the way, Hare frolics in olive groves, buys dried apricots, and enjoys a falafel. The occasional Hebrew word appears both in the text and Goodreau's stylish illustrations. A map shows the animals' course through the country.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Adele. A sheep family tries to celebrate the Passover seder, but unexpected guests continue to arrive. By evening's end, young Noah has fallen asleep. A singsongy rhyming text tells the lighthearted story and includes descriptions of various parts of the seder meal. Some undefined Hebrew words will limit this book's audience; the lively illustrations occasionally misrepresent some Jewish traditions.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(2) PS Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Two bears "who hate to share" fight over a pair of tighty whities (leaving one bear bare). A pattern is established: desirable items are presented to animals, but there are always more animals than there are items, leaving one animal upset. The rhymes follow familiar spelling patterns (e.g., -ack, -eal, -uck) and the goofy situations are made even goofier through Lichtenheld's digitally colored pencil illustrations.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2014