(4) K-3 Illustrated by Judy Love. Grambling and Love pair up another extinct animal with an unlikely place. While the concept is getting tired, there is still some humor to be found as this little boy and his pet cavort through well-known NYC sites--including the Statue of Liberty, Lincoln Center, and the Central Park Zoo--alongside a harried mayor. The illustrations are full of amusing details and ethnic diversity.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Judy Love. A boy proposes bringing his woolly mammoth to the library, where the animal might cause some trouble but might also prove to be helpful. Accompanied by busy, detailed art, the silly but purposeful story introduces children to library terms such as literacy services and to be shelved carts.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jack E. Davis. In lieu of candy or flowers, T. Rex wants to do something special for his mom on Mother’s Day. Remembering past Mother's Day messes, she insists that a great big hug is all she really wants. Readers will appreciate the generous spirit behind each of T. Rex's less-than-useful gifts. Goofy cartoon illustrations add the extra humor that T. Rex's fans love.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jack E. Davis. Peter Cottontail is sick, so T. Rex volunteers to deliver his eggs. But costume ears, bunny slippers, and a fake cottontail may not be enough to complete his transformation, especially when he smashes all the eggs. T. Rex and his friends find a solution just in time. Lively cartoon drawings illustrate this energetic tale about creative persistence.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jane Manning. A boy discusses his firefighter mother's job and the "firehouse uncles" she works with. The boy's pride in his mom comes through, but the text is stilted and pedestrian. The varied illustrations in subdued blues, reds, greens, and yellows with flowing lines have appeal.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Barbara Johansen Newman. Professor Flugel enjoys watching the birds at his new bird feeder until wily Gray Squirrel chases the birds away and eats all the seeds. The professor comes up with "brilliant" ideas for thwarting the rodent, such as an alligator-filled moat, but Gray Squirrel continuously outsmarts him until they reach a win-win solution. Humorous acrylic gouache art accompanies the silly story.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Havice. Unflappable Abigail Muchmore keeps her farm tidy in spite of Mr. West Wind's antics. But when he blows her dog into the next county, she feels that he has gone too far. Grambling gets the countrified narration just right--"Matilda Pickerel...loved sour things (she married Jasper, didn't she?)"--and Havice's watercolors, in which Mr. West Wind has the head of a regular-looking guy, are admirably understated.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Judy Love. Modern witch Bella longs to be a princess (she finds the clothes and the lifestyle appealing). She's confident that because she likes her unconventional looks, she will find and marry a prince who likes them, too. And she does--one who looks like Frankenstein's monster. The humorous story is told in a fresh, engaging voice; the equally humorous art is full of expression and movement.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Step into Reading series. When Miss Hildy receives a dozen pink flamingos for Valentine's Day, she has a mystery to solve. Who is her secret admirer? The candy shop owner, the fish store owner, or the man who just opened a new pet store? Humorous illustrations accompany this beginning reader with clues to encourage the reader to guess the answer.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Whether she plays alone in her back yard, visits a friend, or goes to kindergarten, the young narrator never worries because she knows that "Daddy will be there" if she needs him. The simple text conveys how her father's steady presence gives her the confidence to take on bigger and bigger challenges, though the watercolor paintings are stiffly drafted.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.