(4) K-3 Illustrated by Milan Pavlović. To reach up-high things, short kid Seamus wears his mother's high-heeled shoes, although now he can't reach down-low things. The notion that Seamus would believe that his problem requires an either/or solution--"Now he must decide. Up or down? High or low?"--is improbable. Still, Hartt-Sussman offers a fresh approach to size insecurity, while Pavlović's idiosyncratic illustrations feature lively color combinations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. Noni's friends are bullies, and though she wants to stop them, she's too afraid to speak up: they "might turn on her." Economical illustrations communicate characters' emotions with impressive depth. The thought-provoking exploration of the bystander role in bullying is welcome, but the sudden ending and its unearned sunniness dull the impact of this purposeful narrative.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. Noni, who learned to say "no" in her first outing, returns to start at a new school. After her first nervous day, she follows her mother's advice and makes a new friend. Although Noni makes an unrealistic leap of confidence, this may prove to be a useful tool for discussing fears. Côté's simple line and watercolor illustrations are inviting and expressive.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth