(1) PS A grown-up monkey heads into the jungle, leaving three small monkeys up high in a tree. "Now remember...Whatever you do, do NOT go down to the mango tree. There are tigers down there." You know what happens. Temptation beckons, and the little monkeys do exactly what they've been told not to do: "...maybe we could just look at the mangoes." Preschool audiences will love the delicious tension as looking becomes "...maybe we could just get that little one" and then "I wish we had another one..." The monkeys don't notice any danger--but viewers undoubtedly will spy first one, then two, then three tigers partially hidden in the shadowy underbrush. The direct, all-dialogue text invites participation. "That'd be okay, right?" the monkeys ask after each ill-advised decision. Haughton's (Don't Worry, Little Crab, rev. 3/20, and others) digital illustrations, with their blocks of saturated color, are perfect for group sharing. Deep pink, magenta, purple, and blue tree silhouettes are set against a vibrant red sky; the wide-eyed blue monkeys pop off the page, focusing viewers' attention on their actions and expressions. Haughton's skilled use of color, composition, and page-turns heightens the drama. The orange tigers burst out of hiding, and an intense chase ensues ("RUN!!!") over three double-page spreads. The third spread is oriented vertically, emphasizing the monkeys' narrow escape (really narrow--with one's foot in the open jaws of a tiger!) as they clamber back up into the canopy. By book's end it seems they've learned their lesson...or have they?

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) PS Little Crab and Very Big Crab leave their cozy tide pool home for an ocean adventure, but as they get closer, Little Crab's enthusiasm devolves into trepidation. "'Here we are,' says Very Big Crab...'THE OCEAN!' 'Oh,' says Little Crab." Very Big Crab tries coaxing Little Crab forward, while Little Crab backpedals. The brightly colored crustaceans contrast sharply with the saturated teal backgrounds, and the proportions and shapes of the stylized digital images show the immensity and power of the ocean. Larger and larger waves crash against the rocks, and the two crabs wince with the impact. Then a truly huge wave drags them down to the sea floor--where a party of sea creatures rushes to meet them, and Little Crab finally begins to revel in the delights of the ocean. Crab and ocean sound effects ("TIC-A-TIC"; "SQUELCH") work well for sharing aloud, and the smart pacing of the text makes Little Crab's worries appear more amusing than alarming. This tribute to the anxieties and joys that accompany first experiences resounds with emotion, humor, and sincerity.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(2) PS Clever book design adds something extra to this bedtime book, illustrated with Haughton's signature blocky digital illustrations, rendered in a jewel-toned palette. Tiered page progression tells how very sleepy several woodland animals are, but a wide-awake little bear is not sleepy. The cub eventually exhausts itself searching for playmates. A return home provides cozy closure for the little bear and the other animals, too.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(1) PS In spare, humorous text and blocky digital illustrations, four hunters (three of them outfitted with nets) pursue a vibrantly red bird through blue-hued woods. The three larger hunters shush their smallest, netless cohort when he calls to the bird. Subsequent bird-catching attempts result in slapstick pratfalls, but the littlest hunter's methods prevail, charming not only that first red bird, but an entire multicolored flock.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(4) K-3 "Will you be good, George?" Harry asks his dog as he leaves. George says yes, but when tantalized by cake and a cat and some dirt... The cliffhanger ending feels like a cop-out, but George realizing that he's his own worst enemy is both funny and improbably heart-tugging. Emotive, rough-edged pencil and digital illustrations mirror the misbehavior--and the eventual obedience.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS After Little Owl falls from a tree, Squirrel helps him look for his mother. A few cases of mistaken identity (a bear, rabbit, and frog) later, Little Owl is reunited with Mommy Owl. Haughton's simple text gets to the emotional heart of the matter. The rich, bold hues of retro pencil and digital-media illustrations are striking and help distract from the crudely shaped animals.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen