(2) PS Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. A big storm threatens a small island in the middle of a wide river. Most of the animals -- heron, otter, frog -- recognize the warning signs and know what to do. "But Turtle-Turtle did not. He was too new to know what to do." Washes textured with splatters and ribbons of color create the feel of volatile island weather. Turtle-Turtle, with his wide eyes and green shell outlined in rainbows, appears particularly small and vulnerable on the page. As the other animals hurry away, he tries to find refuge within his shell. "'Stay,' whimpered Turtle-Turtle, tucking in tight." The force of the darkening storm grows with every page-turn, especially in contrast to the small protagonist, whose concerned yellow eyes peek out from the shell. When waves and wind finally cast him into the river, he spins and struggles underwater across a dynamic double-page spread. Eventually, he recovers enough to hold his breath and open his eyes. From there, the other animals return to help, offering swimming strategies and encouragement ("Paddle," "Kick away") until Turtle-Turtle makes it to land. The crisp text with its repetition and onomatopoeia pairs well with the colorful digital art full of pattern and movement, making this a rewarding and exciting adventure for even very young listeners. The story closes with an appreciation of friendship and an especially bright rainbow. Both the dedication and an author's note from Will Hillenbrand offer insight into the story's origin.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) K-3 When a blizzard forces the branch library (appropriately operating out of a tree) to close early, a little story-loving mouse named Hubert opts to "take a shortcut home through the hollow...even though it was spooky." The soft art uses line and color to convey mood and atmosphere. Hubert looks especially small and powerless,­ standing at the wooded entrance to the hollow as the storm blusters around him. The snow drifts are deep, and the dark trees appear to have contorted faces. And then, a stranger--taller, sleeker, with a bushy tail peeking out of the bottom of her long pink coat--steps out from behind a tree and offers her hand to Hubert. Spare text tracks their progress through the hollow, while the illustrations tell a more dramatic story. Faces leer at them, Hubert nearly slips into a chasm, and the landscape itself begins to look like a family of giant, sleepy bears. A wordless double gatefold primarily in black and white provides scale and brings the bears, now wide awake, to life--and the biggest one looks irritated. Once Hubert and his protector reach safety, they part ways; but when the mouse looks back, he only sees one set of footprints. Like Hubert, readers can make the tale their own and decide what really happened on that strange and precarious trip. A map in the front of the book shows Hubert's path, along with some fantastical details from this story (and perhaps others).

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) PS Cheerful pick-up truck Little Red and his intrepid driver, Katie, are known throughout Tiny Town as the ones to call in a jam. From jump-starting Purple Delivery Van’s battery to fixing Yellow Popcorn Wagon’s flat, this team makes unscheduled stops above and beyond their “one more job for the day,” even as “the snow came down and down.” A satisfyingly seasonal penultimate stop leads to an effectively foreshadowed big-reveal conclusion (including a vertical book-turn). There are so many details to love, from the text’s patterned repetition to the digital illustrations’ unique personality-filled vehicles to the col-or-coded speech bubbles and sound effects. Many “thanks to Little Red and Katie,” indeed.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(3) PS In their latest adventure, Bear and Mole go camping, but Mole worries they'll get lost in the dark. Bear reassures Mole with a story about the First Bears making the moon and stars, including--in a dramatic vertical spread--the stationary First Star that guides creatures at night. Spacious art transitioning into a nighttime blue palette complements the simple text full of soothing repetition.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Bear, Mole, and Skunk each have something to sell on Market Day. Bear does a brisk business with his berries, but Skunk's perfume and Mole's worms aren't selling. After they switch places, however, each is the other's best customer. Luckily, Bear earned lots of dimes to purchase ice cream for everyone. Story-hour audiences will buy into this amusing story enhanced by chipper illustrations.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(2) YA This adaptation of Hillenbrand's best-selling adult version puts the Louis Zamperini story in teens' hands. Zamperini traded delinquency for adulation, becoming a runner on the 1938 Olympic track team; in WWII he survived a plane crash only to be captured as a POW; after battling alcoholism, he became a Christian crusader. The tension never wavers, creating a humdinger of a page-turner. Ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(3) K-3 In this clever wordless story, a bear, fox, and bird first build a snowman, then hand it a book to read to them before bedtime (i.e., hibernation). A mischievous rabbit snatches the book, and a chase through the wintry landscape ensues. There's drama, humor, and adventure in the tale, illustrated with varied yet easy-to-follow mixed-media illustrations. Pair with Briggs's wordless classic The Snowman.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS In this cumulative tale, a tractor-driving pup circles the farmyard to pick up young animals, eventually bringing them to a storytime gathering. The animal and machinery onomatopoeia help the text chug along, and the jovial mixed-media art keeps the story from becoming stale. Fans of Hillenbrand's companion book, Down by the Station, will appreciate his latest.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) PS Mole takes the training wheels off his bike and goes for a wild, comical ride. He crashes once and loses heart, but with Bear's encouragement, he arrives triumphantly at his destination. In true picture book fashion, the action-packed mixed-media illustrations perfectly expand on the brief text, which employs evocative verbs such as "hoist," and "wobble." A fine addition to the friends' continuing adventures.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 It's perfect kite-flying weather, so Bear and Mole (Spring Is Here!) construct their own kite and fly it happily until a storm whisks it away. They chase the kite and discover that it has found a new purpose: shielding baby birds from the storm. The eventful plot, plentiful sound effects, and jaunty illustrations make this an excellent addition to Bear and Mole's adventures.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(2) PS Attempting to rouse Bear from his winter's rest, Mole tries knocking on his door, tickling him, even blowing a horn. Finally, Mole tries a different approach, whipping up a spectacular breakfast. Hillenbrand's sense of humor is gentle yet emphatic, perfect for young children. With short, snappy sentences, happily predictable repetition, and engaging, tightly focused mixed-media illustrations, it's a surefire read-aloud for preschoolers.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2011

(3) PS Hillenbrand presents twenty nursery rhymes, both familiar ("Jack and Jill") and lesser-known ("Polly and Sukey"). Each includes some rebus pictures, with the words printed below in the larger illustrated scenes. Mixed-media illustrations in Hillenbrand's folksy style ably support the picture-puzzle concept and the details of the traditional tales.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) K-3 In this ambling story based loosely on the life of Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans, Louie is a young pig with a passion for drawing. He has a terrible time at school, but a few supportive adults help him to eventually become a successful picture book artist. Warm illustrations depict Louie as a hard-working, personable pig in blue overalls.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) K-3 Jesus's birth inspires insecure rooster Harold (a play on herald) to find his inner cock-a-doodle-doo and proclaim Christ's "hope for a new day." The book's pacing is odd; it doesn't show itself as a Nativity story until nearly the end. Jewel-tone hues for Harold, the sun, and the star of Bethlehem announce themselves against softer background browns, greens, and blues.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(2) PS A quiet Nativity story is enlivened by a baby owl's animated curiosity. The owl's hodgepodge of questions about the Holy Child is held together by minimalist collage illustrations, which in their warmth and bold simplicity should hold children's attention despite the total lack of action; the questioning, open-hearted, big-eyed Baby Owl is an appealing stand-in for human preschoolers.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(4) PS The text begins with a young pig's apprehensions about his first day at school and ends with his reluctance to go home at day's end--all sung to the tune of the children's standard (music provided). Some lines don't scan, and the pig's problem is resolved improbably quickly, but the story and its benign mixed-media images may be a balm to young readers with school-related anxiety.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS In this imaginative interpretation, a farming couple tends to their chores over nine months. The lyrics serve as a cumulative text, and mixed-media artwork tells the story. Alternating double-page spreads feature one month and one animal first in a peaceful farmyard scene, then inside the barn, where animals jam to their hearts' content. A moonlight concert celebrates what they've all been waiting for: a baby.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2002

(2) PS In this cheery cumulative story based on the traditional old song, a train makes several stops for baby animal riders. The train finally arrives at the children's zoo, followed by a schoolbus full of--what else?--children, and everyone disembarks for a day of play. Brightly colored mixed-media illustrations accompany this enjoyable adventure, with the music for the song on the last page.

Reviewer: Nancy Vasilakis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1999