(4) PS Illustrated by Jo Burroughes. This occasionally rhyming text describes the objects and events of Baby's morning including dressing, eating, playing, and losing and finding a favorite toy: "Breakfast bowl / and bib and cup. / A sister who hides / to make him laugh." There's nothing new here, but young lap-sitters will enjoy following the panels of the cheerful watercolor and pencil illustrations.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) PS Illustrated by Brita Granstrom. While trying to discover who says boo, preschoolers visiting a farm learn the noises that various animals make. Although the sporadic rhymes are banal, the language is frequently inspired: a pig "sqwuffles in the mud"; an owl says "tu-whit, tu-whoo!" Toddlers will love both the book's punch line (the preschoolers themselves say "Boo!") and the candy-colored images featuring animals big enough to span facing pages.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Helen Craig. While playing house in a hollow tree, Rosy hosts a crowd of visitors, including a rabbit, a stuffed bear, and some diminutive fairies. After her guests depart, Rosy returns to her "real" home for supper. Not a lot happens in this simple story of a young child's imaginative play, but the detailed, pastel-colored illustrations lend the pleasant story an appropriately old-fashioned air.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ivan Bates. Here's a read-aloud loaded with opportunities for preschoolers to make sounds and movements as they follow along with Mama Duck and her five little ducklings, quacking and hopping and plopping in the river. Bates's light watercolors follow the energy and humor of the narration, although they have difficulty showing danger: the wily fox looks cute and friendly.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Lycett-Smith. A baby monster behaves appropriately--howling, breaking things, and making a mess--until he terrifies his family and friends by smiling instead of grimacing at his first birthday party. Colorful illustrations and minimal text make the book appealing to the youngest preschool listeners, while the irony of a good-natured monster will amuse somewhat older children.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(3) PS Illustrated by Brita Granstrom. The rhythm of the rhyming text falters occasionally, but the illustrations don't quit. Sunny watercolors of round toddlers and their pets (real and stuffed) encourage active play--stretching backs, wriggling shoulders, bending knees, and more. The simple pastel-colored backgrounds are especially age-appropriate and help spotlight the action.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) PS Illustrated by Patricia Casey. A young boy affectionately recites a list of good and bad points about being the owner of a new puppy: "The good thing is, you get to walk him every day. The bad thing is, he wants to go his own way." Lighthearted watercolors ably capture the canine's exuberant nature. There's no story here, but kids with pups for pets will surely agree with the boy when he states, "the best thing is, a puppy is a friend."

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) PS A lyrical tale of a mother bird's hunt for food to feed her babies is illustrated in bright paintings saturated with color. Half-gatefolds have been added on each page, with a full-spread gatefold at the end, all of which seem superfluous and unnecessary to the enjoyment of the simple counting story. Suggestions for searching the artwork for shapes and patterns are included at the end.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.