(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley. Enchanted by her neighbor William's kite, Daisy runs away with it and hides it at home. Eventually, she returns it, scratching an apology in the sand by his front gate--and then Daisy's new friend William helps her make her own kite. Holmes's simply but evocatively told story (first published in Australia) avoids sermonizing. A kite-flying wind seems to blow through the appropriately loose pencil and watercolor illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley. A little boy basks in his stuffed animal's admiration ("I'm Duck's hero"). When Duck goes missing, the child realizes how much he needs and admires Duck. The pictures are both spare and expressive, but they provide no foreshadowing for the toy's whereabouts; and although the ending is nicely circular ("Duck's my hero"), it's also a bit forced.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) PS Illustrated by Judith Rossell. An exuberant young rabbit demonstrates to his mouse friend the "many things that I like about being me" (e.g., standing on his hands, romping in the sun). As it turns out, though, spending time with his tiny buddy is the best part of who Rabbit is. Winning, unfussy illustrations showing two devoted friends broaden the book's appeal beyond its ho-hum message.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn