(2) PS Illustrated by Erin Kraan. Jeff the bear leaves his house with the nagging feeling that he's forgotten something. When he encounters a deer and frog at a stream, their shocked expressions lead him to make some awkward small talk before proceeding on. At this point, the deer is the first (of many) to break the fourth wall and ask readers, "Why is that bear wearing underwear?" After similar encounters with several more animals, Jeff hurries to see his "trusted friend" Anders the hare, who is finally honest with him. Embarrassment ensues once Jeff realizes he's still wearing his gift from his grandma, especially when the forest animals reappear to stare at Jeff in a series of wordless spreads. While Anders may not think it necessary for his friend to wear undies ("You're covered in fur from head to toe, man!"), he lends support by wearing them, too ("This is the new THING, people! The new STYLE!"). The two trendsetters in John's tale of friendship ("Good friends are like good underwear") and acceptance ("You're just fine as you are") are endearing: Jeff with all his nervous rambling that primes this story for read-alouds and Anders with his personality-rich comments ("Oh boy. Should I tell him?...Why am I even asking you? Who are you?"). The text's repetition and direct address will appeal to preschoolers, as will the humorous images of Jeff (and eventually the other animals) in snug tighty-whities. Kraan's textured illustrations in earthy greens and browns accentuate the natural setting and, along with the animals' expressive body language, help reinforce the delightful silliness of the situation.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Saba Joshaghani & Pete Oswald. Despite Halloween being its favorite holiday, the curmudgeonly sunflower seed from The Bad Seed is in a "baaaaaad mood." The reasons: lack of a costume, extreme competitiveness, and...wistful nostalgia. "­Halloween used to be so much fun! My friends and I would all get dressed up together. Oh, the memories..." Deciding that a trick is in order, the seed announces the postponement of Halloween. "A HERD OF SEED-EATING SQUIRRELS IS RACING TOWARD US! YIKES!! WATCH OUT! SQUIRRELS AND RAIN AND THUNDER!" Fortunately, an empathetic fellow seed (pumpkin!) guides our hero toward rediscovering its Halloween spirit. The text cultivates emotion in the botanical protagonist, while the digital illustrations are seeded with funny facial expressions--now with bonus jack-o'-lanterns and silly costumes.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jared Chapman. An unnamed protagonist is pretty sure he has life figured out. Make a mistake, "just blame other stuff." Whether it's his pen, his shoes, his comb, or even the moon, whenever anything goes wrong, there is always something else at fault. But when these frustrated inanimate objects decide they've had enough, they speak up. One night a pen (blamed for messy homework, illegible test answers, and late assignments) lectures our protagonist about his habit of passing the buck. Although its speechifying is (winkingly) didactic, it just might be (partly) effective. Along with kids who enjoy seeing bad behavior, John's story is sure to appeal to those grownups who are fed up with ridiculous excuses. In Chapman's simple, bright, colorful illustrations, full-bleed spreads alternate with framed single pages and occasional dynamic panels showing a gap-toothed redheaded protagonist and grimacing, angry objects. The humor in both art and text makes this an appealing picture book that might even cause some self-reflection and growth in its readers.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Pete Oswald. The reliable duo behind the nondidactic (and puntastic) behavior-themed picture books The Bad Seed; The Good Egg (rev. 1/19); and The Cool Bean (rev. 3/20) tackle the topic of excessive screen time. Our couch-potato protagonist (a cheery, bright-eyed cartoon potato) has a favorite spot: the sofa. From there, it can see "a sea of shimmering screens, from wall to shining wall. What joy! What bliss!" As a TV-watcher, an online gamer, and a live-streamer, all of its social interactions are virtual. (The line "It's much easier than trying to meet up somewhere, like folks did in the olden days" has a particular resonance right now.) While plugging in its newest device--"a video camera that would allow me to watch myself react while I was watching all my favorite shows"--our hero blows a fuse. This leads to some much-needed fresh air, face-to-face interaction, and outdoor adventure besting anything with pixels. Text and illustrations ("scanned watercolor textures and digital paint") are packed with humor, from the potato's guileless expressions to its favorite shows ("M*A*S*H*E*D Potatoes") and ingenious inventions (self-pouring milk and cereal) to its pals, a.k.a. "best spuddies." By the end, the tater still loves electronic devices and couch-sitting, but its horizons have been expanded to the great outdoors, and to analog reading: Catcher in the Fry.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Pete Oswald. This third collaboration about an endearing food staple features John's and Oswald's trademark humor-wrapped-around-a-message that made The Bad Seed and The Good Egg (rev. 3/19) so entertaining. This time it's a cool-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder tale starring three beans (cool ones, natch) who rule the school, and our wide-eyed, bow-tie-wearing protagonist who used to be their friend "in the olden days, last year." Our bean tries to earn a place in the lima-light: "I wore sunglasses...I slicked my hair back," but the changes don't feel right. The misfit bean resigns itself to loneliness ("I lived my life and things were just...okay") until some surprising acts of kindness cause it to reevaluate assumptions about its former--or are they?--BFFs. Witty wordplay ("I was officially a has-bean") and silly gags in the digital and watercolor illustrations (The Great Gatsbean, A Midsummer Night's Bean, Leguma Beach]) help downplay the didacticism and up the cool factor.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Pete Oswald. In this humorous picture book, the protagonist is "a good egg," but the same cannot be said about the eleven others in his dozen. The pressure of policing everyone's behavior makes him crack (literally), so he strikes out on his own. The simple lessons in John's light-and-breezy text are useful; Oswald's textured watercolor and digital illustrations show an egghead personified, and one for whom readers will cheer.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. It's summer in Yawnee Valley, and Miles and Niles (The Terrible Two; The Terrible Two Get Worse) intend to enjoy every minute of it in their secret hideout. But bully Josh Barkin doesn't think it's funny when Miles and Niles steal his summer camp flag, and a comic battle ensues. Underneath the hilarity of the exaggerated characters and cartoon drawings is a sweet message about friendship.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lane Smith. This companion to Penguin Problems stars Edward the Giraffe, who, as revealed in fidgety, conversational first-person text, is self-conscious about his too-long neck. Then downhearted Edward meets lonely turtle Cyrus; retrieving a banana from a tree for Cyrus changes Edward's perspective about his neck. Panels divide images during moments of conversation and contemplation, allowing characters' emotions and reactions to take center stage in the textured, muted illustrations.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Benji Davies. In this third book featuring Bear and Duck (Goodnight Already!; I Love You Already!), Bear goes fishing alone, savoring solitude and a break from his overzealous neighbor. Bored Duck sets off to join Bear, who hasn't been very good at fishing and feels scared in the woods. A mix of full-page illustrations and paneled sequences adds dynamism and drama to this entertaining friendship tale.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Pete Oswald. Exaggerated facial expressions (those evil eyebrows!) and clever page turns and perspectives reveal how a lone sunflower seed became a "baaaaaaaaaaad seed" with terrible manners. Detailed digital illustrations convey the other seeds' varied reactions to the baddie. Eventually he realizes he's "ready to be happy" again, and he begins to change his ways. Deadpan wit makes this a great read-aloud.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. Pranksters Miles and Niles (The Terrible Two) seem to have met their match when Principal Barkin's father, former Principal Barkin, takes the school back under his control. Ultimately, the Terrible Two must enlist help, and they know exactly whom to ask. This humorous sequel is full of absorbing strategy and even a little suspense. Exaggerated cartoons punctuate the plot and add to the comedy.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2016

(2) PS Illustrated by Bob Shea. A pear-shaped, purple-fur-covered creature speaks directly to listeners. "I'm no monster!" This not-a-monster's appearance and behavior belie his message; the cognitive dissonance between text and pictures is what makes the book funny. Shea's kinetic illustrations take full advantage of the silly premise and offer loads of character. Jittery lines and bold background colors make the pages pop with nervous energy.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Lane Smith. The snark level is high in this collaboration between funnymen John and Smith. Penguin wakes up and immediately begins to complain. When he loses his cool ("I have so many problems! And nobody even cares!"), an eloquent walrus offers wise advice. Penguin is at times wonderfully expressive, at others hilariously deadpan; his words, rendered in orange type, vary in size based on his presumed volume.

Reviewer: Sam Bloom | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. Forced to leave behind his proud reputation as class prankster, Miles Murphy dreads starting over in a new town. Miles finds himself paired up with do-gooder Niles at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy and is disappointed to discover that an impressive, anonymous prankster already attends the school. Miles must either out-prank this character...or join forces. Punchy line drawings magnify the text's well-timed comedy and clever details.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(2) PS Illustrated by Bob Shea. "If you turn any more pages...I WILL CHOMP YOU, BUSTER!" A monster bites, yells, and barrels its way through the book, trying to halt-by-chomping the reader from reaching its secret hidden in the back pages (it's cake). The silly-angry monster monologue is matched by bold, brightly colored illustrations for a temper-tantrum immediacy. The fast pace, funny faces, and silly secret make this a great read-aloud.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Benji Davies. Bear looks forward to a quiet day alone at home. His best friend and neighbor, Duck, who won't take no for an answer, forces Bear to go for a walk. Duck's insecurity about whether Bear likes him will irritate readers as much as it does Bear, but this odd couple's banter and the comical illustrations will please both introverts and extroverts.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Benji Davies. Bear is just trying to get some sleep, but his persistent, sleepless neighbor, Duck, is having none of it ("I'm bored!...Wanna play cards?....Watch a movie?...Start a band?"). Although Mo Willems's Pigeon is the posturing Duck's obvious antecedent, this story--complete with a switching-places ending and quite funny illustrations of wisenheimer Duck and his aggrieved victim--succeeds on its own wacky merits.

Reviewer: Nell Beram