(2) K-3 Long's poignant picture book about a school bus is a meditation on the passage of time while finding purpose in all seasons of life, in the tradition of Virginia Lee Burton. "There was once a bright yellow bus who spent her days driving" passengers (first school children, then elderly people) "from one important place to another. And they filled her with joy." Eventually abandoned under a bridge, the bus becomes a resting spot for unhoused persons. One morning she's towed away and left in a field near a river, where the bus becomes a playground for a herd of goats. When the river floods the valley, fish take up residence. The striking grayscale graphite- and charcoal-pencil illustrations (with "charcoal dust...scratched out with X-Acto blades and smudged with Q-tips") feature color, done with acrylic paint, occasionally; the school-bus yellow of the protagonist is all the more eye-catching for it. Bird's-eye views alternating with partial closeups help steer viewers' emotions along with the narrative in witnessing and understanding the beauty of service to others. The book concludes with the story of the abandoned school bus that sparked Long's imagination, along with his techniques for creating a 3D paper mini-town in which to place the bus as a model for his illustrations.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(3) K-3 In this gripping new Otis adventure, the brave tractor races to an old barn engulfed in flames and realizes kittens are trapped inside the hayloft. Tension escalates when the hero needs help himself, but Otis's barnyard friends and a firefighter save the day using teamwork. The muted palette of gray, cream, and rusty red match the dry summer setting and the drama that ensues.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Little Tree can't bring himself to drop his leaves in autumn. His leaves turn brown; season after season Little Tree "hug[s] his leaves tight." When he realizes the other trees around him have long since grown up, Little Tree finally lets go. Well-manicured illustrations set against bright white backgrounds allow the too-overt message about growing up to take root.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 It takes time, a rainstorm, and a silly round of "the quiet game" for Otis the tractor to cozy up to the scarecrow, the farm's grumpiest new member. The story is leisurely paced--a fact that will encourage readers to linger over Long's charming gouache and pencil illustrations of cheerful farm animals, a wide-eyed Otis, and rolling landscapes in muted colors.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(3) K-3 In his latest story of selfless bravery, little tractor Otis loves to play hide-and-seek with his farm-animal friends. He welcomes a new puppy to the game, and when the pup gets lost in the woods, Otis must face his own fear of the dark to save his scared little friend. Refined gouache and pencil illustrations emit warmth despite their muted tone.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Once again, brave little tractor Otis saves the day in his latest heroic adventure. Otis heads into a Christmas Eve blizzard to fetch Doc Baker in hopes of saving an expecting horse and her foal. Tension builds until Otis's new "special horn" comes in handy. Reserved gouache and pencil illustrations capture the frosty setting while touches of color emit a warm glow.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 In his latest adventure, little tractor Otis and his farm-animal friends elicit nothing but scowls from a bull. But when a tornado leaves the bovine vulnerable, it's Otis to the rescue. For truck-loving young readers this is a perfect no-twists hero fantasy. Long's fine illustrations exhibit old-fashioned reserve: they're black-and-white but for occasional color indulgences.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 After being replaced by a newer model, tractor Otis is forlorn--until his baby-calf friend gets stuck in the mud, and only Otis can save her. This tender, old-fashioned tale recalling Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Story of Ferdinand has a timeless message and a surefire hook: a cute animal. The largely industrial-toned art manages, impressively, to exude warmth.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Parted from his owner, a toy drummer boy embarks on adventures. He plays his drum, soothing the hearts of all who hear him. After a miraculous reunion, the drummer boy plays for the Christ child in his young owner's family Nativity scene. This is a sumptuous production--larger than the usual picture book, with richly colored, detailed double-page spreads--and beautifully written.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008