(4) K-3 Illustrated by Pam Paparone. Snail Langley's Father's Day presents have been duds. He's stumped again until he notices the natural elements (leaves, rocks) around him, then realizes the best gift is a day together. Though parts are clever, the message-y text ends with a whimper. Unfussy pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations use heavy black outlines and bright primary colors to make the snail family stand out.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Robert Neubecker. Four short episodes feature Hattie as a ballerina, a picnic hostess, a backyard swimmer, and a hide-and-seeker; two end with Hattie falling asleep. Some lines of the narrative verses are superb ("Hattie Hippo / pirouettes / on teensy, tiny toes"). Spare, humorous pastel-hued watercolor and ink illustrations help tell the affectionate story of a little hippo who makes mistakes.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) PS Illustrated by Ora Eitan. "Scuba bunnies / Bold and brave / Sink beneath / A rolling wave." After their baths, various bunnies say goodbye to their mamas, don scuba gear, and head for the ocean, where they encounter lots of different marine animals. Though this book isn't as engaging as the Cowboy Bunnies and Astro Bunnies outings, the rhymes here are solid and the mixed-media art gives the bunnies personality.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(1) PS Illustrated by Ora Eitan. From the bunnies' initial aspiration, to reach the stars, the musical text deftly captures a young child's sensibilities, depicting joys such as pockets, buttons to push, waving good-bye, and zipping and zooming through the sky, as well as such genuinely important tasks as collecting moondust for scientists. Eitan's art, including gouache and computer manipulation, perfectly reflects the gentle spirit of the adventure.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2001