(4) K-3 Graphic Universe: Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox series. Illustrated by Eve Tharlet. Sick of the long, cold winter, everyone in the Fox/Badger household is getting cross and cranky. When the Fox grandparents arrive, they suggest a carnival to banish winter. Now both children and adults are energized as they make costumes and plan the festivities. The story's pace is slow, but the animal characters that populate this picture book in graphic-novel form are appealing.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Vanessa Hie. The Hempels want to bake a cake but can't find the whisk in their messy kitchen. Cleaning the kitchen they find a pillow, which belongs in the bedroom; cleaning the bedroom, they find a toothbrush; eventually they find the whisk, bake a cake, and--make a mess. Humorous illustrations and the rhythm of the text make this an entertaining read-aloud.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) PS Translated by Rosemary Lanning. Illustrated by Eve Tharlet. A woman insists on taking five things to the beach: a book, a ball, the pet turtle, the beach umbrella, and her baby. But with every vehicle she tries, from bus to balloon, she finds she would have to leave one item behind. As she tests out each vehicle, readers will enjoy guessing which object is missing from the spacious, comical illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert