(4) K-3 Illustrated by Pistacchio. Three pig brothers making their way in the world encounter various fairy-tale characters who offer them house-building materials (a Pinocchio-like boy has six sticks, a Humpty-like egg has eight bags of leaves, etc.). This amiable counting lesson could do without the muddying introduction to cylinders, cones, and cubes, but the sleek art, featuring nostalgia-baiting Golden Book–style motifs, is sensational.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Hollie Hibbert. "B is for bears...Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear, who were in bed"; "G is for a girl named Goldilocks." Every letter of the alphabet is represented in this faithful retelling of the classic tale. Doe-eyed, harmless-looking bears and a wild-haired blonde Goldilocks are featured in lushly colored, slightly out-of-focus illustrations. The alphabet concept does little to enhance the storytelling.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christine Davenier. In her third Miss Lina book, Maccarone envisions a ballet school in melodic rhyming verse reminiscent of Madeline. Disappointed with the casting of Sleeping Beauty, Regina wishes her fellow dancers become ill so she can shine on stage; remorseful, she's relieved to find her friends ready to perform on opening night. Davenier's soft illustrations capture the graceful movement of ballerinas. Glos.

Reviewer: Nicki Richesin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christine Davenier. In this follow-up to Miss Lina's Ballerinas, the girls are excited that a boy will be joining their end-of-the-year show. Faced with nine pink-clad ballerinas, the "non-princely" lad dances right out of the building. The young ladies track him down at the zoo, and they all dance happily back to the studio. Maccarone's lilting rhymes and Davenier's elegant illustrations are full of movement.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christine Davenier. In the town of Messina, "eight little girls studied dance with Miss Lina." They dance, in four lines of two, while reading, shopping, and playing at the beach--until a ninth girl joins their ranks and throws off their system. Maccarone's lilting rhymes recall Madeleine. Davenier's pink-heavy illustrations are always elegant, even when showing the girls getting all tangled up.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) PS Illustrated by Sam Williams. In this prayer, readers bless things in their world, including the stars, a night-light, toy cars, and "children everwhere." Williams's paintings have soft outlines and pastel tones that match the gentle rhyme. The setting is vague: children appear in their homes, outside, then in bed, and, in the final spread, playing outside again. This conflicts with the cozy, winding-down-before-bed feel of the poem.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) PS Illustrated by Sam Williams. "Tired and worn, / they went to the inn-- / no room for her, / no room for him." Although the simple rhyming text falters, the appealing illustrations will hold preschoolers' interest. Outlined in soft charcoal pencil and washed in muted colors, the expressive artwork contributes to the book's gentle and happy tone.

Reviewer: Anne St. John