(3) PS Illustrated by Brian Won. A sleepy monkey becomes a happy, active youngster with some vigorous exercise. Meant to inspire kids to get moving (per Sampson's note) and told in rhyme (a variation of the "Down Down Baby" clapping game), the simple text has a nice rhythm, with energetic sound and action words ("Ding-Dong"; "Stomp! Stomp!"); appealing digital art shows Monkey and other animals boogeying across bright backgrounds.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. At the start of a day, (human) mothers greet their children and invite them to listen to the world. Each of the following spreads introduces a habitat, the mother and babies therein, and the sounds they make (the squawk of the parrots, the snap of the crocodiles, etc.). An accessible but unremarkable text is elevated by energetic, celebratory, beautifully colored illustrations. Animal facts appended.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) PS Illustrated by Eric Carle. This lap-size board book's rhyming text follows the familiar pattern of Brown Bear, Brown Bear. A panda, water buffalo, spider monkey, whooping crane, and six other endangered species parade across the pages; at the end, a dreaming child sees all ten animals "wild and free." Carle's striking, brilliantly colored illustrations are as eye-catching as always, making this ideal for use with groups.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) PS Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Kitty Cat loves everything about school: singing songs with the other students, reading, counting to ten, art, naptime, and more. The story's use of repetition and simple rhymes will help newer readers strengthen their skills. The watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations emphasize the energy of the kittens, and children will enjoy searching for the tiny mouse hiding in every spread.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) PS Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. This favorite of young children, parents, and preschool teachers since its original publication is now available in full in a standard-size board-book format. (A previous edition included only half the story.) This version contains the entire tale, from the trek up the tree through the pileup and rescue, to the letter A's "dare double dare" in the moonlight.

Reviewer: Viki Ash | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1990

(2) PS Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. This counting book showcases ten members of the Lepidoptera order, mostly in lush settings that incorporate and label the flora and fauna of their habitats. The tenth caterpillar (a tiger swallow tail) becomes a chrysalis before maturing into a beautiful butterfly. Martin's gentle rhyme provides quiet background for Ehlert's vibrant illustrations. Back matter lists each species of caterpillar shown.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2011

(4) K-3 My First Reader series. Illustrated by Eric Carle. In these somewhat superfluous brand-extending easy reader versions of two more of Martin and Carle's picture books, the trim size is smaller, and the texts are broken into short phrases. Back matter includes a letter to parents and teachers and further activities. Review covers these My First Reader titles: Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 My First Reader series. Illustrated by Eric Carle. In these somewhat superfluous brand-extending easy reader versions of two more of Martin and Carle's picture books, the trim size is smaller, and the texts are broken into short phrases. Back matter includes a letter to parents and teachers and further activities. Review covers these My First Reader titles: Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. A kitten resists her mother's efforts to prepare her for bed. While the kitty offers excuses at every step of the way, as detailed in lilting rhymes, the pictures show that she eventually does do what's expected (e.g., while playing a quick game of peekaboo, she's also changing out of her shirt). Watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations give the characters winsome expressions.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 My First Reader series. Illustrated by Eric Carle. Teachers and emerging readers have already made Bill Martin's books their own, but these new editions are intended to cement the deal--and extend the brand. The trim size is smaller, and the text is placed uniformly across the bottom of each page and broken into short phrases. Back matter includes a letter to parents and teachers and further reading activities. Review covers these My First Reader titles: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 My First Reader series. Illustrated by Eric Carle. Teachers and emerging readers have already made Bill Martin's books their own, but these new editions are intended to cement the deal--and extend the brand. The trim size is smaller, and the text is placed uniformly across the bottom of each page and broken into short phrases. Back matter includes a letter to parents and teachers and further reading activities. Review covers these My First Reader titles: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1992

(3) PS Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. An oversized board book edition of one of the liveliest, jazziest alphabet books on record.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1990

(1) PS Illustrated by Lois Ehlert. One of the liveliest, jazziest alphabet books on record. Tongue-tingling, visually stimulating, the book demands to be read again and again. This twentieth-anniversary edition includes "a bit of Chicka history" by Archambault and Ehlert, and the book's dust jacket doubles as a poster.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1990

(3) PS Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. "Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, are you waking up? / 'Not yet, Mother, I'm a sleepy buttercup.'" In a familiar domestic tableau, a mother cat patiently urges her easily distractible kitten through the morning's before-school routine. Sweet but not cloying, the rhyming patterned text is complemented by playful watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations just right for lap-sharing.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) PS Illustrated by Eric Carle. This book by the creators of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? follows the same successful pattern. Readers are introduced to different animals and how they move ("Red Fox, Red Fox, what do you see? / I see a flying squirrel gliding by me"). The text is rhythmically pleasing, and the large-scale illustrations set against white backgrounds are eye-catching.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky. In Radunsky's interpretation of Martin's rhyme, a group of mice worries about the flame they see through a keyhole (several pages feature cut-outs through which readers can spy the fire). When the mice finally pass through the door, they find that the flame is coming from a harmless birthday candle. Radunsky's textured and expressive signature style is on full display.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) PS Illustrated by Eric Carle. Martin introduces ten endangered animals, including a water buffalo, spider monkey, and green sea turtle. The story ends with a child dreaming of the animals "wild and free." The animal conservation message is a bit sophisticated for the board book audience, but Carle's striking, brilliantly colored illustrations are ably reproduced (although the last spread is crowded).

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Illustrated by Eric Carle. Using a now-familiar pattern, Martin introduces ten endangered animals, including a water buffalo, spider monkey, and green sea turtle. The story ends with a child dreaming of the animals "wild and free." Carle's art shows a parade of rather somber animals unsure of their future. Although the volume is more useful than fresh, the large, attractive illustrations are well suited to group sharing.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) PS Translated by Teresa Mlawer. Illustrated by Eric Carle. These Spanish board book editions catch both the rhythm and rhyme of the English-language originals. Translating a rhyming text is an extremely difficult challenge, but Mlawer has brought her magic to bear, giving Brown Bear and Polar Bear their own vivid life in Spanish. Carle's illustrations are well suited to this smaller format. [Review covers these titles: Oso pardo, oso pardo, ¿qué ves ahí? and Oso polar, oso polar, ¿qué es ese ruido?.]

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) PS Translated by Teresa Mlawer. Illustrated by Eric Carle. These Spanish board book editions catch both the rhythm and rhyme of the English-language originals. Translating a rhyming text is an extremely difficult challenge, but Mlawer has brought her magic to bear, giving Brown Bear and Polar Bear their own vivid life in Spanish. Carle's illustrations are well suited to this smaller format. [Review covers these titles: Oso pardo, oso pardo, ¿qué ves ahí? and Oso polar, oso polar, ¿qué es ese ruido?.]

Reviewer: Tim Wadham