(3) K-3 When a mischief of mice goes missing, a scurry of squirrels decides to investigate, with varying amounts of help from other animal groups, including a cauldron of bats and a prickle of porcupines (really!). Luckily, a sleuth of bears shows up to solve the mystery. The unusual collective nouns, introduced in loosely rhyming text, are charming; cozy watercolor illustrations depict a wintry forest setting at night. Back matter gives additional facts about the referenced animals.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) PS "Tap the cloud / and wish for rain. / Clap to bring the sun again." The rhyming text and bright collage art involve listeners as a zinnia plant grows from seed to sprout to flower to re-seeding, all the while visited by a ladybug, worm, bees, and more. A final page encourages readers to plant easy-to-grow flowers and gives some information on pollinators and worms.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) PS Matheson's night-sky-wonders picture book is a natural choice for a board book edition. The gentle text encourages viewer participation ("Gently press the firefly. / Oh! Press again to light up the sky"). As a result, each page turn brings slight changes to the illustrations, the lovely blue hues of which deepen as night falls.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(3) PS This board book edition works just as well as the original interactive picture book. Beginning with a "bare brown tree," the text instructs readers to "tap it once"; with a page turn the tree now has one green leaf. As the book goes on, children can rub the tree, tap new pink buds, etc. The satisfying story encourages close observation of nature.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(2) PS The bluebird from Tap the Magic Tree explores the world at night from sunset to sunrise. Throughout, Matheson gives readers actions to take: "Gently press the firefly," and on the next spread the firefly is "lit up." Spacious collage illustrations, child-powered interactivity, and a cyclical quality will send readers back to the beginning for another gentle nighttime. Brief scientific explanations are appended.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(2) PS The book begins with a "bare brown tree." In order to see the tree's "magic," the text instructs readers to "tap it once"; with a page turn the tree now has one green leaf. As the book goes on, children can rub the tree, tap new pink buds, etc. The story has a satisfying arc that encourages close observation of nature.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014