(2) K-3 Back in his third book, (not-so-­badly-drawn) horse Randy dreams of flying with Santa's reindeer on Christmas Eve, "But alas, I'm just a beautiful horse!" An unseen kid artist provides speech-bubble commentary about what makes a good reindeer (being able to withstand the cold and enjoying reindeer games, for example), and Randy gives it all his best effort: "I love games... Checkers? Chess? Monopoly?!" Randy's can-do attitude helps him ignore the obvious and feel confident that he's ready "to join [Santa's] team of flying horses." He is not...until Christmas morning provides just the right bit of magic. Plenty of white space focuses attention on crayon-colored Randy's goofy shenanigans and clueless narration.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(4) K-3 The robot narrator is in love ("I had never seen anyone so beautiful. / She was so shiny"). Readers don't learn who "she" is until book's end when the robot finally approaches its crush: a toaster in a shop ("She said nothing. But she didn't have to"). It's a good gag, with cartoony art that's a smidge limited in appeal by its valentine-card palette.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 World of Holidays series. These two treatments of ethnic holidays celebrated by Mexican Americans or African Americans are short on information and long on colorful pictures and appealing graphics. History, rites, food, clothing, and philosophy are all covered in each brief text. The books provide an adequate introduction for young readers. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman