(2) K-3 Illustrated by Yuko Jones. Michalak and Florence dish up a sumptuous celebration of chef Niki Nakayama. Born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents, Nakayama grew up in two cultures. "Outside of Niki's house was Los Angeles. Inside of her house was Japan." But Niki's mother combined the two cultures for family meals, cooking American food with Japanese influences--meatloaf with soy sauce, rice instead of potatoes, and Thanksgiving turkey with teriyaki sauce. Niki wanted to do things her way, too. When young, she would experiment with food, creating such treats as wonton-wrapper pizzas. On a trip to Japan after high school, she learned about kaiseki, a meal of many courses, a "storytelling feast," which begot the passion on display at her current Los Angeles restaurant, n/naka. In an effective matching of book design and content, Nakayama's story is dished up like a kaiseki meal: thirteen bites, from her early years in "Bite 1" to a gorgeous dish resembling an abstract painting viewed from above in "Bite 13." A palette of rich, vivid colors; playful shifts in perspective; and a text emphasizing active verbs highlight the artfulness of Nakayama's meals and the spirit behind them. Not just about food, but also the importance of gathering, love and laughter, and the can-do spirit of a girl finding her path in life. Back matter includes "Ingredients" (timeline), "Kuyashii" (an explanation of the "Yes I Can" spirit), more information about kaiseki, and the recipe for wonton pizzas.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. "Your ideas get us into trouble," says wise turtle Sparky. And, sure enough, giraffe Joe's plans for a surprise party for his (invisible? imaginary?) friend Wiggy the worm do not go as planned. Rather too much is made of the elusive Wiggy (who never does show up for the party), but Joe and Sparky's fans will enjoy seeing that their beautiful friendship goes on.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. Giraffe Joe and best friend Sparky the turtle, who live at Safari Land, take an unexpected field trip to a school when they accidentally board a departing bus full of "noisy short people." Limited but lively vocabulary, a large font, and carefully placed illustrations--all in a humorous, high-interest package--will make this a hit.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(3) PS Illustrated by Jon Davis. A bear family gets cozy inside its snug home during a cold winter evening. Shared experiences reinforce the tight family bond: the cubs sip hot chocolate, have storytime, and play in "soft and secret quilted lairs" while Daddy Bear folds laundry and bakes cookies and Mama lazes by the fire. Light rhymes and warm, loose-lined illustrations capture the comforting routines.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. After catching a glimpse of a reality TV performance contest, giraffe Joe decides that he and turtle pal Sparky will become "Superstars." Unfortunately finding their shared special talent isn't so easy for the pair. Though the story can be hard to follow, the lively text and humorous art, showing the creatures trying their best for greatness, will attract readers.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. After winning a car, Joe Giraffe, who likes to "stretch my neck and see the world," takes cautious Sparky Turtle for a wild ride through town. The story features lots of jokes and snappy dialogue, but the chaotic plot may be too much for early readers to follow. Humorous watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations give personality to the odd-couple pals.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) K-3 Brand New Readers series. Illustrated by Jill Newton. In four brief stories with introductions to be read by adults then one easy-to-read sentence per page, Rita the chipmunk and Larry the porcupine try to dance together; Rita blows bubbles; Larry goes beachcombing; and Rita visits Larry's booth at the fair. Dynamic acrylic illustrations help beginners decipher the text, while the humorous punchlines provide an added incentive to keep reading.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert