(4) K-3 Illustrated by Monique Felix. Animals, plants, and sensory experiences from nature pose the titular philosophical question to one another, while readers grapple with soft-edged, evocative illustrations that provide open-ended (but sometimes bewildering) answers to each. Oppenheim highlights different types of connection, occasionally confusing in their variety: smell to flower, branch to tree, jump to rope, etc. Gentle rhyming prose provides a springboard for discussion.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by George Juhasz & George Juhasz. Oppenheim builds a story around a visit to eight-year-old Theo's house by Albert Einstein, a family friend and "the most famous man alive." When Theo takes Einstein sailing, the great man's compass falls overboard and is subsequently rescued by the accomplished swimmer Theo. Soft colors and shading suit the slightly impressionistic period illustrations of this slim narrative.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Winslow Pels. In this cautionary tale set in long-ago Persia, wealthy young Ali learns the worth of every human being when a beggar he's long spurned tells him the secret to curing his gravely ill father: Ali must himself beg for coins to buy the ingredients of a healing stew. Slightly stylized illustrations in jewel tones support the text, which is exemplary if predictable.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Stefan Czernecki. In this original tale, a prince seeks to repay the debt his father had forgotten he owes to the sea king and wins the heart of the sea king's eldest daughter. Although initially striking, the illustrations are flat and fail to enliven this story that plunders Russian folklore (even Baba Yaga makes an appearance) without achieving imaginative depth.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Doug Chayka. Yanni, a likable Greek boy who, in his father's absence, runs his family's trash collection business, wishes that his friends wouldn't call him "Yanni Rubbish." However, when he spruces up his donkey and rubbish cart, his friends stop teasing and ask for a ride. The illustrations, in thickly applied oil paints, feature earth tones, with an attractive sky blue for the refurbished cart.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert