(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. The prefixes (depicted in collage illustrations in clay, paint, and colorful pipe cleaners) are excited because their teacher had "promised to REview PREfixes today." When he arrives at school dressed as President Lincoln, though, the prefixes worry that they have been forgotten. The silly speech-bubble dialogue and overall likability of the prefix characters carry the day; the endpapers include a prefix refresher course.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(4) K-3 Illustrated by R. W. Alley. The one special day Mimi and her dad always share is threatened by his new work schedule. Mimi sulks, pouts, and rants, then resolves to make the best of it. Mimi's complete change of heart is unconvincing, but sweet pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations depict the pair's fun, Mimi's frustration, and then her emotional coming-around in wonderful detail.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. Pulver (Punctuation Takes a Vacation, et al.) is back with another lively, colorful story. This time the capital letters are struggling. Texting has made Mr. Wright's students lazy; the capital letters have become weakened through neglect. Droll commentary from the letters keeps the book from becoming simply a grammar tract. Childlike acrylic illustrations, with eyeballs on each letter, keep the tone light.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. Mr. Wright's students "tackle" word endings. The endings (personified), worried that being tackled will hurt, slip off the blackboard and into the weight room to beef up. Sunny acrylics keep the story light and humorous as the suffixes, often drawn with eyes or highlighted in different colors, dance around the pages. Grammar is a lot less boring with this book at hand.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2011

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson. During her lesson in thank-you-note writing, teacher Miss Doover (read: "do over") grows exasperated with well-meaning Jack (he tells Great-Aunt Gertie that the stationery she gave him is "useful"--for housebreaking his dog). This largely successful light comedy plays well visually: illustrations appear in panels, Jack's letters are legible on the page, and all other text comes via dialogue and thought bubbles.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Layne Johnson. Santa returns from his Christmas deliveries with a lost kitten named Cookie tucked inside his coat. Sneezy Santa's allergies prevent him from keeping the kitty; a last-minute special request sends Santa out to deliver Cookie to her perfect new home. Rich-hued oil paintings with lots of expression (some poses seem unintentionally menacing) are well suited to this old-fashioned, somewhat sentimental holiday story.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Deb Lucke. As the only ghost in his new school, Gordon inadvertently terrifies his teacher and classmates. When a fire breaks out, however, his quick thinking and chillingly loud boo scare the children out of the building and alert the fire department. The silly ghost story is enhanced by shadowy gouache and digital illustrations set against spooky black backgrounds.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. Following Punctuation Takes a Vacation and Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day, silent letters make themselves heard. Frustrated with these reticent letters, Mr. Wright's students e-mail the newspaper to propose banning them. Playful design points up silent letters within the text, and the faux-naive mixed-media illustrations give both human and letter characters lots of personality.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2008

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. When Mr. Wright offers his class a break during a lesson on commas, the punctuation marks get a little huffy. Off they go to Take-a-Break Lake where, in Reedy's goofy acrylic illustrations, the now less-than-punctilious marks are shown sunbathing, water-skiing, and frolicking in bikinis. Information about punctuation is woven into the lighthearted story, and a list of simple punctuation rules is also included.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2003

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tedd Arnold. The indomitable Axle Annie is the best bus driver in Burskyville, tough enough to take on dreaded Tiger Hill in the deepest snow. But bus driver Shifty Rhodes, angry that they never get a snow day, plots against Annie by using a snowmaking machine. Vivid characters, rollicking language, and humorous illustrations make this story perfect for reading aloud on a wintry day.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin