(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jacqui Oakley. An international array of festivals, such as Up Helly Aa in Scotland's Shetland Islands and Peru's Inti Raymi, is covered in calendar order. Most spreads highlight two celebrations or holidays--one related in a child narrator's first-person voice, the other in drier informational text. The festive, color-saturated acrylic and ink illustrations tend toward gaudy. This is a suitable introduction to cultural traditions. Glos.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevin Sylvester. Common adages ("An elephant never forgets") and old wives' tales ("If you want curly hair, eat your bread crusts") are presented and explained with flippant humor. Turn the page to find out if each saying is true, false, or possibly both. Familiar phrases, use of first and second person, and lightness of tone, reflected in the witty pen-and-ink drawings, will engage readers.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges