(3) PS Illustrated by Jenny Mattheson. Using the "house that Jack built" formula, this cumulative poem briefly tells an updated version of The Nutcracker. Each page adds another element as Saint Nick fills the socks, the Rat King frightens a doll, and a nutcracker defeats him. The final spread in the nicely detailed illustrations show the children playing with their new toys on Christmas morning. Hand motions to accompany the story are appended.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) PS Illustrated by Wade Zahares. Rhyming text enumerates the colors and sights of fall including orange pumpkins and Scarecrow's black hat. The rhymes are often forced, but the rich pastel illustrations are handsome. Large expanses of color and sculptural shapes defined by shadow are particularly suited to sharing with a group.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth