(2) PS The classic "Twelve Days of Christmas" song (appended here) mentions many birds, but this original board book's humorous spin devotes every day to them. Instead of a "partridge in a pear tree," a red-spotted green "birdie in a Santa Claus beard" is the first zany gift. Each subsequent day the corresponding numeral and matching number of birds are pictured for youngsters to count. Mainly white backgrounds keep the focus on the avian antics (the "4 calling birdies" are talking on cellphones; the "8 birdies a-milking" are drinking milk); the birds themselves are very expressive and a colorful collection of shapes and sizes.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) PS Gorilla Doris is embarrassed when she's called a baby for carrying Frankie, her special blankie (a problem many readers will understand). She experiments--unsuccessfully--with leaving him behind and disguising him; then, in a clever resolution, Doris stumbles upon a way to make Frankie cool ("Ooh! Is that a puppet?!"). Amusing illustrations of toddler-looking jungle animals are full of emotive details.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Beach-cavorting pig brothers Fergus and Dink return with their tender dispositions, this time to negotiate letting Tallulah, another beach pig, join their fun (elder brother Fergus has some reservations). As ever, Sattler's art and narration are emotionally attuned ("Fergus watched from a safe distance"). Tutu-wearing, cat-eye-glasses-sporting Tallulah could give Olivia a run for her money in a sassy-pig contest.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 When visiting dog Daisy falls for Pug, whose true love is naps, Chick stokes the flames of romance ("Isn't he magnificent?") while inadvertently foiling Daisy's efforts to woo Pug. This Chick and Pug vehicle is harder to follow than its predecessors, but it's a cold heart that won't surrender to Sattler's big-eyed, small-brained cuties.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 In this Pig Kahuna follow-up, the world's cutest pig brothers (they're all eyes, ears, and schnoz) are again at the beach, but this time Dink is feeling grouchy, and big brother Fergus tries to cheer him up--possible only after Fergus digs up a pirate's hat. Sattler keenly understands what's important to young children, from juice boxes to feeling helpful.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 With Pug in his Santa suit and Chick as his peppy elf sidekick, the duo spreads Christmas joy: dog the Dude gets a (snow) ball; cat Mr. Snuggles gets a collar (of bells); and for Pug, Chick makes a superhero (napping) mask. Though the third story is slight, their odd-couple ways play out humorously in both text and acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 When their favorite toy, Squeaky Hamburger, is stolen by a big dog named "the Dude," Chick and Pug spring into action--well, Chick does: the sublime joke (which eludes Chick) is that his superhero partner spends the book's length napping in the grass. As in this book's predecessor, Chick 'n' Pug, the bulging-eyed cuteness of the duo is paired with an endearing dopiness.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS This book follows young Dodo on a journey of self-discovery as he takes a walk on newly self-supporting legs. He tries to befriend a skunk but gets sprayed; his "funny-shaped rock collection" includes an egg, which he accidentally breaks. The worthy message, shared with help from full-of-feeling illustrations, is that missteps are a small price to pay for independence.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 When a surfboard washes up on the beach, pig brothers Fergus and Dink name it Dave and incorporate it into their sand play. After tenderhearted Dink sets Dave free in the ocean, Fergus must face his fear: "the lurking, murky ickiness factor of the water." Sattler's acrylic and colored-pencil art makes this humorous story about dealing with outsize fears even funnier--and surprisingly touching.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Little Chick, whose favorite book is The Adventures of Wonder Pug, is thrilled to meet a real (i.e., lazy, lethargic) pug. When danger lurks in the form of a cat, Chick creates his own adventure while his hero plays dead (i.e., naps). Chick's misplaced adulation, along with repeated close-ups of the un-dynamic duo, adds lots of humor to the story.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 When flamingo Sylvie's mom tells her that flamingos are pink because it's the color of their food, Sylvie tests the you-are-the-color-you-eat theory. After a day of sampling everything from green palm leaves to paisley bathing suits, she feels unwell and returns to eating shrimp. The illustrations featuring expressive and colorful flamingos on richly textured backgrounds beautifully bolster an otherwise thin story.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden