(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeanne B. de Sainte Marie. Dressmaker Marielle acquires her dream job when fellow mouse Madame de Sooree hires her to make dresses for her nine daughters. But when a sudden wind blows the dresses out the window, Marielle must face her fear of heights to rescue them throughout Paris, with help from her pigeon friend Pierre. Intricate illustrations bring this sweet tale's Parisian setting to life.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Michael S. Maydak. Each double-page spread introduces an unusual wild animal, from the "pig-deer" babirusa to the eel-like hagfish and the tiny jumping rodent jerboa. The text includes awkward poems, brief paragraphs of information, and a "Fabulous Fact" about each creature. Dramatic paintings of the animals, some distractingly anthropomorphized, illustrate the volume. A selection of related activities for teachers is included.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Andrew Glass. Under doctor's orders, cowboy Gullible Gus heads to Fibrock, a town of liars, to cure his gullibility. In Fibrock, he's told three stories (all a bit wordy), but he identifies only the final one--about a woman who does everything backwards--as "nothing but taradiddle." A final twist is mildly surprising and entertaining. Droll oil-crayon illustrations showcase the characters' antics.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root. In this newly illustrated edition, a boy living in a Russian village more than a century ago steals a dreidel from an unkempt, ineffectual peddler, realizes his mistake, and learns much about what constitutes a moral, meaningful life when he returns it. The fine storytelling, rhythmic and controlled, is complemented by well-composed illustrations noteworthy for their willowy line and subdued palette.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn