(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Carll Cneut. Unwanted "bad" boy Jack dupes seven giants into vanquishing themselves. The giants get what they deserve, and Jack does, too--a happily-ever-after that shows he's not such a "bad" boy after all. Tried-and-true ingredients combine in unexpected ways to give this episodic yarn the spontaneous feel of a bedtime story, spun out over a week of nights.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2004

(2) PS Illustrated by Sue Riddle. This just-about-butterfly-sized book, loosely based on the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly, soars as a prose-poem picture book. The rhythm and repetition are infectious; and the pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, set against expanses of white space, enlarge the book remarkably. Butterfly facts may be bent too much for some; others will enjoy the language so much that they will overlook the liberties taken.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2000