(4) K-3 Illustrated by Peter Rankin. A man builds a modest house, figuring, "This is all I need." Then he marries, and his lovingly demanding wife gets him to make the house bigger, then still bigger as their relatives move in, until all the couple needs is "to retire." Based on a nineteenth-century Nova Scotia family's story, this engaging book has fine period details and lively but dark oil paintings.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Tooke. "January brings / the Wolf Moon, / the wild Wolf Moon." Taking her titles from traditional names for full moons, including "Snow Moon" for February and March's "Sap Moon," Taylor offers a brief, evocative description of each month. Tooke's equally evocative illustrations, with their attractive borders, show a northern farm family working and playing throughout the year. The final pages give more information about full moons.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert