(3) K-3 In this wordless picture book, Rosie's world goes from glum and gray to technicolor when she discovers a pair of magical glasses. She eventually loses them, but momentary anguish quickly fades when she realizes she no longer needs rose-colored lenses. The ink and watercolor illustrations perfectly capture her oppressive bad mood as well as her exuberant joy, and scenes from both viewpoints burst with details to discover.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dave Whamond. Starting at opposite sides of the book, Frank, an eager pug, and Laverne, a sardonic cat, each have a turn detailing their domestic lives and recounting an encounter with Carl, the neighboring Great Dane. The book's gimmick humorously plays with perspective on the same events; Whamond's tidy comic-strip-style vignettes capture each pet's relatable, if stereotypical, personality.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 In her latest endearing outing, free-thinking Oddrey wants to maintain her individuality while playing on her school soccer team. Ultimately, she convinces their star player to embrace teamwork ("You mean, you want me to pass the ball?"). The slick, cartoony art, in which one spread might contain multiple images of a character, would be well suited to a comic strip.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Jack and his sister embark on a series of adventures after discovering a special birthday gift, "The Think-a-ma-Jink--an imagination machine." This present, pictured as a box of loose metal parts, allows Jack to imagine himself as a monster, pirate, and other random things. Hyperactive cartoon illustrations are in tune with the eccentric, equally anything-goes plot.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Oddrey is a true individualist: she draws blue, not red, apples; creates a hopscotch grid resembling a work of modern art; etc. This inspires skepticism from her more mainstream classmates, which leaves Oddrey somewhat lonely--until her inventiveness saves the school play. The illustrations add humor but have a slick, cartoony look that's unworthy of the strong storytelling.

Reviewer: Nell Beram