(3) PS Illustrated by Rosie Reeve. More of an observer than a participant, little bunny Bella is hesitant to try new experiences. With the encouragement of her father and siblings she happily discovers that she's a "super skater" who can glide fearlessly across the smooth ice of the neighborhood pond. Cool wintry illustrations show Bella's transition from fearful to confident.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(2) PS Illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. Harry is excited about his first day at school, but his alter-ego dinosaurs aren't sure, especially when they end up outside the classroom. After helping a shy boy, Harry liberates his dinosaurs and is pleased to find his teachers encouraging. Text and art keep a light touch. The familiar situation and realistic details will be enjoyed by Harry's fans and newcomers.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2007

(3) 4-6 After twelve-year-old class clown Oliver utters an Indian chant that makes him invisible, he must enlist the help of classmate Nicky, a boy as shy and unobtrusive as Oliver is rambunctious, to find the words to turn him visible again. Entertaining hijinks and sympathetic characters enhance the appeal of this good-natured British import.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(4) PS Illustrated by Alex Ayliffe. Ayliffe's cut-paper art in primary colors sets the scene for this cheery story in which rhyming text tells readers to find items on the farm ("Show me the house and the barn and the mill"). The meter is not always consistent, which may result in an awkward initial read-aloud. However, children will delight in discovering all the details in the pictures.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tony Ross. Little Wolf is sent to catch dinner and entertain his whiny baby brother, and, despite some mishaps, ultimately succeeds at both. Ross's expressive illustrations follow the mischievous pair as they fail to bag chicks, honey, or the three pigs. By using an enticing game, they do finally capture rabbits and mice, which, in a darkly comic double-page spread, Mom serves up for supper.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(2) PS Illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. In the latest book about Harry and his alter-ego toy dinosaurs, the entire family visits the museum. Just about the time that Harry becomes bored, the dinosaurs misbehave and clamor to be let out of their bucket. When Harry gets lost, he finds himself in dinosaur paradise--the prehistoric exhibit. Bright watercolors effectively use ankle-high (toy-dinosaur) perspective in this satisfying outing.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2005

(2) PS Illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. Harry's bucketful of toy dinosaurs--his outspoken alter egos--want a duckling for Christmas. Harry wishes hard, and on Christmas Eve sets out an egg-shaped container for the dinosaurs. As usual with this series, the humorous text and sweetly happy illustrations mask a few extra layers. True believers will understand that the gift the dinos get--a baby pterodactyl--is not just a toy and will please the dinosaurs as much as it pleases Harry.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Tony Ross. Little Wolf and pals set sail for pirate treasure, but first they must contend with a seafaring rival famous for his mastery of disguise. The epistolary format, diverse typefaces, and abundant black-and-white art make the pages fly, but Little Wolf's malapropisms and cloying baby talk and Whybrow's intentional misspellings ("he did not like me going snifful in my hanky") grow tiresome.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) PS Illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. The previous book was called Sammy and the Dinosaurs in the U.S., and Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs in the U.K. Now Sammy is Harry here, too. Harry's a bit nervous about the dentist, but his dinosaurs are so scared they threaten to bite the dentist. The text blends child-specific detail with fantasy, while the vibrant watercolors accentuate the humor.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2004

(3) PS Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. A tired boy heads home, saying "...this is the way to...." But every time he's about to finish his sentence (and the rhyme), a different farm animal interrupts. Accompanied by an animal parade, he reaches his room at last and speaks the much-anticipated final word: "...bed!" Soft, attractive illustrations in springtime colors feature animals that are amiable without being too sweet.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) PS Illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. In this story originally published as Sammy and the Dinosaurs, a boy finds a box of toy dinosaurs in the attic. He and the mischievous dinosaurs become inseparable (they never speak loudly enough for anyone but the boy to hear), and their mutual affection is clear in joyfully expressive drawings. Alternately humorous and poignant, the story is always right on target.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1999

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Tony Ross. In letters home from camp, Little Wolf describes his adventures when the Really Harsh Young Wolf Pack, led by his rival, kidnaps his annoying baby brother and tries to get the reward for capturing foxy Mister Twister before Little Wolf can. His Brit baby talk and cutesy misspellings occasionally hamper this generally entertaining story's readability. Cartoony pen-and-ink drawings appear on every page.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) PS Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. After discovering the words wish, change, and friend in a book, a solitary pig wishes for change and friendship, and finds both. The whimsical story, with its minimal plot, is overly instructive, as if written with adult approval in mind. However, the uncluttered illustrations have child appeal, as well as a good deal of charm.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. A young boy's imaginative play helps him cope with his grandmother's unexpected stay in the hospital. Watercolors enhanced by crosshatched detail show Sammy making robot toys for Gran that seem to come to life on the last page. Although the narrative lacks smooth transitions, the fine line between fantasy and realism makes this an intriguing story.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Tony Ross. Little Wolf and friends embark on their fourth adventure, opening the Yelloweyes Forest Detective Agency. When several forest residents disappear, including his own younger brother, Little Wolf attempts to crack the case. Illustrated with cartoony drawings, the plot is related through a series of letters, filled with misspellings, malapropisms, and baby talk, which sometimes makes the story difficult to follow.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) PS Illustrated by Christian Birmingham. While young Joe's parents are with sickly Grandma back in the city, he stays on his relatives' farm, where his various protestations ("I'm not scared of bats") contradict his behavior (he can't stop shivering). After he comforts a sheep giving birth, he finally warms to farm life--and tames his anxieties. Whybrow conveys Joe's insecurities without ever stating them. The sun-dappled illustrations are fine impressionistic studies.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Tony Ross. The lupine protagonist of Little Wolf's Book of Badness now plans to turn his deceased uncle's school into an Adventure Academy. But Little Wolf's plans go awry when his younger brother is kidnapped. Presented as a series of letters and amusing drawings, the book is generally entertaining, though the "humorous" misspellings, malapropisms, and baby talk get a bit cloying.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Tony Ross. The third story about Little Wolf finds the protagonist again planning to open a school--an academy teaching spooky "secret powers." The ghost of Uncle Bigbad scares away prospective pupils, then challenges Little Wolf to find a creature brave enough to stand up to him. Presented as a series of letters and amusing drawings, the book's intentional misspellings, malaproprisms, and baby talk become tedious.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) PS Illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. In this story that walks a fine line between fantasy and realism, Sammy finds a box of dinosaurs in the attic and decides to fix and clean them. Sammy and the mischievous dinosaurs become inseparable (they never speak loudly enough for anyone but Sammy to hear), and their mutual affection is clear in joyfully expressive drawings. The story is beautifully written and always right on target.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1999

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Tony Ross. No one need be afraid of the big, bad wolf: he's a washed-up old phony who can't even charm a mole out of a hole or blow down a Cub Scout's tent. This is a delicious, laugh-out-loud revisionist view of the fairy-tale cad as reported by his nephew, Little Wolf, in animated letters home from Cunning College.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2000