(2) PS Illustrated by Anuska Allepuz. British poet Taylor sends little ones to bed with thirty imaginative poems in three thematic sets: "Night Arrives," "Shut-Your-Eyes Time," and "Dream Wheels Turning." With a mix of rhyming and free-verse poetry, along with frequent, satisfying repetition, Taylor offers selections to read aloud and read together. Each poem appears on a double-page spread featuring bold mixed-media illustrations by Allepuz. Her use of vivid color fills the space, with many shades of blue and purple, perfect for nighttime scenes. Angular animals and round children populate the pages with whimsy and purpose, giving each piece focus and specificity. Most young listeners will likely choose favorites to hear repeatedly--perhaps the reassuring "Everyone," or the thought-provoking "Asked by a Pillow," or the list-like "The Middle of the Night," or the silly "Cave Bear's Snore"--rather than experience the poetry from cover-to-cover in linear fashion.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(4) K-3 Little People, Big Dreams series. Illustrated by Anuska Allepuz. Each appealing picture-book biography spotlights a famous woman and her accomplishments, foregrounding the influence of childhood experiences. Vegara emphasizes empowerment and tackles difficult issues (such as slavery in Tubman) with honesty and sensitivity, but overall the texts are pretty simplistic. The illustrations (each book by a different artist) vary greatly in style. Back matter includes photos and/or paintings along with more detailed biographical information. Reading list. Review covers these Little People, Big Dreams titles: Harriet Tubman, Jane Austen, Jane Goodall, L. M. Montgomery, and Simone de Beauvoir.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Anuska Allepuz. An intergenerational friendship blossoms between lonely coffin-maker Alberto and orphan Tito. This folkloric tale is peopled by archetypical characters: the villain, the good-guy, the innocent. Its story line is bare-boned, rendering motivation moot, but a charming otherworldly guilessness and a story within the story add appeal. Allepuz's blue-toned full-page art and decorative motifs bordering the pages lend a magic all their own.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin