(3) K-3 Illustrated by Wayne Anderson. Pearce's original fairy tale has the richness and depth of ancient folklore, full of twists and turns with goodness rewarded and evil punished. Readers will enjoy her mesmerizing story about Jack, his wicked brother, and the enchanted squirrel who becomes Jack's wife as a reward for his services to the mysterious green people. Anderson's new art expands and enhances this lovely edition.

Reviewer: Terri Schmitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: June, 1972

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Wayne Anderson. When troublesome fairies vacation on the moon, the Man in the Moon stays inside. But his pet, Little Moon Dog, decides the impish visitors are more fun than his old friend. The story is message-driven, but the whimsical illustrations, which glow with light even though they're rendered in muted pastel colors, add verve and character.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Wayne Anderson. When fish start falling out of her bathroom faucet, avid fish lover Elizabeth tells her parents but they don't listen. They remain oblivious--even as fishbowls and tanks pile up around them--until a baby beluga whale crashes through the bathroom floor into the room below. Though a bit subdued, the humor of the story is extended by the muted, cozy pastel-colored illustrations.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Wayne Anderson. It's Christmas Eve, and a little girl is searching for the perfect gift. She finds a mysterious shop, where a portly customer with a "twinkly eye" buys everything and stuffs it into a sack; only later does she learn his identity. The text is as painstaking as the fantastical illustrations, in which colorful objects glow against somber backdrops.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Wayne Anderson. When lonely George's dragon friends (whom only he can see) become too troublesome, he builds a flying machine with which to lead them to a great wilderness, where, according to a map, "Here Be Dragons." Misty images of the dragon-shaped, Rube Goldberg-style machine are reminiscent of Sís's work. A distinctive font adds to the accessibly old-fashioned feel of this simple story about coming home.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Wayne Anderson. Three short episodes focus on Raymond, a young African-American boy, as he rushes through a day ("Raymond slows down--but not for long!"), makes a new friend ("'Making friends takes time,' Papa says"), and wins a race with his new sneakers. Simple, familiar problems combined with clear and repetitive language make this an attractive choice for new readers. The accompanying illustrations are rather dim.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Wayne Anderson. An old man uses hard work and the power of wishing to transform the garbage around him into a magnificent animal-filled forest. The book's themes seem muddled--the man's initial work converting trash and tin into an industrial forest is more impressive than his ability to wish a natural forest into being--but the story is a welcome paean to imagination nonetheless. Meticulously detailed illustrations achieve an Oz-like splendor.

Reviewer: Nell Beram