(3) K-3 Illustrated by Renée Andriani. On the first day of school, the teacher asks: "What do you hope will happen this year?" The kids provide some humorous responses. Accompanying illustrations expand upon each request; e.g., a wish for "a field trip to someplace really cool" is shown as a trip to an anti-gravity chamber. It's an entertaining and reassuring presentation.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Renee W. Andriani. The fourth book about the aspiring actress finds her at a week-long drama camp. There Annabel saves the children's final production when the star freezes as a snake slithers onto the stage. The story is as over-the-top as Annabel's single-minded drive toward stardom. Many pages are enhanced by light sketches, making the format particularly accessible.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Dial Easy-to-Read series. Illustrated by Renee Andriani. "How did the piglet get his sister in trouble?" "He squealed on her." "What position did the piggy play on the baseball team?" "Snort stop." Nearly three dozen riddles about boorish boars, humorous hogs, and silly swine are presented in a simple, friendly format just right for early readers. Each page contains a single riddle and an amusing, cartoony illustration.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 MathStart series. Illustrated by Renee Andriani. These books cover elementary math concepts: place value, capacity (or volume), and numbers one through one hundred on a number line. The stories--about a club that recycles cans, birds searching for the right-size home, students doing "cool" things for the first hundred days of school--make the concepts palatable, while the cartoony color art adds energy. Suggested activities conclude each book. Review covers these MathStart titles: Earth Day--Hooray!, A House for Birdie, and 100 Days of Cool.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Don't Know Much About series. Illustrated by Renee Andriani. This book introduces useful information about the people who moved to the North American West from 1840 to 1890. In a sometimes forced question-and-answer format, Davis balances facts such as routes and equipment with intangibles such as the courage the pioneers evinced, as well as the plight of the Native Americans they displaced. Cartoon-style illustrations and sidebars accompany the text. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Renee W. Andriani. In her third adventure, Annabel is thrilled to be offered a part in a play for adults--even if it means wearing a pink bunny costume and overcoming her fear of a big dog. What she hadn't counted on was Lowell, her "lifelong enemy," and his rude comments. Annabel's spunk and the book's slapstick humor will make readers cheer Lowell's final comeuppance. Expressive line drawings are scattered throughout the book.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) PS Illustrated by Renee Andriani. Helpful notes for parents and other caregivers open and close this book. Text and art are simple, clear, and well geared to toddlers, who will enjoy the handy poster included with the book--a friendly visual reminder of the various steps involved. Also provided is a brief description of "attachment parenting," recommended by the Searses, well-known medical and parenting consultants.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) PS Illustrated by Renee Andriani. Helpful notes to adults accompany this book that features clear and simple text and art that are well geared to preschoolers. The young audience will easily grasp the concept of "traffic light foods": stop eating junk food, limit foods that slow you down, but go ahead and eat lots of healthy foods. A handy poster and recipes and hints for making healthy food appealing to kids are included.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(4) K-3 Don't Know Much series. Illustrated by Renee Andriani. The states are introduced in alphabetical order, usually one per page, with each entry listing the state's nickname, capital, flower, bird, and year it entered the union. Other information is presented in a sometimes clumsy question-and-answer format ("Where in Kentucky can you find eyeless fish and blind beetles?"). The text also contains some weak jokes, which is in keeping with the accompanying cartoonlike illustrations.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Renee Andriani. Simple texts with cheerful illustrations help young kids understand what to expect while their mom is pregnant and what to expect about life with the new baby. Notes in each book offer advice to parents. Families that use the "attachment parenting" approach recommended by the Searses will appreciate the illustrations showing infants sleeping with their parents, breastfeeding, and being carried in baby slings. Bib. [Review covers Baby on the Way and What Baby Needs.]

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Renee Andriani. Simple texts with cheerful illustrations help young kids understand what to expect while their mom is pregnant and what to expect about life with the new baby. Notes in each book offer advice to parents. Families that use the "attachment parenting" approach recommended by the Searses will appreciate the illustrations showing infants sleeping with their parents, breastfeeding, and being carried in baby slings. Bib. [Review covers Baby on the Way and What Baby Needs.]

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Renee W. Andriani. Annabel wants to be an actress, so she jumps at the chance to be an extra in a crowd scene when a movie is filmed in her town. But the spunky heroine barges her way onto the set to meet the leading lady, Winona McCall, who convinces the director to give Annabel a small part. The fast pace, the likable characters, and the humorous pen-and-ink art create an accessible format for children who have made the leap into short novels.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Renee W. Andriani. When Annabel advertises her services as an actress and gets a call, her dreams are answered--almost. The trouble is, the role is for a gorilla, she hasn't got a costume, her gig is a five-year-old's birthday party, and her nemesis is out to thwart her. Fortunately, her acting skills shine through and save the day in this comical, lighthearted chapter book illustrated with numerous drawings.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Renee Williams-Andriani. Shawn and his dog Keeper, who both turn six on the same day, are inseparable, but when Shawn's birthday cake disappears, everyone assumes that Keeper is the culprit. Shawn's dad, however, has taken the cake to add Keeper's name to it. The simple, engaging text is accompanied by bright, cartoonlike illustrations that vary from spot art to double-page spreads.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley