(4) K-3 Illustrated by Devin Asch. Tagging along with his tabloid reporter father, Hayward believes that everything he sees--the birth of a dinosaur, a bigfoot driving a cab, a gigantic chicken--was created by Dad to impress him. When Hayward prevents an octopus invasion it's his turn to be disbelieved by his schoolmates. The joke is one-note but fairly amusing. Digital illustrations in muted-gray tones offset the larger-than-life reporting.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Devin Asch. After a neighbor finks on the prim Mrs. Marlowe for harboring mice--a crime in this cat-populated world--she must fool two police detectives into believing that the vermin are her sworn enemies. Like its similarly entertaining companion Mr. Maxwell's Mouse, this book's handsome digital illustrations feature impeccably dressed, upright felines set against stately brown and gray Old-World interiors.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Devin Asch. An urbane, executive-level cat on his lunch break orders a live mouse instead of his usual baked mouse and finds himself in conversation with his entrée. Witty dialogue between the cat and the crafty, deferential mouse and refined, digitally rendered illustrations (primarily black and white) combine in this macabre but deliciously dark comedy.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann