(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Nine-year-old Daniel is unenthusiastic about moving after his parents divorce, but middle-aged Tilda is delighted to have a child neighbor. Co-protagonist Tilda--who can magically talk with animals--takes an interest in Daniel while his mother works long hours. A broad cast of well-defined secondary characters reinforces the book's sense of community, while the talking animals provide both occasional profundity and frequent comic relief.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. In this hymn to contemporary cowboys, a sentence beginning with "real cowboys..." introduces each new task or scene ("Real cowboys are patient..."). Young cowpokes will appreciate the seriousness given to their passion, an apparent respect shared by Bean's dramatic illustrations. With details that verge on the abstract, each page turn comes as a visual surprise. The book ends with an existential turn.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. An upset little boy sees nothing good about his family's move: "Bad truck / Bad guy / Bad wave / Bad bye." But the journey to and exploration of his new house are full of good experiences, including making a friend. Bean's dynamic ink and Prismacolor-tone illustrations creatively highlight the passage of time, and Underwood's simple rhymes skillfully address common emotions about moving.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Emmy Addison and her friends, who happen to be magical rats, are lured to Schenectady by a rodent villainess determined to regain her human form. This third entry includes many flashbacks, which can slow the action, but the characters continue to have heart, and Bean's flip-book art in the margins is an entertaining bonus.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(2) PS Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. "One starry night / a sheep watched over her lamb / I am here." Thompson's poetic, reverent text tells of the night Jesus was born. Bean's digitally colored pencil illustrations portray the calm nighttime scenes. The gentle words are beautifully matched by the strikingly composed art; both are infused with meaning and are powerful in their simplicity.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Emmy (Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat) rejoins her talking-rodent friends to defeat her evil nanny, Ms. Barmy. This time, besides outwitting the nasty nanny, Emmy is trying to save Ms. Barmy's previous victims while also attempting to make friends with the girls in her neighborhood. Black-and-white flip-book-style illustrations decorate the pages of this imaginative text.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Freewheeling twins Mokie and Bik continue their seafaring adventures in this second installment. Along with dog Waggles and turtle Slow, the kids get underfoot and finish each other's sentences. Walking a fine line between whimsy and nonsense, the tongue-twisting prose is fun to read aloud but can be hard to follow. Black-and-white drawings bring a modicum of calm to the storm.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Emmy is ignored by everyone except her scarily perfect nanny, Miss Barmy. A rascally class pet rat introduces Emmy to a magical rodent subculture, which helps her discover the truth about her suddenly aloof parents and Miss Barmy. With its sinister elements beneath a light writing style, the imaginative plot is reminiscent of Roald Dahl. Black-and-white running-head illustrations create a flipbook effect.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. The title characters are freewheeling twins who live on a boat. Their adventures are told using both mixed-up (their mother rides a "botormike") and made-up (they catch "fisk," not fish) words. Less confident readers will likely be confused by the book's nonsensical language, though more adept readers may delight in it. The jaunty rhythm is well suited to reading aloud.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. In House-That-Jack-Built-style rhyme, this book describes the provenance of a pie, starting with apples then moving outward to include the tree, the rain, and the world. Likewise, the illustrations start with close-ups then pull back to show the landscape. The use of only three colors (red, mustard brown, and black) and its illustrative style give the book an old-fashioned sensibility.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2008