(2) K-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. Large snow leopard tracks on the endpapers lead readers to join the narrator on a Himalayan trek in hopes of spotting this elusive animal. Shortly, readers do indeed see the snow leopard--first as a solitary animal, with features such as coat, paws, and behaviors noted; when her cub joins her, we learn about the lives of young snow leopards. Soft watercolors, predominantly in shades of tan and white, underscore the animal's natural camouflage and the stark mountainous setting. An author's note discusses conservation efforts. Ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. Eliza finds a stone on the beach and decides it's an egg. One morning she wakes up to see, in place of the "egg," a stone bird. Seasons pass, and a small stone appears next to her bird; later, that stone is replaced by a stone chick. McCartney captures in uncomplicated prose the unwavering faith and abundant imagination of children. Benson's richly detailed illustrations radiate warmth.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(3) PS Illustrated by Patrick Benson. Lovely watercolors in a muted palette of greens, browns, and grays illustrate this quiet story. An elephant and her small son go for a walk and see other animals before climbing to the top of a mountain. After each encounter the baby asks, "'When can we go home again?'...'Soon,' said his mother." Once home, Raju wants to do it again.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. In this well-imagined tale set along the Silk Road, Yazul learns about kite-making from his grandfather and uses that knowledge to save his father's han (walled settlement) from bandits. A particular time and place are not specified, but complex relationships between the family's three generations feel authentic. Pages are beautifully presented with ornate borders and illustrated in tones of blue and brown.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. Dawson introduces readers to animals that migrate to the Arctic for the warmer summer months. Polar bears (year-round residents) are joined by whales from Mexico, herrings from Norway, and birds from as far away as Antarctica, among others. Luminous watercolor with pen and pencil illustrations capture the icy Arctic winters, the tundra’s fleeting midsummer verdancy, and the migrating groups’ gracefulness.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. One day at the beach, three creatures--the Lostlet, the Strangelet, and the Oddlet--happen on a mysterious being: a lost boy. They console him, he answers their questions ("What means home?"), and they all end up happy together. Text and art imbue the three invented animals with humanity and the offbeat story with meaning.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Adapted by Jan Needle. Illustrated by Patrick Benson. This large-format abridged edition of Melville's classic sea story is heavily decorated with pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations. Purists will be horrified, but this is a handsome edition for an intermediate audience. A schematic diagram of a whaling ship is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. In literary prose ("my thirst had become so strong that I could think of little else except the need to satisfy it") a poetry-composing mouse relates the episodes of his life: his birth and sale to a pet shop, his first owner, falling into the wrong hands, escaping, and finding a new owner for a happy ending. Black-and-white sketches illustrate this gently refined tale.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(2) PS Illustrated by Patrick Benson. Squeak's elephant family is too busy to go outside with him, so he ventures out alone, and he walks "one step at a time" to the edge of the back yard. Discovering pleasant weather, he removes layers of outdoor gear just as his family arrives to join him for a picnic--a clear affirmation of his "good idea." Cheery watercolors accompany this simple story that gives due respect to a small child testing his independence.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2002

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Patrick Benson. Too little to swim well and not yet able to fly, the sea-thing child finds itself alone, frightened, and storm-stranded on a beach. Eventually the little birdlike creature finds the courage and confidence to take flight over the ocean. Spare, cross-hatched pen-and-ink pictures are washed with the limpid blues and greens of the sea. This story of self-discovery will be most resonant with an adult audience.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute