(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. Rabbit Poppy (Poppy's Best Paper) is delighted when her motorcycle-riding grandmother comes to help with the family's new babies--until she realizes they leave GeeGee little time to play. Poppy's frustration erupts in spectacular bad behavior, but she finds a creative way to make amends. Fellow big siblings should empathize with Poppy's struggle. Pattern-rich mixed-media illustrations invite readers to pore over the details of Poppy's home and classroom.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. Ella insists that friends' clothes and activities need to match, which leaves Penguin feeling uncomfortable in an ill-fitting tutu, eating "too minty" peppermints, and growing bored finger painting--all endeavors Ella loves. Though didactic, the text is ultimately reassuring about what friendship does and does not have to entail. The watercolor and pencil illustrations convey emotions clearly, especially Penguin's.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) PS Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. Lamb Pablo has never seen snow before, so he sneaks out of his cozy barn to investigate. After an enjoyable day with new friends, he gets lost in the dark. Happily, Mama and Papa come to his rescue. Both the spare text and mixed-media illustrations acknowledge the anxiety of this relatable-to-preschoolers predicament, but visual humor, a muted palette, and rounded shapes offer reassurance.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) PS Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. In this silly-spooky counting book, ten witches all take off on the same broom. Things go downhill fast as they squabble and push, a spell is cast, and one by one they fall off (no one's injured) until only one remains to "zoom" off into the night. Humorous ink and watercolor illustrations (featuring some familiar creepy creatures) are coupled with bewitching rhymes.

Reviewer: Katie Sutton

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. Realizing they can only enjoy their glow-in-the-dark stickers in the dark presents a scary dilemma for Ella and her penguin sidekick. After trying "mostly dark" places (e.g., under umbrellas), they "hold hands," shut the closet door, and are rewarded with brightly glowing stars, moons, planets, and rockets. Playful watercolor and pencil illustrations and gentle humor show readers that facing this common nighttime fear is possible.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. Poppy wants to be a writer, but she just can't settle down to write school essays, even though she has a good imagination and more than enough confidence. When the teacher praises another student's writing, Poppy misbehaves and gets in trouble with everyone. However, she finally writes her "best paper," cleverly showing what she has learned. Lively, humorous illustrations reveal what's happening in Poppy's imagination.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. Oscar discovers he's not skilled at creating art, but he develops a passion for collecting it. As he grows up, his collection expands until a museum is built to house it. Wahl promotes art appreciation for young children without didacticism (technical vocabulary--etching, woodcut--may need explanation). Bonnet's illustrations mimic an array of stylistic movements within Oscar's framed pictures.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet. The little red elf is used to doing everything herself while her friends the reindeer, the penguin, and the hare laze around. On Christmas morning, however, everyone is more than eager to assist in opening presents. Bonnet's cuddly illustrations give an extra-festive boost to McGrath's already spirited version of a familiar tale; the little red hen herself makes a cameo appearance.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2009