(4) K-3 Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. Noni's friends are bullies, and though she wants to stop them, she's too afraid to speak up: they "might turn on her." Economical illustrations communicate characters' emotions with impressive depth. The thought-provoking exploration of the bystander role in bullying is welcome, but the sudden ending and its unearned sunniness dull the impact of this purposeful narrative.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. Noni, who learned to say "no" in her first outing, returns to start at a new school. After her first nervous day, she follows her mother's advice and makes a new friend. Although Noni makes an unrealistic leap of confidence, this may prove to be a useful tool for discussing fears. Côté's simple line and watercolor illustrations are inviting and expressive.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) PS Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. The reader is taken on a baby's journey of discovery, finding his nose, feet, hands, and other body parts as his narrating parents imagine what he will be like as he grows up ("Where will you go with those feet?"). Melodic prose and gentle mixed-media illustrations make this an attractive book, though it seems aimed primarily at new parents.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. Ella May finds a "wishing stone" at the beach and brings it home to show her friends (actually, to lord it over them). Her best pal, Manuel, doesn't buy the stone's magic; he comes up with his own sort of wishing-stone-mass-production device, leaving Ella May feeling no longer special. A kid-centric problem and rounded-edged, child-friendly pictures will entice readers.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Geneviève Côté. In gentle free verse chapters, Jake learns that spending the summer in his former LA neighborhood isn't really the fun he thought it would be. And he keeps running into former crush Haylee when he's in very compromising situations. A visit from best friend Minn seems like the solution, but miscommunication and jealousy abound. Textured black-and-white illustrations reflect the multi-layered relationships.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin