(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dominic Catalano. Old Armadillo waits cautiously inside his home while trick-or-treaters Roadrunner, Peccary, Coyote, etc., gather outside. Suspense builds as the narration, alternating between the inside and outside action, reveals that Old Armadillo has a scary surprise for his friends. The Southwest setting is captured within the muted pastels and the (wordy) text, sprinkled with Spanish vocabulary. Glos.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dominic Catalano. Mouse does love his island, but sometimes he wonders if there's something missing from his (mostly) contented life. One day an unexpected visitor washes ashore, leading to a surprising friendship that fills the hole in Mouse's world. Illustrations in grays, greens, and blues, sometimes stormy, sometimes placid, provide the backdrop for this tale of camaraderie.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dominic Catalano. Elephant Bernard wants a new baby, but one to his liking--a brother that doesn't cry, spit up, or poop. Instead his mother gives birth to triplet elephant babies who manage to foil his wishes. The plot adds little novelty to the many stories about new babies, except for the triplets angle and the ensuing extra chaos. Pastel illustrations picture a setting suggesting India.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) PS Illustrated by Dominic Catalano. On Bernard's first day of school, his accompanying family becomes overly engaged in the classrooom activities: block building, painting, and having a tea party. Once Bernard makes a new friend, he promptly asks his family to go home. The commonplace story, illustrated in warm red and purple hues, offers reassurance about the new school experience.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) PS Illustrated by Dominic Catalano. Bernard the elephant bounces on his bed while his mom, dad, and grandma each put themselves to sleep trying to get him to nap. He takes special care of each of them before finally settling down to sleep. Although the story offers nothing new, the text is well written, and the illustrations convey a soft, cozy world of soothing color.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt