(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel. This collection presents nine pieces that were read over the air by Maitland, a longtime Canadian broadcaster whose voice is featured on the accompanying CD. Included are stories, poems, and a recipe by authors such as Margaret Atwood, O. Henry, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Handsome oil and acrylic paintings accentuate the mood of each selection, from poignant to cynical to humorous.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Alan Daniel. In this accessible feline adventure, Marco and Polo's mother, who abandoned them as kittens, suddenly reappears. She and the other members of the Club of Mysteries challenge each other, fend off the neighborhood dog, and face off against a rival gang of cats. Lively black-and-white illustrations accompany the story. Cat lovers will enjoy this final installment in the series.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Childhood of Famous Americans series. Illustrated by Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel. Each of the books in this series intended for emerging readers fictionalizes a childhood episode from the life of a notable historical figure. Earhart, which is divided into chapters and intended for proficient readers, is longer and more detailed (and includes more exclamation points) than the other titles. Illustrated with cartoony color art, the books provide adequate introductions. Timeline. [Review covers these Ready-to-Read titles: Mark Twain at Work!, Thomas Edison to the Rescue!, Sacagawea and the Bravest Deed, and Amelia Earhart.]

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel. "When I grow up, I'm going to be a Mountie," the narrator states at the beginning of this story, set in the Canadian past. When the boy is charged with finding his younger brother before a storm breaks, he rides off, red-jacketed and Stetson-hatted, across the prairie on his trusty horse. Watercolor illustrations reflect the prairie's golden light and the dark of the storm as they give life to the imaginative adventures of a Mountie-to-be.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel. Lizzy dreams of being a world champion skater, not a tree--the part she's given in the winter carnival. Text and art aptly convey Lizzy's passion, and the story avoids predictability (i.e., no last-minute injuries befall Snow White, the star of the show). In a satisfying ending, Lizzy shows both spunk and talent as she leads the other trees in an impromptu parade of skating skills as they exit the ice.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Alan Daniel. When Carlotta reappears with five kittens, the five male members of the Club of Mysteries try to teach the kitties some of the basics of cat behavior--leaping, hunting, and foraging for food--while protecting them from enemies. After close encounters with a dog, junkyard cats, and Carlotta's owner, who doesn't want the kittens, the club renews its efforts to find the little ones a good home. This is a lighthearted addition to the series.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel. It is the dream collector's nightly job to get everyone's dreams into his truck before the sun rises and makes them real. Zachary happens to be awake when the dream collector's truck breaks down, and he is happy to assist with rounding up pirates, dragons, zebras, and other dream creatures. Illustrated with verdant paintings, the story has an enchanting premise but cloying tone.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Alan Daniel. This twentieth-anniversary edition of a children's favorite includes a poignant afterword wherein James Howe describes the genesis of the story and his collaboration with wife Deborah, who died shortly before Bunnicula was published.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Alan Daniel. Harold the literary dog (and sidekick dachshund Howie) must save their friend, the vegetable-sucking vampire rabbit Bunnicula, from the machinations of their overexcitable cat housemate, Chester. Chester's eventual about-face comes too suddenly, but young readers may find Harold's departures from slightly pretentious narration into dog-minded asides about food amusing.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Davis gives a vivid retelling of this familiar folktale about a grumpy bear who eats a family one by one as they cross his bridge, until their pet squirrel saves the day. The lively sounds and telling make for an energetic read-aloud. Humorous illustrations incorporate varied perspectives that add to the appeal.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel. Night owl Amy won't wake up for school, so her parents and her brother deliver her there bed and all, where she snoozes through classes, lunch, and recess. Humorous illustrations show classmates using the sleeping girl as a lunch table and as home plate during a baseball game. Plenty of repetition and boisterous dialogue make the story a good choice for reading aloud.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann