(4) K-3 Illustrated by Chris Ellison. A grandfather tells his grandchildren about a ship that carried Christmas trees across Lake Michigan until it sank in a storm. The captain's wife, the children learn, continues the tradition of bringing trees by boat to Chicago. The sentimental story is illustrated with soft, old-fashioned paintings for strong adult appeal; the whole has less attraction for child readers.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Tales of Young Americans series. Illustrated by Chris Ellison. In Riding, Janie goes with her father on a bus to hear Martin Luther King Jr. In Lucky, Ruth's school is closed during the Great Depression. Both stories purport to show a child's interpretation of a time in history, though their voices waver unconvincingly between naive and profound. The realistic-looking paintings, though stiff, make good use of light and shadow. Review covers these Tales of Young Americans titles: Riding to Washington and The Lucky Star.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(4) K-3 Tales of Young Americans series. Illustrated by Chris Ellison. In Rudy the young title character rides the rails during the Great Depression, and Quilt is about the 1946 Hawaiian tsunami. The plots are bland; Quilt is message-driven and Rudy doesn't really have an ending, but they both impart some historical information. The illustrations in Quilt are colorful but stiff, while the paintings in Rudy are muted and impressionistic. Review covers these Tales of Young Americans titles: The Tsunami Quilt and Rudy Rides the Rails.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Tales of Young Americans series. Illustrated by Chris Ellison. In this tale of struggle and perseverance, African American Moses and his family leave their home in Baltimore to participate in an Oklahoma land run. Though it's slow to get moving, the story effectively relates the obstacles the characters face while working toward their dream of owning a farm. Dark, atmospheric paintings display the family's struggles and triumphs.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King