(4) K-3 Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. This A–Z poetry volume focusing on the seashore is inessential as an alphabet book but will probably appeal to beach lovers. Though Ettlinger's watercolors are often lovely--particularly where her subjects are water, sky, or animals--the verses are frequently forced: "And true, we have an awful screech / But gulls don't leave their trash behind-- / It's not we who litter the beach."

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Tales of the World series. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. After WWII ends, Thomas travels aboard the Queen Mary with his mum and baby brother to be reunited with his American stepfather in New York. Thomas's story highlights the experiences of "war brides" who immigrated to America to join their soldier husbands. Softly realistic illustrations capture the characters' range of emotions in this different kind of war story. An author’s note is appended.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Tales of Young Americans series. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. The story begins with Cora's mother's death during childbirth along the Oregon Trail. Difficult decisions pioneers had to make aren't sugarcoated: Cora's father gives the baby, named Susan, to her aunt to raise. In a fairy-tale ending, little Susan appears in teacher Cora's classroom. There's a fair bit of sentimentality in the text and prairie-themed illustrations, but the story line is engaging.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. It's 1928, and Morris Frank, who is blind, travels from Tennessee to Switzerland to become the first American owner of a seeing-eye dog. Based on true events, the story reads like fiction due to the attention Hall pays to Morris's feelings and some invented dialogue. The illustrations, although somewhat stiff, reinforce the story's quiet humanity. An afterword includes archival photographs. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Delly is happy to go barefoot until her stuck-up classmate teases her about being too poor to own shoes. Delly finds a way to stand out at the Shoebox Social with a little help from her folks and a lot of her own talent: her hand-painted shoes and matching box outshine everyone else's. Realistic illustrations lovingly depict a close-knit rural community.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 1-3 Ready-for-Chapters: Brave Kids series. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Hazelle, who has been living in a New York City orphanage, suddenly finds herself on a train to Texas to be placed with a family. Based on a real-life orphan-train rider, this fictional account typifies the experiences of many orphans at the turn of the century. Gentle black-and-white illustrations and a thorough afterword enhance the book. Reading list.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. When the Pilgrims sail to the New World, a tabby cat makes the trip, too, providing friendship for a girl named Faith as well as the first litter of kittens born in Plymouth Colony. The story, adequately illustrated in watercolor, is a sweet and gentle counterpoint to the usual Pilgrim fare.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) 1-3 Ready-for-Chapters: Brave Kids series. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Based on the experiences of a real twelve-year-old drummer boy in the Union Army, this is a fictionalized account of Robert's service during the Civil War. Robert runs away from home to volunteer for duty, ends up capturing a Confederate soldier, and much later is invited to the White House to meet President Lincoln. The black-and-white drawings add to the tale's drama. An author's note provides historical details. Reading list.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger & Doris Ettlinger. In this interesting and little-known historical anecdote, a carrier pigeon named G. I. Joe transports a message to American troops during WWII and prevents the bombing of an Italian village. Despite some unfortunate anthropomorphizing ("G. I. Joe was not afraid"; "G. I. Joe was smart"), the easy-to-read text and uncluttered illustrations will be accessible to beginning readers.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 1-3 Ready-for-Chapters: Brave Kids series. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. This story is based on an episode in the real Cora's memoirs about growing up on the Iowa prairie at the turn of the nineteenth century. While on their way to make a house call, Cora and her doctor father encounter a fast-spreading prairie fire and survive thanks to their courage and ingenuity. The accessible text is accompanied by soft black-and-white drawings. Bib.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 1-3 Little House Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Little House in Brookfield, a spinoff about the childhood of Caroline Ingalls, has been adapted and simplified for younger readers. Caroline helps with chores, celebrates her sixth birthday, and endures a long winter with a scarce supply of food. Although the writing is pedestrian, this short chapter book will have appeal to new readers interested in pioneer days. Black-and-white line drawings accompany the text.

Reviewer: Anne St. John