(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Wisteria Jane is back for another lesson (Wisteria Jane); here she keeps blaming her dog Bingo when they get into trouble. Finally, Wisty's mother teaches her about "taking responsibility" for her actions. Despite the story's obvious message and old-fashioned language, Wisty is authentically childlike in processing the concept. The sketchlike illustrations have a throwback feel that suits the story's gentle mishaps and emotions.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Although the text has an old-timey tone, this is a contemporary story about a little girl who learns that always telling the truth can hurt another person's feelings--sometimes you have to think before you speak. Although the message is obvious, it's nice to see Wisteria apologize to her friend and restore good will between them. The washed-out-looking illustrations convey emotion well.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Alice, who lives in Dallas, Pennsylvania, loves to pretend to be a Wild West cowgirl until Lexis from Texas (or is she?) comes to town and threatens to usurp her. A high-noon playground showdown leads to an injury and an inevitable but satisfying partnership. This mild rivalry-turned-friendship tale conveys its message smoothly, while Hoyt's watercolor and pen illustrations embody the "Yippee ki-yay!" spirit.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) PS Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. In this companion to One-Dog Canoe, a girl and her dog embark on a winter sleigh ride, adding animal passengers as they go until the sleigh gets stuck, unstuck, crashes, and returns safely home. The energetic text's rhythm, occasional rhyme, and onomatopoeia are made for reading aloud; Hoyt's soft colors, delicate lines, and snowy landscape help carry the festive cumulative story.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) PS Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. "Piggies in pajamas, / jumping in the air, / tossing up the pillows, / popcorn in their hair." The Piggies are back, this time shirking sleep while Mama yaks on the phone. The book is a blast; parents who consider bedtime serious business should pass. Hoyt captures the energy of the pajama party, then concludes with a cozy, gentler spread.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. After cat Violet is adopted, she is less than friendly toward her owners' two yippy dogs (known to readers of this book's predecessor, Some Dog!). The story line is predictable (guess who rescues Violet when some mean dogs threaten her?), but the book is pleasantly old-fashioned with its sketch-like art in muted colors and its refusal to cute-ify the scowly Violet.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. While frolicking in the snow one winter night, Little Otter spots a host of animals--including a pack of wolves--just in time to warn his family. Casanova spices up her text by playing with rhyme and invented words: "Moose towers. Little Otter cowers. Then--chompity, whompity, STOMP--off Moose clomps." Hoyt's pen-and-ink illustrations reflect the energy of the lively otters.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Notorious outlaw Dirk Yeller strikes fear in the hearts of the townsfolk when he arrives demanding something to "'take away my cat scratch fever!' His fingers were a-itchin' and a-twitchin'." No one can help, until young Sam, who gets fidgety too, steps up and leads him to the library. Spirited illustrations extend this rollicking Old-West-with-a-twist story.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Five pig children take advantage of Mama's absence to cook up a messy surprise for her birthday. The rhymes, including sound effects ("Swish, swish, oink, oink"), are bouncy: "Squeeze out sticks of butter, / flour in the bowl. / Carton takes a tumble, / eggs begin to roll." Spirited pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations add to the story's all-around exuberance.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Tilly loves playing tricks on her family, friends, and teachers. The tricks are classic--poked hole in a cup, red-hot candy--and Tilly gains pleasure (too much? she’s a little overly gleeful) from her victims' discomfort. When she sickens her brother with toothpaste-filled cookies, her family gives Tilly a taste of her own medicine. Watercolor and ink illustrations reflect the incorrigible girl's energy.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Zoe's amazing red hair (it can turn on the TV, set the table, etc.) is appreciated by the adults in her life--until she hits first grade. Readers will get caught up in Zoe's plight to placate her battle-ax teacher while being true to herself. Hoyt doesn't let his duty to relay Zoe's hair's wildness overshadow the story's humanity.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Worm-lover Winnie Finn inquires whether there's a prize for "best worms" at the Quincy County Fair. There isn't; instead she uses her worm farm to help other contest entrants. The writing is impressively economical for a plot so layered, and the illustrations are lively but not distracting: Hoyt knows that the no-nonsense Winnie doesn't have time for frills. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Kennedy Center Presents: Capital Kids series. Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. After finding a mysterious scrap of paper in a copy of Treasure Island, Archie, Kermit, and Ethel, children of President Teddy Roosevelt, search for treasure in the White House. Though the mystery is contrived, the story (based on a Kennedy Center–commissioned play) provides some interesting historical facts about the Roosevelts and the White House.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) PS Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Little Otter, asserting independence, spends the day away from his family; after all, "he's a big otter now." But when they help him escape from a hungry cougar, he realizes he still needs them, "no matter how big he grows." Casanova plays with language in her enjoyable rhythmic tale. The action-filled pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations suit Little Otter's boisterous behavior.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Captured by Shawnee warriors in 1778, Daniel Boone persuades their chief to spare his men. He lives for months as a Shawnee before escaping to protect his family from an attack. Crosshatched watercolor, colored-pencil, and pen-and-ink illustrations capture the drama. Though an epilogue gives more history, the vague text raises more questions than it answers.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. George, an old bloodhound, is one satisfied dog. When a yappy stray joins the family, though, George's place is unsure. But when Zippity's skittish side gets stirred up during a thunderstorm, George comes to the rescue. Hoyt's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations detail every canine emotion, and each spread brims with energy. Satisfying sound play will make this tale a hit as a read-aloud.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2007

(4) PS Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. A young rabbit thinks everyone pays too much attention to the new baby. While the seemingly oblivious adults keep urging, "Help me love the baby," he only pretends to comply, then finally loses his temper. After successfully comforting his crying sibling, though, he finds he really does "love my baby!" The resolution is all too predictable, but lively illustrations give the story some personality.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. For Presidents' Day, Caleb's teacher asks the class to "make something showing patriotism." Caleb is stumped until he realizes that his soldier dad, who is serving overseas, "is patriotism." Caleb's epiphany is kind of adult, but many communities will welcome this opportunity to discuss the concerns of children with parents in the military. The illustrations convey Caleb's pride.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Ida Mae wants to be famous--but how? After she and her trusty dog wrangle up her family's twenty-six cows cavorting around the neighborhood, she realizes her dream might come true if she opens a bovine circus. Down-home dialect and energetic comic illustrations in pen-and-ink and watercolor enliven the preposterous plot.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. As Lulu the dog grows older and weaker, her owner, a young girl, tenderly cares for her. After Lulu dies, it takes a while before the girl comes to terms with her grief. Although the story deals adequately with the grieving process, it lacks emotional depth. The people in the watercolor, colored-pencil, and pen-and-ink illustrations are less attractive than the dog.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley