(3) K-3 Translated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann. Illustrated by Yara Kono. In association with Amnesty International. A family searching for political and educational freedom instead finds itself in a society limited by conformity; but the mother takes boring, solid-color sweaters--offered only in green, orange, and gray--and makes fantastically patterned sweaters, inspiring others. Based on a family from dictator-led Portugal exiled in Communist Czechoslovakia in the 1960s, the allegorical picture book features graphically strong three-color illustrations.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) PS Illustrated by Yara Kono. "How many letters will there be before you drop off?" That's the introductory challenge of this alphabet book spotlighting bedtime-related words and phrases, from Awake ("This is how you look now") to Zzzz ("The book has been switched off...Turn yourself off too"). The premise and woodblock-like art are grand, but the book is tediously wordy--perhaps this would-be soporific's strategy?

Reviewer: Nell Beram