(3) K-3 Illustrated by Herb Leonhard. Danny Bénédite and the Rescue Committee hide young Aube Breton and her artist parents--along with other famous artists and writers--in a villa in Nazi-occupied France. The heroic true story is told simply and honestly, with an emphasis on the importance of justice and creativity. Crosshatched art depicts the group's joyful camaraderie despite perilous circumstances. Historical afterword with photos included. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Herb Leonhard. A curious girl in a pink cowboy hat imagines riding west on her pony and encountering animal life along the way--a buffalo, prairie dog, armadillo, roadrunner, and the like--before trotting back home to Grandpa. The repetitive, singsong text never finds its rhythm, but the art creates a sense of mood and place.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Herb Leonhard. When a friend wants a painting on his shield, Leonardo da Vinci's father gives the job to his son. The boy paints a horrifying monster, and the finished image terrifies his father. This tale is based on an incident described by Giorgio Vassari in 1550. The possibly apocryphal story is intriguing, but both the telling and the illustrations are stiff. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Herb Leonhard. After a "crafty, clever" snake steals Saint Patrick's bell, observant mouse Tulla follows the snake back to its lair. She then gets her brothers, and together the three mice bravely reclaim the bell so Saint Patrick can finish his job of driving snakes from Ireland. Though the illustrations can be stiff, their shadows and shading add tension to the mice's nighttime rescue effort.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley