(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. Mouseling grows up in a nest full of written words. When he must find a job, Mouseling becomes a "swashbuckler of words," collecting paper words to build his own nest. Warm digital illustrations and a love of words augment a story that otherwise too rapidly shifts from a tale of overcoming fear and leaving home to one of bravery and unexpected friendship...with a cat.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. A construction worker leads a diverse group of children on a tour of a skyscraper building site. Simple rhyming text introduces each step of the building process, while explanations in smaller font, labeled illustrations, and helpful diagrams provide more detail. O'Rourke's friendly illustrations, done entirely in Adobe Photoshop, cleanly show the development. A final vertical fold-out page displays the finished skyscraper.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. This collection of twenty-three poems celebrates all kinds of reading, from a new reader understanding "letters make words" to reading for pleasure by flashlight. With a gently varying meter, the poems are read-aloud perfect; the bright digital illustrations are a pleasing accompaniment. Standouts include "Stories," in which a girl learns about grief from Charlotte's Web, and a grandpa's gift of a poem in "Birthday Card."

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) PS Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. "A is for Auto Train / Load your car on the track." Despite the somewhat uneven text--comprised of short rhymes of descriptive train information arranged alphabetically--vehicle enthusiasts will enjoy learning about the various types of trains (bullet, elevated, freight) and famous route trains (Italy's Leonardo Express, California Zephyr); more information about each is appended. Sunny digital illustrations further the alphabetical theme with cleverly incorporated letters.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. This book offers lyrics to each song on the accompanying CD--a mixture of traditional favorites and originals--plus step-by-step instructions for dance moves and general suggestions for getting down while you listen. O’Rourke's oil and acrylic illustrations lend additional silliness to the package; the design is frenetic, but it's fitting given the concept. Great for groups and active story hours.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) PS Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. In this cheerful rhyming book, twenty-six trucks, each associated with a different letter (from apple truck to zipper truck) go about their work. The A-to-Z tour is almost too quick, and some of the verses scan more successfully than others, but the perennially popular subject matter and sprightly oil and acrylic illustrations should please young truck lovers.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. "Nation watching, / bated breath. / Eagle landing-- / life or death." Brief rhyming couplets tell the historic story of Apollo 11's 1969 moon landing mission. Blocky stylized illustrations, simplified down to the bare basics, capture atmosphere, import, and emotion. An author's note provides context. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. Illustrated with an appropriate palette of grays, blues, and olive greens, this anthology of twenty poems quietly celebrates rain. On the whole, the poems favor imagery over bouncy rhyme, with the pictures adding just enough snap to keep things from becoming too sleepy. The book design is invitingly small, and the poems' placement on the pages is clean and eye-pleasing.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2010