(4) K-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. There's little remarkable about Rylant's retelling of the old tale, except that she occasionally resorts to archaic sentence structure to lend a folkloric flavor ("There erupted then such a sound as to nearly stop the man's heart beating..."). Park's illustrations have some warmth but resemble cels from an animated film (though not the famous Disney production.) More beautiful editions of the story are available.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. Anna's two best friends, Isabel and Sadie, convince her to enter her dachshund, Banana, in the Puppy Parade. But when the girls take over the preparations, Anna is afraid her friends think that Banana isn't good enough. Park's illustrations depict a diverse cast of characters (with Anna's non-white family at the center) in this friendship-affirming tale of elementary-school conflict.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. In Monkey, Anna finds herself in the middle of an unbalanced friendship trio; in Bet, she attempts to save her two friends from a bully by making a wager with him. Anna's diverse third-grade world is pleasant, as is the spot art scattered throughout, but Anna's voice feels a little too adult to be believable. Review covers these titles: Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet and Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. In Monkey, Anna finds herself in the middle of an unbalanced friendship trio; in Bet, she attempts to save her two friends from a bully by making a wager with him. Anna's diverse third-grade world is pleasant, as is the spot art scattered throughout, but Anna's voice feels a little too adult to be believable. Review covers these titles: Anna, Banana, and the Big-Mouth Bet and Anna, Banana, and the Monkey in the Middle.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Meg Park. Anna's birthday wish for a pony comes true: she gets a pretty pony pendant necklace. But her best friend, Sadie, wants the necklace for herself and demands either it or Anna's dog, Banana. They fight, and Anna worries they'll never make up. Well-rounded characters, sweet spot art, and a relatable plot that avoids didacticism make this an entertaining chapter book.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano