(3) PS Illustrated by Anna Pignataro. This sturdy counting book follows a girl through her daily activities, mostly playing alone with toys but sometimes with older family members. Counting from one to twelve and then skipping to twenty, hundreds, thousands, and millions is slightly jarring, but this ultimately works with the rhyme scheme and the book's resolution at bedtime. The child-friendly illustrations with plenty of white space are whimsical and homey.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) PS Illustrated by Anna Pignataro. In this combination bedtime and alphabet book, a child (alphabetically) narrates the nighttime routine, complete with family interactions, a cute puppy, and many comforting rituals. Though the text is sometimes nonsensical, the thick, glossy pages; softly colored watercolor illustrations; low-key narrative progression; and gentle (if inconsistent) rhymes make this a solid choice for lulling a child to sleep.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Anna Pignataro. Odell chooses classic stories (e.g. Peter Pan, Treasure Island) and designs simple recipes inspired by select passages, characters, or themes. Just as Mowgli from The Jungle Book scavenged for his food, readers are instructed to gather oats, fruit, and nuts for a yummy bowl of muesli. Pignataro's illustrations are delicately detailed and reflect the timelessness of the included tales.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Anna Pignataro. When a fire engulfs an animal shelter, a timid dog, nicknamed "Unknown" because no one knows anything about her, digs out and alerts the caretaker. Although it is unrealistic that a dog could dig out of a concrete and chain-link cage, the theme of overcoming one's fears is satisfying. Loose watercolors show the variety of dogs at the shelter.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley