(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dieter Schubert. Sophie discovers Carl the crocodile under her bed, and Carl is scared of Sophie. Originally published in 1981, this latest edition offers new green-and-yellow-tone illustrations capturing the pairs' playful escapades as Sophie demands that Carl perform tricks, make pancakes, and tell her stories. With an economy of text, this monster-under-the-bed book offers a lighthearted approach to bedtime fears.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ingrid Schubert & Dieter Schubert. In the singer-songwriter's first picture book, a mouse, bored with his life, stows away on a ship and has an encounter that makes him appreciate what he had. The lyrics don't quite work without the accompanying CD--the rhyming text's rhythms can be elusive, and some lines pointlessly repeat--but there's pleasure in Ian's punchy language and the verging-on-surreal illustrations. Sheet music included.

Reviewer: Nell Beram