(3) PS Illustrated by Ashley Spires. In this creature-feature bedtime story, a series of monster families prepares for sleep. The tale's humor comes from its pairing of treacly night-night rhymes--"A little wonder, yes, that's true. / A miracle, uniquely you"--with warm cartoony pictures showing mummies, dragons, werewolves, vampires ("We've had a wild and woolly night. / Now give Daddy one more bite"), and more.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ashley Spires. Henry refuses to stop reading a fantastic book when the school bell rings. Despite a daily buildup of increasingly blaring bells, Henry sticks to his choice. A silly tall tale of improbably escalating destruction ensues as Henry's decision causes imbalances in the school. Spires's cartoons enhance the merriment.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Ashley Spires. June is on the lookout for a new friend. Two things happen: a new family moves in across the street (including a girl her age named Mae) and free-spirited Grandma Penny sends June a "Wonder Wheel," which provides lighthearted challenges for June. The book's short chapters, comic illustrations, and generous-sized font add to its appeal for newly minted independent readers.

Reviewer: Viki Ash | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ashley Spires. A resourceful and intelligent girl wearing a lab coat explains the just-rightness of her lovable mutt's goofy parts, including an "odd, tubby, stubby body" ("perfect for cuddling") and "four spare unmatched paws" ("but they all work"). The short, descriptive read-aloud text complements Spires's friendly, cartoonish ink and watercolor illustrations, which are elevated by emotive facial expressions and well-balanced compositions.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ashley Spires. Even though his mom says they're lots of work, Dog wants a boy. As he searches for the perfect one, he ends up in the pound, where the perfect boy finds him. Retro 1950s-style illustrations in ink, watercolor, and digital collage add humor to this clever twist on the familiar boy-wants-dog tale, but the role reversal leads to some plot inconsistencies.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden