(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kyle M. Stone. Readers will be tickled by the premise: Ernest, an obedient little thing, "always listened to his mother." When new neighbors arrive, Ernest is excited to make a friend--a monster-kid named Vlapid whose bad behavior is encouraged by his Morticia Addams-esque mom. Stone's faux-Victorian illustrations, all swirling fog and dark-clad characters, are mostly humorous and just a teensy bit eerie.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kyle M. Stone. A young boy describes life at sea with his pirate papa, including treasure hunting and plundering. The spare, jaunty verse reveals that even a tough guy can be tender when it comes to his son. Deep browns and vivid blues dominate the illustrations, reinforcing the idea that the dark life of a pirate certainly has its bright spots.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kyle M. Stone. Fifteen poems in many forms extol the wonders of reading, books, and words. Not all of the poems read smoothly or easily, but many of them display wit and humor. Stone's layers of paint and other media enhance the text without over-explaining, as so many pictures with poetry do.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2005