(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kristi Valiant. Singer's poems take readers from the cha-cha to hip-hop to the samba. Each verse attempts, though not always successfully, to reflect the energetic rhythm of the dance through its meter. Vibrant Photoshop-created illustrations add to the merrymaking. Notes about each dance are appended. CD included.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Little Wings series. Illustrated by Kristi Valiant. All cupids in Nimbus have unique flying friends. Still, Willa Bean is excited to show off her owl, Snooze, to her Cupid Academy classmates. When the new girl has a bigger and stronger owl, Willa Bean loses sight of what makes Snooze special. Though they're almost too cute, the airy and expressive black-and-white drawings complement the relatable if saccharine story.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Little Wings series. Illustrated by Kristi Valiant. When young cupid Willa Bean's baby brother loses his favorite toy, she does whatever she can to get it back, even if it means nearly ruining her first school "cloud trip." Willa's experiences are relatable, and the simple plot will benefit those transitioning to chapter books, but overall the story borders on cloying; black-and-white drawings are also cutesy but fittingly ethereal.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Little Wings series. Illustrated by Kristi Valiant. Willa Bean doesn't mind being different from most cupids: she has freckles, purple wings, and wild, curly hair. What really worries her is that she has never flown, and her first day at Cupid Academy is fast approaching. Encouraged by her family and best friend, she succeeds. Willa's got pluck, but some readers will find her cutesy interjections ("Ring-a-ding-doodad") annoying.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kristi Valiant. When Mom's doctor anticipates she'll be cancer-free by "pumpkin time," Janie thinks of a way to pass the months during treatment: plant a vegetable garden. As they plan, dig, plant, nurture, and harvest the garden, Mom has surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, finishing when the pumpkins are ripe. Ultra-cheery illustrations underscore the upbeat bibliotherapeutic message.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kristi Valiant. When her siblings are busy, Cora, the youngest, finally gets to help her mother prepare pancit, her favorite Filipino food. Cora even performs "the grown-up jobs like shredding the chicken," and she learns about her Filipino grandfather's cooking skills. Warm, realistic illustrations convey Cora's pride and tell a second story of a terrier eager to play with the too-busy young cook. Recipe included. Glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth