(3) K-3 Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. When all the usual places are dry during a long drought, elephant Little Calf's grandmother remembers a watering hole from a long-ago drought and leads the herd to water. Based on a real incident in Tanzania's Tarangire National Park (per the informative note), this suspenseful story highlights elephant intelligence and resourcefulness. VandenBroeck's paintings evoke textures of the arid savannah. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. This collection features traditional animal folktales of five lesser-known groups of Mexico's indigenous people: the Seri, Tarahumara, Huichol, Triqui, and Tseltal. Each engagingly written tale is followed by informative material on the culture's history, customs, and traditions. Extensive running glossaries of Spanish words and local expressions are helpful. Vivid folk-art paintings enliven the stories. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. At the narrator’s father’s music store, "people come...to buy dreams and memories." Customers stop by and tell their stories (a series of linked free-verse poems), each connecting to a Latin musical style or dance. Illustrations accompanying the girl's narration are in black and white while the visitors' tales appear in vibrant color. A useful author's note is appended.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. A master will grant his slave freedom only if he can withstand (overnight) the cold on top of a snowy mountain. With a friend's moral support, the slave survives. Other versions of the story offer sources and more local atmosphere, but this spare retelling illuminates the best aspects of the human spirit. The acrylic illustrations range from an almost comical image of the master to strong portrayals of the slave.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. Since he immigrated to Los Angeles from Mexico, Carlos's uncle is grumpy during the day because he feels insecure with "el Blah-Blah" or English. But at night, when he tells traditional Mexican stories in Spanish, he is a lot of fun. Carlos and his uncle agree to trade English lessons for Mexican stories. Atmospheric illustrations done in colored pencil and acrylics capture the mood of the story that includes some Spanish words and phrases.

Reviewer: Elena Abos Alvarez-Buiza