(2) PS If Animals Kissed Good Night series. Illustrated by David Walker. On Halloween, Owlet finds that every animal celebrates the scariest time of the year differently. From Hatchling and Papa Crocodile's segmented croc-o'-lantern with the "sneee-eeery smile" to Raccoon's "garbage-fudge squares," each animal's traditions feel unique to its species. Refreshingly, Halloween regulars (such as bats) mingle with animals not often featured (such as an armadillo). As in previous entries in the series, lines of text sometimes curve (like a smiling jack-o'-lantern) or sway (like an eerie breeze), which is appropriate and effective for this particular book's design given the subject matter. Walker's brightly colored critters contrast nicely with the dark and starry night.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In this bouncy, fast-moving rhyme, a rabbit parent and child take a car trip to visit Gram and Grampa. "All aboard. / Get ready, set. / Buckle up. / Are we there yet?" Once arrived, they enjoy cooking, reading, and playing together until--much too soon for the rabbit child--it's time for the trip home. The cheerful, candy-colored illustrations match the energy of the text.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In their third outing, bird besties Peep and Ducky enjoy a winter day outside. They sled (and crash), build a snowman, and fight then make up--a typical preschool playdate. Just in time, Peep's momma and Ducky's poppa arrive with snacks and hot chocolate. The pleasantly rhyming text and rounded figures in pastel colors contribute to a sweet seasonal story.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In their seventh outing (Bears in the Snow etc.), the four colorful little bears and Big Brown Bear prepare a picnic to enjoy under flowering trees. When "the wind's just right," the little cubs abandon their honey bread to fly kites, then go for an unexpected ride along. The bears' pastel colors match the springtime setting in Walker's acrylic illustrations, which nicely complement Parenteau's sweet rhyming story.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) PS Illustrated by David Walker. "If animals celebrated Christmas, / Koala, high in a tree, would cheer, / 'Christmas is coming! / It's almost here!'" The rhymed text, featuring couplets and other repetitive singsong verse, speculates various scenarios of creatures' Christmastime festivities. The sentimental story features warm illustrations of cuddly animals decorating, knitting, and cooking in preparation for Polar Bear Santa.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. Circling back periodically to a gorilla mother and child, sprightly rhymes use well-chosen words to tell how various animals might say "I love you." "Lion and cousins would tussle and tumble, / romp and roll in a joyful love jumble." As in If Animals Kissed Good Night, Walker's complementary art uses soft rounded shapes to enhance the affectionate tone of the text.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) PS Illustrated by David Walker. The lyrics to the Dylan classic run alongside sumptuous acrylics showing a dog parent and child outside, playing hide-and-seek, observing wildlife, etc. Alas, between the arbitrary-seeming repetition ("If not for you... / If not for you...") and lines that don't scan ("I just wouldn't have a clue / Anyway it wouldn't ring true"), the adoring lyrics don't work without music.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In this fifth title about the four small bears (Bears and a Birthday, etc.), they form an impromptu band ("Boompity boomp!"). Their music wakes up Big Bear ("Uh-oh!"), but he's not mad; he grabs a ladle as a baton and leads the band. Expressive pastel-colored acrylic illustrations and an exuberant rhyming text full of onomatopoeia will have preschoolers eagerly joining in.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. The four small, colorful bears don their winter wear for some playful fun outside in this sixth preschool-perfect outing (Bears on Chairs, etc.). It's hard taking turns on their "bright red sled," so Big Brown Bear becomes the cuddly group's sled. Paired with a loosely rhymed text, Walker's pastel acrylics capture equally well the stark snowy day and the cozy warmth inside afterward.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 Illustrated by David Walker. In a standard first-day-of-school story, a confident new first grader proclaims that he needs five friends and describes all the learning and playing he'll do with them. While the text's rhyme and meter are at times labored, Walker's joyful cartoonlike illustrations depict kids delighting in show-and-tell, snack time, and recess, among other activities also not specific to first grade.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. The two young friends from Peep and Ducky are back, this time having a play date on a less-than-sunny day. The bird pals have fun at Peep's house, first inside (under a blanketed table) then out (in a kiddy pool in the rain). Gently rounded black outlines filled with pastel colors illustrate the simple rhyming text of this lighthearted romp.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In the fourth title about the four small bears (Bears on Chairs; etc.), they prepare a birthday cake for Big Brown Bear's surprise party. Soft, pastel-colored acrylic illustrations capture the exuberant cubs' sloppy, heartfelt efforts, especially wrapping the gift--a royal-blue ball. Jaunty rhymes and the perfect amount of tension make for a terrific preschool storytime read-aloud.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. A tiny rabbit wants to be big and embody the characteristics of the much larger, stronger creatures in the jungle. Each animal's positive qualities are emphasized, but, after escaping a hungry lion, Rabbit sweetly realizes he's "ENORMOUSLY happy" to be just the way he is. The tiny-trimmed book's endearing, luscious acrylics are complemented by playful, colorful changing fonts.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. From morning until night, throughout the year, a little bunny gets messy, sandy, and muddy: "What time is it? / TIME FOR A BATH! / Splash and squirt. / Rub-a-dub-dub. / Good-bye dirt." Simple rhymes reinforce the playful rhythm of the rabbit's busy days. Soft, pastel-colored illustrations show parent and child engaged in homey or seasonal activities, from making pancakes to tracking ants.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. While trying to get four grubby bear cubs to take a bath, Big Brown Bear gets dirty himself, so he climbs into the tub alone. He has such a good time that the little bears decide to join him, and everyone gets clean. The cheerful rhyming story--the third one about these bears--is accompanied by equally cheery illustrations in soft pastel colors.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. The light rhyming text and warm watercolor and ink illustrations (that manage to be bright despite the night setting) describe the nighttime adventures of plump toddlers, who escape their beds to frolic--singing, painting, reading, and telling stories--until dawn. As the sky begins to lighten, they grow sleepy and return to their beds with their parents unaware of the romp.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) PS Illustrated by David Walker. Rhymed stanzas create a lullaby of sorts paying overly sentimental homage to animal bedtimes around the world, from a Maine moose family and a Bahama iguana to Utah prairie dogs and Malaysian tigers. Idyllic illustrations picture a young girl and her small dog enjoying the animals' bedtime routines, closing the story with her tucked into bed cuddling with all the critters.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(2) PS Illustrated by David Walker. Bird pals Peep and Ducky romp in a mud puddle, have snacks, take a pee break, fight over a bucket, apologize, then part ways (with minor whining). Everything in the art is gently rounded and painted in springlike pastel colors. The simple and repetitive rhyming text is fun to read aloud--a bonus for adults, who will be asked to read this multiple times.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In this pleasing variation on an ever-popular theme, a boy settles into bed during a thunderstorm, only to have six animals join him, one by one. "Flash! Crash! Boom! Boom! Boom! / 'Arrooo,' howled dog. 'Is there room?'" The bed finally collapses when Sis crashes the party. Everyone flees, and the boy is back where he started. Lively pastel-colored art complements the bouncy rhyming couplets.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. Hour by hour, this bouncy rhyme follows a rabbit parent and child through their day. Every so often, they pause in their many activities--indoors and out--to share a hug. "A hug feels good. / Let's hug again. / We'll hug at nine. / We'll hug at ten." The energetic illustrations, rendered in delicate pastel colors, often include a clock to show the time.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert