(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jill Weber. After a happy beginning at a farm with the son of migrant farm workers, two puppies search for their purpose. The journey takes them to a puppy mill from which they escape, to a pet rescue, and eventually to an animal trainer who fosters their special talents. Some coincidences and unrealistic dog behavior mar this otherwise engaging middle-grade novel.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Adler follows up The Story of Hanukkah with the Passover story. The straightforward text touches on Jacob and the Children of Israel, slavery and Pharaoh's cruelty, Moses's encounter with the burning bush, the ten plagues, and the Red Sea escape. Weber's expressive, rich-hued acrylics play up the drama but also offer reassurance and even some humor through small, eye-pleasing details.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jill Weber. This story follows the adventures of a stray New York City cat named Pretty Boy, who goes from stubbornly self-sufficient to comfortably nestled within a circle of quirky companions. Weber's detailed, charming color illustrations bringing the culture of Greenwich Village vividly to life only somewhat compensate for Salamon's trite prose; still, the book may hold some appeal as an easy family read.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. In this faithful retelling of the Purim story, beautiful Esther becomes queen of Persia and saves her fellow Hebrews from wicked Haman. Kimmel's storytelling is straightforward and natural (though the text may be too long for younger children). Weber's rich jewel-toned illustrations are a treat, evoking the grandness of the royal setting and the intense emotions of the characters.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Adler's straightforward, accessible retelling of the Hanukkah story details King Antiochus IV's coronation, his oppression of Jews, and triumphant revolt by the Maccabees. The narrative concludes with modern-day observances of events; a recipe for latkes and instructions for the dreidel game are appended. Acrylic illustrations richly accented with deep blues and luminous golds recall ancient friezes and ceramics.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2011

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Vicky Austin, teenage star of L'Engle's Austin Family Chronicles, narrates this story set in her childhood. It's a busy time for the family: while seven-year-old Vicky nervously rehearses for the Christmas pageant, the entire clan prepares for the arrival of a new baby. This edition includes unobtrusive spot illustrations done in an inviting folk-art style.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2010

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Where does the rabbi disappear to during the days before Rosh Hashanah? His congregants think he visits heaven to intercede for them with God. When a skeptic comes to town, he follows the rabbi and learns of his true (earthly) good deeds. Kimmel's lively adaptation of the I. L. Peretz tale is well matched by Weber's spirited, child-friendly mixed-media illustrations.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Third grader Polly hasn't lost any teeth and still believes in the tooth fairy. Zachary teases that she is a baby, and she worries he may be right. Readers will relate to Polly's bewilderment about how to act her age. Line illustrations convey a sense of third grade, from classroom activities and recess to changing friendships and emotions.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. The Brockwell family--grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles--come together to tap their maple trees. The project of turning clear sap into maple syrup is hard work that demands the attention of all family members, and Weber's folk art–inspired illustrations demonstrate how special this annual get-together is. Readers interested in the process will lap up the "maple syrup lore" back matter. Glos.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Grandpa and his grandson prepare their Christmas tree farm for the first buyers of the season. This book is less story than it is information about owning a tree farm and working to have beautiful trees ready each December. Although the text is dry, Weber's paintings attractively illustrate the seasons of the farm.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Who Was...? series. Illustrated by Jill Weber. Once past the unflattering cover caricatures, these informative biographies provide useful details on each subject's life, family, and career. The lack of divisions within chapters makes the books a little less accessible, although black-and-white drawings and occasional spreads on related topics help break up the text. Timeline. Bib. Review covers these Who Was...? titles: Who Was John F. Kennedy?, Who Was Louis Armstrong?, and Who Was Ronald Reagan?.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) K-3 Smart about Scientists series. Illustrated by Jill Weber. The conceit that a kid, Annie, wrote this text as a school report works well: the child's voice adds perspective and liveliness without being cutesy or intrusive. The "report" features handsome illustrations (ostensibly made by Annie), complete with dialogue balloons; black-and-white photos of Carver; a science experiment; peanut facts (though not that it's a legume); and a recipe.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(3) PS Illustrated by Jill Weber. The repetition-heavy verses of this Nativity story-song ("Behold the joy of Bethlehem, / Bethlehem, Bethlehem. / Behold the joy of Bethlehem / on this first Christmas morn") have tight, musical rhythms and will make for uplifting holiday reading. The meticulously detailed acrylic and watercolor paintings feature a smiling Christ child and beaming animals, but they in no way trivialize the event.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Tom, a poor wandering minstrel, trades his worn but true-sounding harp for one of gold, thinking it will improve his fortune. He becomes harpist to the king but misses the freedom of his past life. Acrylic paintings rendered in a blue-green palette with flat tilty perspectives complement this bittersweet cautionary tale set in an Irish-looking countryside.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Angel has a new set of worries in this seventh book of her adventures. She fears that the family friend who moved in after an apartment fire will stay forever, and but she worries about her parents' marriage and about her boy-crazy best friend. Angel is a sympathetic character, and readers familiar with the previous books will know that her worries are always unfounded. The happy ending is predictable but satisfying.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Jill Weber. Back after a ten-year hiatus, Angel has neither aged nor outgrown her penchant for jumping to the most pessimistic (and often funniest) conclusions. When her mom announces they'll be spending the summer in Greece with stepdad Rudy's parents, Angel goes right into worrywart mode. Delton's storytelling is natural; her use of dialogue, authentic.

Reviewer: Elizabeth S. Watson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1999