(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. Rosamond is throwing a birthday party for her cousin Lizzie, whose four pet pythons give Nate the Great the shudders. But when the largest snake disappears during the festivities, the world's greatest detective must confront his fears to save the day. A winning new installment in the popular early-reader series, complete with its characteristic dry humor and clipped prose. Amusing spot art illustrates the chapters.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. Based on the character created by Don Freeman. A prequel to the classic picture book successfully reproduces Freeman's artistic style in a story that does a fair job of explaining how Corduroy got his distinctive overalls and his name: longing for something to set him apart on the toy shelves, the bear takes his future into his own hands by roaming the store in search of an outfit.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. Although their friends have problems that need to be solved, Nate the Great and his dog Sludge want to take the day off from being famous detectives. They try disguises and hiding in the woods, but their friends soon find them, and it's back to work. Short sentences, plenty of illustrations, and subtle humor make this an enjoyable transitional reader.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. When Rosamond discovers a torn-out page in her cookbook after preparing snacks for her book club, she turns to detective Nate the Great and his dog Sludge. They attend the next meeting, carefully observing all that happens and gathering clues to catch the culprit. Subtle humor and wordplay, clever deducing, and plentiful black-and-white illustrations make this an appealing series entry.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. In a book "based on the characters created by Ezra Jack Keats," Roberto, familiar to readers of Pet Show, is disappointed when his older brother forgets to pick him up from school. Roberto's emotions come through and the art is similar in style to Keats's, but the book isn't quite strong enough to stand on its own.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. When an enormous turkey shows up in town, everyone, including Nate's dog, Sludge, and his cousin, Olivia, wants to find it--everyone that is, except Nate. Will he get drawn into the mystery anyway? Although small illustrations--Nate's hat and Olivia's boa--identify whose chapter is whose, the format is somewhat confusing, as Nate and Olivia alternately tell the amusing story.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Yoko and Friends School Days series. Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. Yoko is afraid that if adults know she can read they will stop reading to her, and Noisy Nora can't help but talk about her birthday party at school even though some kids feel left out. Two more additions in Wells's easy reader series about life in Mrs. Jenkins's class are well-meaning and contain overt lessons. The art, aping Wells's signature style, gives the books a familiar feel. [Review covers these Yoko and Friends School Days titles: Read Me a Story and The Secret Birthday.]

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Rosemary Wells & Jody Wheeler. In half a dozen briskly funny, child-sized dramas, Wells's endearing animal characters persist in the face of various challenges. The open format and the cheery illustrations offer a welcome on every spread; these characters are wonderfully expressive of self-reliance and well-being. An occasional big word adds a nicely salutary stretch for young readers, who should be right at home with Mrs. Jenkins and her class.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2003

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. The books in this series feature Yoko the cat and her school friends engaged in common kindergarten experiences: first day of school anxieties, a class play, and a Halloween parade. The stories are enjoyable, but the kindergarten setting will be of dubious interest to newly independent readers--though they may be drawn to Wells's familiar characters, faithfully replicated in Wheeler's illustrations. [Review covers these Yoko and Friends School Days titles: The Halloween Parade; Mama, Don't Go!; The School Play.]

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Yoko and Friends School Days series. Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. The books in this series feature Yoko the cat and her school friends engaged in common kindergarten experiences: first day of school anxieties, a class play, and a Halloween parade. The stories are enjoyable, but the kindergarten setting will be of dubious interest to newly independent readers--though they may be drawn to Wells's familiar characters, faithfully replicated in Wheeler's illustrations. [Review covers these Yoko and Friends School Days titles: The Halloween Parade; Mama, Don't Go!; The School Play.]

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Yoko and Friends School Days series. Illustrated by Jody Wheeler. The books in this series feature Yoko the cat and her school friends engaged in common kindergarten experiences: first day of school anxieties, a class play, and a Halloween parade. The stories are enjoyable, but the kindergarten setting will be of dubious interest to newly independent readers--though they may be drawn to Wells's familiar characters, faithfully replicated in Wheeler's illustrations. [Review covers these Yoko and Friends School Days titles: The Halloween Parade; Mama, Don't Go!; The School Play.]

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty