(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Zeltner. In the 1830s, blacksmith John Deere revolutionized farming in the Midwest with a new plow made of steel. Zeltner's luminous, undulating landscapes and elongated figures, created using acrylic on plywood with a crackled finish, add a moody depth and period feel to the biography's folksy telling. Additional facts in the back matter provide context. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) PS Illustrated by Tim Zeltner. Typical bedtime stalling tactics are related by a young robot who doesn't want to power down. The little robot needs to brush its cogs and requests extra oil from Mom Unit. Little kids likely won't get the constant tech-jargon jokes ("What if my dreams have error messages again?"), but robot fans may be pleased nonetheless. Muted acrylic-on-plywood illustrations evoke dusk nicely.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) PS Illustrated by Tim Zeltner. A friendly-looking little pumpkin seed tries very hard to be scary. "You'll be scary soon enough," the wind assures it, but the seed finds that waiting is hard. Whimsical acrylic-on-plywood illustrations capture the seed's growth into a pumpkin--then a jack-o'-lantern--when it finally realizes its dream on Halloween. An enjoyable holiday read-aloud with a gentle message about patience.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear