(3) K-3 Photographs by Walter Wick. Twelve photographs of spooky scenes in and around a haunted house are paired with rhyming couplets that prompt readers to search for numerous objects hidden in the double-page spreads. Similar to the previous books in the I Spy series, this volume will hold appeal for picture puzzle fans. Originally published in 1996; now with new bonus challenges by Dan Marzollo and Dave Marzollo.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) K-3 Fly Guy series. With help from his pet, Fly Guy, Buzz makes a movie about a space-alien attack unleashed on the "Secret Hero Fort." In easy-to-read text, the silly movie-within-the-story meanders in an authentically childlike way, and Arnold's cartoony illustrations cleverly zoom in on the action and back out to show a smartphone filming homemade paper dolls and other toys on Buzz's desk. Lots of fun (or, as Fly Guy says, "FUNZZIE") for new readers.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jared Lee. Colandro combines cumulative-rhyme silliness with slight undersea-creature facts in an entertaining if sometimes confusing easy reader; an appended spread provides more scientific detail ("Sharks can go through up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime!" "Sea stars do not have a brain or blood"). Busily textured illustrations show a bespectacled, pink-skinned mermaid-of-a-certain-age eagerly swallowing the various creatures.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 When Fly Guy misses his family, his human friend Buzz puts up signs for a surprise party in all the stinkiest, fly-friendly places. Soon, thousands of flies arrive. True to the series, every illustration is integral to the narrative, and many of the flies have distinct, communicative facial expressions. Brief chapters with easy-to-sound-out words make this easy reader as accessible as it is humorous.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) PS StoryPlay series. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. This hearty and enjoyably old-fashioned retelling of the well-known tale, distinguished by McClintock's lively illustrations, is here published in a series promoting early literacy and intended to "shine a spotlight on problem solving." New to this edition are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1998

(4) PS StoryPlay series. Illustrated by Ali Pye. Rhyming text assures little ones of the book's titular statement as amiable illustrations show kids being lovey-dovey with family members and pets. This installment in a series geared toward early literacy "shines a spotlight on emotions." Intrusive discussion prompts are included throughout the story; appended activities help parents further "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) PS StoryPlay Book series. Illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld. Snuggle Bunny won't get out of bed, so Mama, Daddy, and Brother climb in, too. Then "more and more from far and wide / Hear the fun and come inside," which causes the bed to break through the floorboards. The snuggly animal cast lifts up the ho-hum text. Intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" help parents "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) PS StoryPlay series. Illustrated by Guy Francis. Three brave little kids on a "ghost hunt" encounter obstacles (e.g., a wobbly bridge: "Can't go around it. Can't go over it. We have to walk on it!"). This installment in a series focused on early literacy "shines a spotlight on problem solving." Intrusive discussion prompts are included throughout the cheerily illustrated story; appended activities help parents further "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) PS StoryPlay series. Illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo. A bear child and parent wind down for bed in a simple story with cozy illustrations. This installment in a series focused on early literacy "shines a spotlight on sequencing" ("they started the tickle... / that led to the wriggle..."). Intrusive discussion prompts are included throughout the story; appended activities help parents further "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) PS StoryPlay Book series. Illustrated by Michael Emberley. Mother fox loves her cub even when he's angry or wild (Love); cartoon illustrations display a cat's dramatic imaginings when its book goes missing (Bear); a frog invites animals to dance with him in "the cool of the pool" (Down). New to these editions are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one." Review covers these StoryPlay Book titles: I Love You Because You're You, Maybe a Bear Ate It!, and Down by the Cool of the Pool.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) PS StoryPlay series. Illustrated by Jeni Bassett. Mice Clayton and Desmond both seek the biggest Christmas tree but don't succeed until they team up. Tidy framed paintings help to underscore the cheery, Christmassy messages regarding unity and cooperation. New to this edition (published in a series promoting early literacy) are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 StoryPlay Book series. Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. Four girls head to the store for the perfect party shoes (Shoe-la-la); amiable dinosaurs dance and stomp in a "dinosaur romp" while two worried-looking rodents watch (Dinosaurumpus!); two pigs squander their money on chips and "sody-pop" instead of solid building materials (Pigs). New to these editions are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one." Review covers these StoryPlay Book titles: Shoe-la-la!, Dinosaurumpus, and The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) PS StoryPlay Book series. Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. Mother fox loves her cub even when he's angry or wild (Love); cartoon illustrations display a cat's dramatic imaginings when its book goes missing (Bear); a frog invites animals to dance with him in "the cool of the pool" (Down). New to these editions are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one." Review covers these StoryPlay Book titles: I Love You Because You're You, Maybe a Bear Ate It!, and Down by the Cool of the Pool.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 StoryPlay Book series. Four girls head to the store for the perfect party shoes (Shoe-la-la); amiable dinosaurs dance and stomp in a "dinosaur romp" while two worried-looking rodents watch (Dinosaurumpus!); two pigs squander their money on chips and "sody-pop" instead of solid building materials (Pigs). New to these editions are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one." Review covers these StoryPlay Book titles: Shoe-la-la!, Dinosaurumpus, and The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) PS StoryPlay series. Dog Edward and his cousin Judy participate in a drill, learn all about fighting fires, and eventually help in a real emergency. Humorous oil-paint illustrations show some of Edward's less successful attempts at helping out before being deemed a hero. New to this edition (published in a series promoting early literacy) are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one."

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 On Christmas Eve, Buzz and his pet fly read about ninjas. Then Buzz explains Christmas: "Santa comes, and we give each other presents." When Santa arrives, Fly Guy mistakes him for an intruder, and knocks him--and the Christmas tree--down ("NINJAZZZZ!"). The hallmarks of the long-running easy-reader series return: the bug-eyed characters, the clean design, and all those ZZZZZZZs.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) PS StoryPlay Book series. Illustrated by David McPhail. Mother fox loves her cub even when he's angry or wild (Love); cartoon illustrations display a cat's dramatic imaginings when its book goes missing (Bear); a frog invites animals to dance with him in "the cool of the pool" (Down). New to these editions are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one." Review covers these StoryPlay Book titles: I Love You Because You're You, Maybe a Bear Ate It!, and Down by the Cool of the Pool.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 StoryPlay Book series. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Four girls head to the store for the perfect party shoes (Shoe-la-la); amiable dinosaurs dance and stomp in a "dinosaur romp" while two worried-looking rodents watch (Dinosaurumpus!); two pigs squander their money on chips and "sody-pop" instead of solid building materials (Pigs). New to these editions are intrusive discussion prompts and appended "creative activities" to help parents "engage with your little one." Review covers these StoryPlay Book titles: Shoe-la-la!, Dinosaurumpus, and The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) PS Illustrated by Chris Chatterton. A second-person narrative convinces "you" ("a BIG kid. It's true!") that kindergarten "really is cool!" Rhymes and near-rhymes--many of which stumble when read aloud--predictably follow children through their day in this generic back-to-school book. Observant viewers can notice recurring details in the cheery, brightly colored illustrations (hint: look for the playful class hamster on each spread).

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jared Lee. Using a "House That Jack Built" structure, this book describes how various witches, vampires, and ghosts contribute to the (shoddy) construction of a "spooky" house, and the resultant chaos when trick-or-treaters come to the door. There's good read-aloud potential here (although the verse's meter may require practice), and the pen-and-ink illustrations are frenetically funny.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016