(4) K-3 Tucked into bed, two worried siblings learn reassuring facts about the wind from their mama; on alternate spreads, whimsical imaginary scenes are accompanied by two-word phrases related to the fact (e.g., the wind makes ocean waves, which then create sand: "rocking rolling / reach beach"). A too-ornate font will hinder new readers, but the book could work for cozy bedtime sharing. Facts about wind are appended.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sean London. The fictional story of a male California sea otter unfolds from birth to maturity, illustrated with gentle paintings of his active life, as Mother feeds, protects, and teaches young Pup the ways of the otter. The read-aloud-friendly text is spare and poetic, with a good amount of sea otter information. An appended note provides additional facts.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Sean London. A kayaking trip off the coast of British Columbia goes awry when thirteen-year-old Aaron's group of friends has a run-in with a ship smuggling mistreated, undocumented Chinese immigrants. Young readers with a passion for the outdoors will devour this fast-paced, suspenseful hi-lo adventure, full of details about camping and kayaking. Discussion questions and a note on migrants and refugees are appended.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Erik Brooks. Tortoise Tino and his friend Rudi, a long-eared jerboa, travel through the Grand Canyon by various modes to find Penny the Kaibab squirrel. Though the specifics of their quest are silly, the story delves into the geography, geology, and animal diversity of the region; unfortunately, the good-quality information gets lost in the wordiness. Watercolor illustrations capture the colors of this natural wonder.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Erik Brooks. In this Texan retelling of "The Gingerbread Man," a feisty tortilla jumps off the griddle and runs through the desert, pursued by a growing number of people and animals. Kimmel's retelling is entertaining, but most impressive is how the English text seamlessly incorporates Spanish words through humorous repetition. Brooks's lively cartoon illustrations in sandy hues portray a dusty desert landscape.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Evon Zerbetz. Starring a red snapper and a wolf eel, this Red Riding Hood take-off reverses the traditional moral when Red, Wolf Eel, and Grandma sit down together for a meal: "Both ignorance and loathing / Can make us fear potential friends / Disguised in wolf-eel clothing." Like the handsome linoleum block prints, the rhyme has plenty of humorous touches, but the surprise ending doesn't quite make sense, even for a parody.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Meissner. Class clown Ollie Jolly saves the day in Tahoka when he uses his antics--appreciated by his classmates but deplored by his teacher, Miss Tut Tuttle--to distract a dangerous bull that has escaped from a visiting rodeo. Villain Shoat Shotley is suitably punished in this improbable take on the triumph-of-the-underdog tale. Fittingly, the book is illustrated with kinetic, cartoony images.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Johnny Wales. In this original folktale, Coyote first insults Moon, driving her from the sky, and then, under the direction of Old Woman, sings to Moon so horrendously that Moon returns to the heavens to get away. The storytelling-style narration contains anachronistic slapstick humor, and the illustrations, though cluttered and murky, do sustain the humorous tone.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Both modern and extinct sharks are included in this alphabet book, some listed by common name (angel sharks, cookie-cutter sharks), others identified by scientific name. The color illustrations are accomplished, though inconsistent: some are naturalistic, while others (such as the goblin sharks attending a Halloween party) are less so. A fact-filled shark field guide is appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta