(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ellen Shi. This poetry compilation explores the many different adults one might find in a school--teacher, librarian, nurse, custodian, etc.--each with his or her own poem and spread. With both rhyming and free verse from fourteen different poets, the collection is nicely varied. Shi's soft, full-bleed digital illustrations complement the verses well. A great way to introduce brand-new students to different people in their school.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 The titular half-shark, half-dog pet (Shark Dog!) is back and making his child's ordinary school nature trip way more interesting. While his curiosity may get the better of him, Shark Dog's got a nose for helping: he rescues a distressed bear cub and shows lost class members their way home. Adamson's pencil and watercolor illustrations help ground this quirky animal hero.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 4-6 Sullivan Stringfellow lives in Nitro City, where plumbers used to be heroes but are now outlawed. Sully--a natural plumber who is forced to hide his talents--connects with plumbers from the Golden Age to battle Ironwater, an evil corporation set on controlling the sewer pipes. Potty puns abound but don't clog up the plot in this delightfully funny and well-crafted tale.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers series. This latest entertaining early reader about dog Buster and his pal Phoebe consists of two short stories originally published separately in different Buster books. The first has the two canines digging for bones and sharing the bounty, and the second has the pair thwarting a raccoon and getting sprayed by skunks. The full-color ink and watercolor illustrations are expressive and engaging for beginning readers.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 It's Mae's first day of school, but she's "not going." She hides in a schoolyard tree and before long, another little girl and then teacher Ms. Pearl climb up with similar fears, which gives them all the confidence to go inside. This sweet twist on the perennial first-day-of-school theme reassures readers with its textual repetition and the illustrations' soft lines and pastel hues.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) PS Ella and Monkey are traveling with Mama on a big ship to America. Ella expresses her feelings about the voyage through her toy: "Monkey doesn't want to get on a ship...or move away forever." Then, when a storm hits the ship, Ella and Monkey find a creative way to bring sunshine back. Boon's emotive illustrations capture the anxiety children experience during big change.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Human Mr. Snore (with a cartoonishly big schnoz) is trying to get a good night's sleep at the Sharemore Hotel. But on every floor he tries, there's an issue or creature making it difficult...until he becomes the problem for a dinosaur on the thirteenth floor. The acrylic and ink illustrations have a classic look, and clever surprises in text and art will keep readers on their toes.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. It's the day of the big parade, and puppy Biscuit is eager to participate. When a handful of balloons escape, it's Biscuit to the rescue. One to two sentences per page include lots of repetition and onomatopoeia ("Beep! Beep! Here comes the fire truck, Biscuit! Woof!"). Simple and sweetly illustrated, this book fits right in with the other "My First" easy readers starring irrepressible Biscuit.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Hilarity ensues when two T. rexes stumble into a time machine and into the future (read: modern day) where there is so much food they don't know what to do with themselves. Told in a combination of word bubbles and text alongside digital illustrations that use comic panels to great effect, this story will leave readers wanting to time-travel with these silly dinosaurs.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) PS Illustrated by Allison Black. Jack the pirate gets dressed in this rhyming tale featuring colorful Photoshop illustrations. On each spread Jack dons another item of clothing ("What else? Egads, me toes be cold! / Thick socks o' pink are warm, I'm told") until he's fully dressed and ready to "join me motley crew!" It's a clever twist on two tried-and-true topics, making it a must-have for preschool collections.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. Raccoon Manny (Super Manny Stands Up!) and hedgehog Gertie go around town "saving the planet from danger" every weekend. The pals inspire others to help clean up the litter-filled park because, "every superhero needs a planet worth saving." An earthy color palette and imaginative, proactive characters help make this a positive storytime choice for Earth Day and every day.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Magoon. Dyckman's quick-witted, humorous text stars Shark, who interrupts a marine-animal crew making a live underwater television show. Shark feels very misunderstood, and shark facts shared throughout support Shark's claims. Magoon's expressive illustrations pop off the page, and word-bubble asides from fish plus fantastic page-turns sustain the suspense; the twist ending is reminiscent of Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Colin Jack. Small, scruffy Waldo and big, lazy Sassy love their human Stewart (maybe even more than they love meat). Since Stewart seems unhappy at this mysterious thing called "school," the protective pooches--Waldo atop Sassy and wearing a trench coat--infiltrate Bea Arthur Memorial Elementary as its new student, befriending classmates and charming (most) teachers. Falatko's absurdist premise and laugh-out-loud humor are deepened by Jack's cartoony illustrations throughout.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Elina Ellis. The clubs at Rory's new school don't appeal to him so he starts his own Reptile Club--and actual (talking) reptiles show up. Soon Reptile Club is the place to be. When the reptiles leave (to hibernate), Rory's new friends stay--yes, "they'd become reptile enthusiasts, but mostly it was because they'd become Rory's friends." A sweet and lively new-school fantasy with friendly illustrations.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Maria Tina Beddia. This wacky alphabet book begins with "A is for Aisle" and gets crazier from there. "M is for Mnemonic" but "N is not for Knot," and it's the one time where "X is for Xylophone" actually works! Under each digitally colored ink picture, a related silly sentence includes other words containing the silent letter. Perfect for highlighting how weird the English language can be.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Jenn Harney. Hazy (Hazy Bloom and the Tomorrow Power) is starting to get a handle on her future-foreseeing power when those visions land her in charge of the third-grade FUNdraising Challenge. Hazy hopes coordinating a successful school Pet Day will prove she's ready for her own pet. Readers will connect with Hazy's desire for a pet--and her knack for getting sidetracked--in this amusing chapter-book fantasy.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Dory Fantasmagory series. Dory Fantasmagory is as imaginative as ever in this fourth chapter book in which she discovers her first wiggly tooth. Of course, it's not that simple: Dory worries that her "enemy," Mrs. Gobble Gracker, will come instead of the Tooth Fairy, and in typical Dory fashion, she pulls friends into imagination-fueled high jinks. Hanlon's childlike illustrations help beginning readers follow the energetic story.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 I Like to Read series. As boating elephant Mike naps, his pet fish jumps out of his fishbowl and into the ocean. Fish Pat enjoys the adventure until a shark arrives; "Pat needs help," which arrives in the form of Mike (who himself later needs help to resurface). Told in a combination of expressive paintings, simple sentences, and speech-bubble interjections, this rather unexciting story is nevertheless suitable as an easy reader.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. On Friday nights, a young boy accompanies his father to his job cleaning a school. While the book quietly highlights their loving bond, it is loud in its admirable message that not everyone's job or home life is the same. The poetic text combines with the mixed-media illustrations' inspired use of light throughout to create a dreamy atmosphere.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Églantine Ceulemans. Eloise-type Lady Miranda and her also-pampered pet, Pug (Cowboy Pug; Captain Pug), go to the zoo, where a celebrity fellow zoo-goer is up to no good. Of course, our heroes save a lion cub and thwart Arlene von Bling's evil plans in a plot full of cute mishaps. The chapter book uses an eye-catching yellow-and-green palette in its design and illustrations. Readers will want more adventures with Lady Miranda and Pug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen