(1) K-3 A little astronaut brings chocolate cupcakes to Mars but realizes, "I don't think I'll find anybody to eat them." The story depends on a repeated visual joke--the astronaut keeps missing the Martian in the background--and the humor continues throughout. Agee's world is one in which the emotional life of the characters is clear with the slightest raise of an eyebrow.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(2) K-3 Mama is getting married, and Jackson worries about his place in the new family arrangement. But for now, one question plagues him: will he trip or drop the rings with sister-to-be Sophie skipping ahead with the flower petals? Luckily, Jackson proves he's both a capable ring bearer and a caring brother. Cooper's soft "subtractive process" (using eraser over chalk) art reflects the warmth of this special day.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(2) 1-3 Sam the Man series. Illustrated by Amy June Bates. Likable second grader Sam Graham returns (Sam the Man & the Chicken Plan), this time as a reluctant rutabaga expert. Dowell paints a realistic picture of second-grade life. The Graham family is a realistic crew, full of good humor and gentle jibes; the intergenerational (and interracial) friendship between Sam and neighbor Mr. Stockfish also grows richer. Bates's sketchlike black-and-white illustrations add depth and emotion.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(2) K-3 A banjo-picking, bearded fisherman sails the seas alone. When an injured bird appears on deck, he bandages its wing; his tidy cabin contains a cozy sock drawer for his new friend. But it's getting colder. The fisherman changes course, sailing south to bring his companion home. Newcomer Duncan's eye for detail adds depth to this gentle friendship tale. The text, meanwhile, is spare and well paced.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(2) 4-6 Rubin provides a warm and fascinating look at both the contemporary and historical women of Gee's Bend, Alabama, a community settled by freed slaves in about 1845. The women of Gee's Bend were always quilters and passed their skill down to their children. First-person interviews with the women provide an intimate look at their art and community. Lush photographs accompany the text; especially beautiful are the many pictures of quilts. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Lulu loves to climb trees. When she gets sick and is confined to her room, her longing is palpable. When she finally turns away from her window, she sees the shadow of her favorite tree on her bedroom wall--and knows just what to do (hint: it involves imagination). Lulu's passionate love for trees jumps off the pages through Scanlon's warm words and Hooper's simple but lush illustrations.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(1) K-3 In Bert's backyard, Cat enjoys sunshine in the flowerbed: "It was a perfect day for Cat." Bert fills Chickadee's feeder and drops a corncob for Squirrel: perfect days for them, too. But then Bear arrives--whose idea of a perfect day flies in the others' faces. Smith tells the story mostly through textured mixed-media illustrations reflecting each animal's joy-filled frolic.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(2) K-3 Ice Boy finds life as an ice cube too mundane and escapes to the outside. He loves the sunny beach...and soon becomes Water Boy, then morphs into Vapor Boy and, later, back into Ice Boy (in the form of hail). In Stein's joyful mixed-media illustrations, Ice Boy's shape mirrors his journey through the water cycle. This droll story will be a fine addition to classroom libraries.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(2) K-3 Andy & Sandy series. Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. In this fourth installment, Sandy proposes the friends dance together in a talent show; Andy just has to follow her lead. But when the curtain goes up, Sandy freezes, and it's Andy's turn to lead. Simple page layouts, with few words and easy-to-interpret illustrations, make the text accessible to beginning readers. Andy and Sandy are perfect fictional buddies to encourage youngsters to try new things.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Barrett. The Barretts explore the alphabet with one colorful and energetic search-and-find picture after another (e.g., "Avalanches of As" shows a bunch of As consorting with a wild assortment of images of A words). The final page consists of items found in the previous pages to go back and search for. Not many actual words appear, but the book is lots of fun to pore over.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by James Ransome. The story of Armstrong's childhood and early adulthood is told in two voices and two fonts: a black, sans serif font for the third-person account, and a colorful font for (undocumented) first-person quotations from Satchmo himself. While the illustrations maintain a consistently upbeat mood, the story is one of challenge and optimism. Details in a lengthy author's note are better suited to older readers.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Amy June Bates. After seven-year-old Sam Graham makes a little money chicken-sitting, he decides to get a chicken of his own: Helga, who lays blue eggs. Black-and-white illustrations, some humorous, some gentle, accompany each chapter. The short sentences and amusing situations make this a perfect read-aloud or first read-alone for young readers, whether they have a chicken or not.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Elderly Mrs. Goldman loves making hats for the keppies (heads) of babies in their neighborhood; her young next-door neighbor Sophia embellishes each hat with pom-poms. It's their mitzvah, or "good deed." One cold, windy day, Sophia wonders where Mrs. Goldman's own hat is, so she knits one for her friend. Karas's precise, unfussy mixed-media illustrations in muted hues enhance Edwards's ode to intergenerational friendship.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(2) K-3 The initially unseen Shy loves all books, especially books about birds. When a real bird flies by, introverted Shy follows. Finally, he makes contact with Florence, the bird, and the two friends bond over the words of a beloved story. Muted browns and yellows foreshadow the reveal of Shy's species, while translucent blues and whites let us know when Florence is near.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Sarah Hokanson. Jubilee lives with her aunt Cora on an island off the Maine coast, having been abandoned by her mother. For the first time, Jubilee will be in a mainstream fifth-grade class without the support of a special-needs teacher for her selective mutism. Giff examines the bonds that people create, both with other people and with animals, and she gets the island-life details right.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. Preparing for her first Carnival celebration since Mummy moved from their Caribbean town to Canada to find work, Malaika rejects the idea of reusing Granny's old costume and comes up with her own idea. The bright mixed-media illustrations are filled with stylized images of Caribbean life. With text in the little girl's colloquial voice, readers will quickly feel part of her circle. Glos.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Each day after school, when Sophie checks in with Grandpa, he mentions a small item that he's lost, which he challenges Sophie to find. Readers can play along, finding the "missing" object placed cleverly (hiding "in plain sight") in Pinkney's detailed, delicate watercolor illustrations. Jackson's text is direct, vigorous, and colloquial; the twist ending--when Sophie gives Grandpa something to find--will warm hearts.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Lizzie, playing happily by herself in a park, comes face-to-face with a small dog. She's hesitant, but the dog's dapper old man owner gently encourages her to join them on a walk (Mom waves permission from a bench). The story is told in adverb-filled text; in her light-toned relief-print illustrations, Hooper's attention to detail encourages viewers to notice both foreground and background activities.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(2) K-3 Along with a comforting text, photos tell the stories of deployed parents and of the coping strategies of the children left behind. Men and women from many backgrounds remind readers of the variety of people who serve in this country's military. This book will open eyes to the challenges families face when parents serve far away. Back matter includes a world map. Websites.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Bryan Collier. This engaging volume, vibrantly illustrated by Collier in watercolor and collage, encourages children to identify the various shapes of a city. A young African American girl is the guide, and her obvious joy in her city is contagious. Murray's rhyming couplets scan well, making the rhythm easy to follow. Teachers seeking books for their math unit on shapes need look no further.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2016