(3) K-3 Illustrated by Amy Hevron. Lonely canary Trevor notices a plump canary (a lemon) on a branch. Trevor remains steadfast (read: clueless) throughout a one-sided friendship, sharing his coveted sunflower seed and building a nest to share. The seed sprouts a sunflower plant, which attracts real feathered friends. Pretty and bright, the acrylic-on-wood paintings enhance this compassionate story about a friend "who gave...everything and asked for nothing at all."

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Isabelle Follath. When Fern learns that "joy is what makes your heart happy and your eyes twinkle," she realizes Nanna has lost her joy (a.k.a. "her whoosh!"). A bleak, dark-hued illustration reveals a wheelchair, suggesting Nanna's recent limited mobility as the reason. Loving heroine Fern is determined to recapture joy for Nanna, a challenging but unexpectedly successful endeavor depicted in a series of gloriously colorful illustrations.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Fearing. "'Twas the thirteenth of November, a stormy night, / when the Thirteen bus hove into sight." Michael McMichael boards that scary bus (peopled by wide-eyed, monstrous-looking passengers and driver), intent on delivering Gran's pet, which is tucked inside a picnic basket. The rhymed text and dark, digitally painted pencil illustrations capture the balance between humor and sinister--a tone sure to please children seeking a scary picture-book story.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Maria Dek. Mouse asks Blackbird for an egg to make an omelet. Blackbird doesn't have one but offers flour for a cake and suggests asking Dormouse for the egg. After five more encounters yield five more ingredients, the neighbors all bake a cake in Owl's oven. Does Mouse get a slice if he didn't contribute anything? This tale about sharing and fairness is accompanied by playful illustrations.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Corinna Luyken. Chloe doubts Adrian's imaginative claims that he owns a horse, considering he receives free lunch at school and has worn-out shoes. Expressive sketch-style illustrations rendered in ink, colored pencils, and watercolor feature mainly yellow and earth tones on abundant white space. The art pairs nicely with the thoughtful narrative to capture Chloe's transformation from mean-spirited skeptic to friend. Hidden equine figures provide additional interest.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Illustrated by David Mottram. Mighty Tug, a cheery, hard-working tugboat, pilots in New York City's "busy, busy harbor." Told in rhyme and with lots of sound words, the story describes how she heroically hauls and guides all kinds of vessels, including a fireboat on a rescue mission. Rendered in watercolor and gouache and composed digitally, the blocky illustrations offer plenty of action and details for boat enthusiasts.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Dad's amusing thought bubbles reveal his dread of daughter Alice's abundant ideas for their snowbound day ahead. Once Alice decides they'll make a book, the engaging story-within-a-story features King Alice and her "royal brave knights" on adventures that resemble the biracial family's activities: mealtimes, princess tea, unicorn party, and more. Cordell's loose-lined mixed-media illustrations capture the imagination, mayhem, and love in this family.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh. Arlo accidentally drops a book onto the mayor's head. The mayor retorts, "Books are dangerous...they act like seeds, which grow into ideas, and ideas turn into questions." Books get destroyed and the town suffers until Arlo's stories sprout a burgeoning book tree that inspires others to become book gardeners. The allegorical tale's striking mixed-media illustrations feature lots of books in many different languages.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS A frisky rabbit longs for snow as autumn is ending and leaves have piled up. "I wish it would snow." A mix of engaging illustrative vignettes and double-page spreads captures the joy and frustration once snow falls...too much snow, in fact. Minimal text, entertaining word bubbles, and energetic, clean-lined pictures express one bunny's exuberance for the season--including being snug inside.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Winner of two Caldecott Medals and numerous other awards, the renowned illustrator publishes her first solo book. As Zoe dreams of growing up to be an archeologist, scientist, firefighter, and other pursuits, she works to quiet a negative inner voice that continually questions her aspirations ("That's silly, said the voice"). Soft, earth-toned, neatly framed illustrations depict both child and adult Zoe following her passions in the well-meaning story.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. When the books in Peter's classroom go missing, his dog, "Detective Dog Nell," is on the case. The well-meaning "book thief" simply needed an introduction to the library. With peppy rhyming text (including some wording that reflects the book's UK origins), this action-packed story, illustrated with humorous, colorful vignettes and spreads, is a satisfying celebration of reading, perfect for storytime.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Diana Sudyka. "Sometimes piles. / Ten feet tall. / Sometimes jumping into fall." Using rhyme and repetition, a spare text celebrates all the seasons have to offer, including picnics cut short by rain, sledding and snowmen, mud, and chasing butterflies. The playful gouache-watercolor illustrations extend the narrative, filling in details and adding levity. This book could serve as an accessible prompt for young writers.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Illustrated by Sara Gillingham. At the Doll Hospital (a dollhouse), Dr. Pegs has a growing list of priorities, including setting a porcelain doll's cracked arm and providing new stomach stuffing for plush doll Scoop. Luckily, help arrives from the "Nesting Nurses," five nesting dolls who pitch in to mend the dolls in need. This charmingly old-fashioned story has appropriately retro illustrations featuring patterned stripes, dots, and shapes in an almost neon palette.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Fastidious housekeeper Bear--with his stuffed friend, Ursa--searches high and low for the culprit spinning messy webs in his home. When Bear discovers the spider has woven a bandage for Ursa's torn arm, he ends up with "something he never expected": another friend. With chunky shapes and a subdued, tawny palette, the digitally colored charcoal and crayon illustrations capture the action throughout Bear's homey interiors.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Eager to expand their friendship circle, Bear, Raccoon, and Squirrel attempt to socialize with a family camping in the woods--only to frighten the "city folks" away. Textured and humorous watercolor, gouache, and digital illustrations display the critters as they prepare for their "Welcome Party" surprise. A lighthearted story that also gently conveys that good intentions can have unintended consequences.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Pixar Animation Studio Artist Showcase series. The Pixar animator's simple story involves Circle and Box, who want to "do something together." Circle jumps, but Box can only sit; Circle tries to sit but rolls away. After nearly ending the story prematurely ("'The end?' 'This can't be the end'"), they combine their singular talents. Hartline gives an impressive amount of expression to his smiley-faced, stick-limbed sphere and cube.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 An unlikely friendship develops between cantankerous Mr. Raisin, who only enjoys sewing, and Floaty, a gravity-immune dog left on his doorstep in a covered basket (with a note: "Too much trouble!"). When the leash snaps during a walk and the pup floats away, Mr. Raisin eventually sews a hot-air balloon and rescues Floaty. Funny digital illustrations make the most of the heartwarming story's outlandish premise.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Hische employs her considerable skills as a "lettering artist" to create seven spreads inspired by the theme: "Tomorrow I'll be..." Adventurous, strong, and confident are choices, with those words appearing in oversize, handwritten font; interspersed are spreads that provide examples and serve as inspiration: "It doesn't matter if I win as long as I have fun!" Bold-hued, graphic, and dynamic illustrations show various animals achieving their goals.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ella Okstad. Sophie Johnson has seventeen unicorns; albeit they're really a baby, dog, toys, and stuffed animals with "horns" properly secured. Bright, rainbow-colored mixed-media illustrations depict the lively messiness of Sophie's house as she teaches her unicorns about magic, food hunting, and the dangers of balloons. Young fans of the fantastical subject matter will delightedly spy the magical visitor that oblivious "unicorn expert" Sophie misses.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS A girl demands to know if her pet cat ate her pet parakeet--although, to viewers, the bird is in plain sight atop her head. "Did you eat him? / I want to know!" Simple line drawings with pops of color in a limited palette of pastels are set against ample white space, allowing the humor to come through loud and clear for viewers.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty