(1) PS Storytelling Math series. In board book form, Lin accomplishes that most difficult of tasks: creating engaging, accessible, age-level-­appropriate, not-too-fussily illustrated stories that also teach something. In this case it's math. Each entry homes in on a specific mathematical concept, while together providing a tour through the seasons--and a slice-of-life portrait of three friends, Olivia, Mei, and Manny. In the springtime-set Knees, Mei observes measurement and comparison as she cultivates a sunflower. Circle! Sphere! proves the mind-stretching fact that the children's three different-shaped bubble wands produce the same-shaped bubble. Fit’s setting is a fall farmers' market and illustrates Olivia's spatial sense (and taste in ­produce). Wintry Marshmallow touches on division, both ­mathematical (how to split three marshmallows between two girls...) and behavioral (...without ruining the friendship). The illustrations are signature Lin--think The Ugly Vegetables (rev. 9/99) and the Ling and Ting books--with bold, saturated hues; thick black outlines; judicious use of frames; eye-pleasingly tidy details; and nothing extraneous. Brief "Exploring the Math" notes and "Try This!" suggestions, addressed to adults and written by an early math expert, are appended. All together, these diminutive math storybooks add up to a whole lot of fun.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) PS Kangaroo and Koala both enjoy blowing bubbles, but Koala is too shy to talk to Kangaroo or climb out of her tree. However, when some of their bubbles stick together to form a bubble monster, Koala musters the courage to help her new friend. Delicate watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations depict the rosy-cheeked animal tykes' sweet friend-courtship and keep even the bubble monster looking more cute than scary.

Reviewer: Rachel Marsh

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Rockefeller. Dewey loves popping bubbles. One day, a bubble escapes him un-popped and the boy goes to humorously extraordinary lengths (and heights) in pursuit of it. This simple tall-tale theme, the repetition of the text, and the series of airborne vehicles Dewey boards on his popping quest should all appeal to young picture-book crowds. Rockefeller’s digital illustrations are cinematic and beautifully detailed.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(4) K-3 Reuben and Felix have much in common--especially a love of blowing big bubbles. The animals' friendship takes a competitive turn when each tries to out-bubble the other. They appoint judges, build more and more complex bubble-blowing machines, and resort to cheating. The saccharine lesson? If they work together, they both win. The pastel-toned illustrations include bubble-shaped flaps and some imaginative touches.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri. When bubbles appear in La La Land, the monsters that live there are terrified. With great patience (and humor) the narrator urges them to face the bubbles rather than running away--after all, they have sharp fangs and claws. Detailed illustrations on black backgrounds show panicked, silly-looking beasts ultimately conceding: bubbles might not be dangerous, but...what about butterflies? A clever, deadpan conquering-fears story.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Carolyn Conahan. With accuracy and humor, this book explores how some animals use bubbles: e.g., as a raft (violet sea snails), for warmth (sea otters), and possibly for communication (herring). Pale watercolor illustrations help clarify the scientific concepts; additional facts about the sixteen featured animals are appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(1) PS Illustrated by Polly Dunbar. When Mabel blows a bubble, it causes trouble in an inimitable Mahy way, surrounding Baby and taking him on an amazing adventure. The text's tongue-stumbling internal rhymes will keep storytellers on their toes, while Dunbar's cut-paper and watercolor illustrations faithfully depict every detail. As suspense builds in both words and pictures, little ones' eyes will be as round as the bubble.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2009

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lincoln Agnew. Late at night Harry slips out of bed to play with his bubble-making gun. Soon the bubbles carry away items in Harry's room--including his beloved Horsie. Harry travels through space to rescue his stuffed friend. The story is illustrated with pictures reminiscent of Pop Art, which provide excitement that's missing from the text (written by David Letterman's former au pair).

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Jimmy Pickering. In a slight story, bubbles journey from a little boy's bathtub out into the world. There they meet clouds, squirrels, and cupcake frosting. Once the sun warms them up, the bubbles all burst. Word repetition, large type, and few words per page make this accessible to the most inexperienced readers. The illustrations are lively but ultimately contribute little.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) PS Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith. "Chewy-gooey bubble gum, / Icky-sticky bubble gum / Melting in the road." This rollicking, tongue-twisting rhyme notes the progression of animals that get themselves stuck in the enticing pink puddle and then have to chew like mad so they can blow a communal bubble and lift above an oncoming truck. Bold acrylic paintings in summertime colors depict the whole delicious mess.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(4) K-3 A boy buys a bottle of magic bubble solution and creates fantastic bubble creations (kangaroo, sailboat). All is well until his bubbles turn on him, and he must figure out how to chase the creatures away. This simple, predictable story is told with few words, but the expressive pictures of giant bubble creations and a jubilant boy in knickers and cap steal the show.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Photographs by Margaret Miller. Bubbles are a natural subject for an early nonfiction book. In a clear, concise text, Bradley describes soap bubbles' properties and how they are formed, then discusses bubbles created with other liquids, such as water and milk. Miller's photographs make the most of this attractive topic and enhance the text. A recipe for bubble solution is included, as are a few simple activities that further illustrate the concepts.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Rookie Reader series. Illustrated by Mike Cressy. In a slim but bouncy text, Hulme invites readers to enjoy the ephemeral bubble: "dip the stick in bubble stuff / give a slow and steady puff." Although the limited vocabulary leads to several forced or trite rhymes, the circularity of the text is appealing, as are the cartoony pastels featuring children with heads as round as the bubbles they blow.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne