(2) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Fox and his friends are back in this newest installment in Tabor's Geisel-winning (for Fox the Tiger) beginning-reader series. "Fox has a problem." When Fox's kite gets stuck in a tree, he sees many other kites stuck in trees. He brings in a giant fan to blow them down, and it blows all the kites, along with all the leaves on the trees, into Bear's den. "Now Bear has a problem..." This sets off a chain reaction of questionable choices and humorously disastrous results. Tabor is skilled at letting a controlled vocabulary and tight sentences play it straight while his illustrations bring the comedy. Short statements that lean on sight words and repetition read like wry commentary on Fox's antics, which are made plain in Tabor's colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations. The composition here is perfectly planned--not a line or gesture wasted--and the images grow ever more absurd as the pages turn and Fox brings in a giant vacuum to suck up all the leaves and accidentally sucks up Bear and blocks Rabbit's burrow. By the time readers learn that Fox has "a sharp idea" above an image of Fox's hand holding a very large, very sharp needle, they'll be giggling in anticipation of exactly how badly this is all going to end.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. In the domesticated otter's latest easy-reader outing, she craves adventure--a trip to the circus or the ocean, say. Instead, Otter Keeper (the adult human with whom Otter lives) takes her to the library, where she learns to have adventures through books. This persuasive plug for reading shows Otter's stuffies looking amusingly discombobulated in her fantasies of their great adventures.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS My First Experience Book series. Illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell. A young black girl narrates the story of a fall day spent hiking with her mother and father. Detailed watercolor illustrations show the family packing supplies, checking a trail map, and enjoying the wildlife on the way to the top of a hill near home. The simple, engaging text makes hiking seem accessible--and like lots of fun.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) PS My First Experience Book series. Illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell. A young brown-skinned boy narrates the story of his day at the zoo with his mom, dad, and little sister. Each spread focuses on a single animal exhibit and the children's reactions to it. The day wraps up with lunch and a souvenir balloon. Tidy watercolors and straightforward text provide preschoolers with a realistic, no-big-surprises preview of a first zoo visit.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 First Book of Ore series. A rescue attempt gone wrong drops snobby outcast Phoebe Plumm and her tech-savvy servant, Micah, into a hidden world of living metal ravaged by The Foundry, an unethical corporation from their own world that has monopolized metal production. While young steampunk fans may be enchanted by the all-metal ecosystem, the clunky slang and flat characterization give the trilogy-starter less general appeal.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Little Critter's grandma "isn't feeling very well. We decide to go and cheer her up with love." Along the way each member of the family needs--and receives--a little love. When they get to the grandparents' house, Grandma feels better: "I just needed a little love." It's Mayer's usual Little Critter fare, cartoony pictures and bland story, but fans will feel the love.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Though they beg, rambunctious Biscuit just can't seem to stay out of the kids' baseball game; eventually, it's the ball that pays the price. The basic text features "woof, woof"-ing from the pup on nearly every page; the repetition combined with Schories's cute illustrations featuring puppies and ball-playing tots make this a solid Biscuit offering for preschoolers or very early readers.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung. Left alone in the classroom, Mittens the cat gets into mischief while waiting to be his owner's show-and-tell. Accessible vocabulary and pleasant illustrations make this latest entry in the series attractive to beginning readers. They will likely understand Mittens's need for "something to do" and enjoy his antics--not to mention the noises that accompany each mishap: "CRASH!" "SLAM!" "BAM!"

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Little Critter is excited when planting time arrives. However, unexpected hard work--especially waiting--is required after a trip to the garden store. One or two simple sentences are supported by illustrations on each page. It's the usual story, but readers familiar with Little Critter will enjoy the gentle mischief while finding the spider and mouse on most pages.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Mayer's Little Critter is excited to help his dad do chores around the house and run some errands. As always, Little Critter tries his best, but he somehow manages to make things more difficult for his ever-patient parent (perhaps the book's real audience). Mayer's familiar pictures extend the easy-to-read text.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung. Mittens the cat wants to play with his friend Max the dog, but Mittens can't find him anywhere. He checks the doghouse and the back steps, then discovers that while he's been looking for Max, Max has been looking for him. New readers will appreciate the simple and repetitive text alongside the warm and friendly illustrations.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Biscuit's owner brings Nibbles the class pet home for a visit. The rabbit plays with Biscuit's bone and ball and snuggles into his bed (making the puppy a little jealous). Then when the two are left alone, Nibbles hops off to hide. Observant readers can help find the bunny in Schories's sweet illustrations that expand Capucilli's effectively spare text.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Being "just a little sick" and staying home from school sounds like a pretty good deal at first. But as Little Critter soon realizes, it really means resting, going to the doctor's office, etc.--not all it's cracked up to be. Though the story is as bland as clear fluids, the familiar topic combined with this well-known character may be comforting to readers.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Biscuit the puppy and his little-girl owner visit a farm where they help feed the animals. A piglet keeps escaping from its pen to follow Biscuit, and the girl must take him back. The simple, repetitive text and clean illustrations make this book accessible to new readers, but there is little plot.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Biscuit the puppy is eager to meet the new baby in his house, but it's not time yet. Finally, the baby wakes up, and Biscuit and the baby get to meet. The plot is almost nonexistent, but the theme, the appealing illustrations, the limited vocabulary, and the use of repetition make this appropriate for the newest of new readers.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. His owner brushes and readies Biscuit the puppy for the pet show, but Biscuit doesn't want to wait for the judge. He runs around and plays with the other pets, and his owner fears he won't win a prize. While not dynamic, the simple story with its appealing illustrations is suitable for new readers.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. When the wind brings an enormous pink hat to rest in Turtle's yard, a sweetly earnest Turtle patiently hauls it around from Mouse to Rabbit to Beaver to Crocodile, until it's finally returned to Elephant, its grateful owner. Entertaining illustrations couple with the simple, repetitive text to make this an effective first read.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Sylvie Wickstrom. "It's loose. / It's loose.... / I can pull it. / I can push it. / But it won't come out!" The simultaneous excitement of having a loose tooth and frustration that it won't come right out are celebrated in this beginning reader. Sprightly art highlights each moment from first wiggle to the eagerly anticipated loss, featuring a topic with sure-fire appeal for the new-to-reading crowd.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. Because he's so much smaller, Biscuit the puppy can't always do what his big canine friend Sam can do. However, when it comes to wiggling under a fence to fetch a ball, Biscuit is the only one for the job. While the book offers nothing extraordinary in text or illustration, it's pleasant fare for those who are just beginning to read.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 My First I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Pat Schories. When Biscuit the dog sneaks into school, he explores a gym class, a story hour, and the lunch line. His owner tries to hide him, but Biscuit quickly wins the hearts of both her classmates and their teacher. The plot is minimal, but the simple text (much of which is the refrain "Woof, woof!") and the serviceable illustrations make it an obvious choice for both Biscuit fans and new readers.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley