(3) PS Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. The follow-up to Fairly Fairy Tales presents the verse of six traditional nursery rhymes, such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Itsy-Bitsy Spider," followed by simple questions to a preschool class, the last a surprise: "Mary? Yes. Lamb? Yes. School? Yes. Giraffe? NOOOOO!" Vignettes alternate with double-page spreads illustrating the playful twists in this interactive alternative to familiar Mother Goose.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) PS Illustrated by Sue Ramá. This is an informative book for young children about preschool. Sunny watercolor and digital-collage art illustrates everything from cubbies to potties and circle time to field trips, but uneven rhyme and lengthy text make this challenging to read aloud. Ideas presented as problems not to worry about (Will my parents forget to pick me up?) may unnecessarily alarm youngsters. Preparation tips for parents are appended.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins. Two contemporary urban children meet colonial-era orchardist John "Appleseed" Chapman and accompany him around the country as he communes with nature and shares its bounty. Codell's lyrical text paints a heroic portrait; Perkins's detailed, homespun watercolor and gouache illustrations embrace the natural world, evoking its sounds, smells, and changing seasons. An author's note includes craft ideas and an apple pie recipe.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas. When the boys won't let Lulu play basketball, she issues a call around the world to host a grand "Basket Ball." Teams of dressed-up girls in "jerseys sequined for the fete" and "high-top heels" shoot hoops all day. The rhyming text doesn't always scan, but high energy carries the story. Ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations marry girliness with jockishness. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. "Sticks? Yes. Straw? Yes. Bricks? Yes. Solar panels? NOOOOO!" Codell telegraphs the bare bones of six well-known tales, throwing in an eleventh-hour twist for each one. Though it's framed as a bedtime story, the text is ready-made for gleeful read-aloud participation. Playful digital illustrations alternate between vignettes and double-page spreads that offer much for readers to pore over.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(2) 4-6 Welcome back to Miss Pointy's fifth-grade class. In this companion to Sahara Special, Paris McCray tells a story that packs an emotional wallop. Codell tackles many issues: school dynamics, the Holocaust, music, religion, gangs, siblings, and unexpected pregnancies. Paris's story will appeal to readers who, like her, are trying to find out where they fit in a confusing, sometimes unkind world.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Drazen Kozjan. When Hunky Dory, a witch by birth, is expelled from witchcraft school, she becomes a fairy-godmother-in-training. After practicing her new art on several familiar characters (including Goldilocks and Rumpelstiltskin), Hunky grants Cinderella's wishes and earns her certification. Codell plays with role reversals and overturned expectations in a lighthearted but ultimately predictable story about finding one's life path.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Codell's episodic memoir recounts her fifth-grade year in 1979 Chicago, although her nostalgic tone makes the stories seem like they happened much longer ago. Her stated intention of writing to help preserve childhood memories is a valuable lesson for readers, but her "when I was your age" tone is off-putting, counteracting the inherent humor and poignancy of the tales.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) 4-6 Miss Pointy, the new fifth-grade teacher, has her work cut out for her, with shy Rachel, outspoken Sakiah, angry Darrell, and Sahara Jones, fifth grader for the second time. Though Miss Pointy perhaps too often has the perfect response, she is a real teacher, plagued by worries and ego and a sharp tongue. She joins the constellation of fictional inspirational teachers who serve as models for students and teachers alike.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2003