(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Seaver. This book is a Miss Manners-style guide to birthday-party etiquette for elephants. Readers will derive amusement from the images of an elephant at a kids' party and from the juxtaposition of a fundamentally absurd situation with matter-of-fact prose ("For a swim party, Elephant will need to take a bathing suit"). Unfortunately, the joke goes on too long, and readers may lose interest.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Seaver. This lightly veiled bibliotherapy enumerates the benefits of education for Kangaroo and warns of challenges she may face ("The cafeteria at school does not serve grass and acacia leaves"). Though the joke wears thin because the winking narrative goes on too long, the concept is grand--improbable images of Kangaroo in class will both amuse and take the sting off young readers' school anxiety.

Reviewer: Nell Beram