Every Cowgirl needs a horse

Nellie Sue does everything with a western flair. Whether it is cleaning up the animal sty (picking up her stuffed animals) or rounding up cattle (getting the neighborhood kids together for her birthday party), she does it like a true cowgirl. All she really needs is a horse. So when Dad announces at her birthday party, "I got a horse right here for you," Nellie Sue is excited. But when her horse turns out to be her first bicycle, it will take an imagination as big as Texas to help save the day.

Everything but the horse: A Childhood Menmory

This gorgeous, resonant tale is a beautiful recollection from Holly Hobbie's own childhood about her love affair with horses.When Holly's family moves from the city to the countryside, she's scared of this new world at first, but gradually comes to love the animals she encounters. Soon she is drawing the horses in the local pastures obsessively, hinting to her parents what she wants more than anything. But will her one wish ever come true?

A Fabulous Fair Alphabet

Alphabet letters of all sorts of shapes and sizes and styles—from blinking neon ones, to unusual old-style graphic ones to rustic hand-painted ones have been photographed and collaged together into an exuberant, eye-popping, letter-and-word-finding tour of the glories of the state fair. Bursting with with bright, bold illustrations of favorite fair elements like dill pickles and Ferris wheels and midway games, here is an alphabet-exploring adventure like no other!

Fair Cow

Effie the cow dreamed of being a fair cow and winning a "billowing blue ribbon." Petunia Pig knows just what it takes to transform the awkward bovine into a gussied up beauty. There are exercises to do, hooves to be polished, a tail to be groomed, hair to be curled, and a walk to be perfected. As for Effie, all she wants to do is frolic in the field, but there is not time for such nonsense. At the fair Effie sizes up the competition... silly cows all consumed with looking beautiful. On the way to the judging Effie lets the wind ruffle her curls, steps into the rich green grass, and even drinks from the pond. She is a rumpled mess but comes home a winner. Her blue ribbon is awarded for Best Milk. Bold acrylics convey the pastoral setting with the facial expressions of Effie and the pampered cows spot-on. The witty humor of the text extends to the illustrations that beg the reader to pause and take in all the details. The theme of remaining true to yourself is subtle and even if young readers miss it, they are still rewarded with a satisfying and droll tale.

the falling raindrop

As a storm raged below, high in a cloud a small raindrop was born. Shouting "I'm alive!" he plunged to the earth happily and with wild abandon. Suddenly, his exuberance vanished as fear took hold and he worried about falling on a rock or a house or in a field. As apprehension consumed him, the raindrop missed out on all the joy and excitement that free falling and racing with other raindrops should have brought. Alone and frightened, he saw a red glow far below him and crashed into a roaring campfire. At first, there was nothing; then a small cloud appeared, followed by a "wisp of steam." Upward the steam rose, and the raindrop knew he would join the clouds to fall another day. This is certainly a unique and whimsical explanation of the water cycle that will have great appeal among the very young. The raindrop's inability to live in the excitement of the moment and his preoccupation with his fears may be too abstract for children. The marrying of text to illustration is masterfully executed. Cream-colored pages with minimum large black typeface show only a small blue anthropomorphic raindrop moving closer to the earth. Rapidly fanning the pages that chronicle his journey can turn this section into mini flipbook. The bright red campfire explodes from the page, making the raindrop's crash landing more intense and final. His "rebirth" will have children cheering. This is brilliant in its simplicity.

Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinaire!

Fancy Nancy Clancy is so poetic, even her name rhymes. And with limericks, couplets, free verse, and more, poetry is plenty fancy! So when her teacher Ms. Glass gives Nancy and her classmates an assignment to come up with their very own poems, Nancy is determined to write one that is superb. But what happens when she can't think of a good idea?

Complete with Nancy's very own poetry anthology, Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinaire! shows how a true love of words can be très fancy. Ooh la la! And with a little inspiration, which is fancy for something that helps you get good ideas, Fancy Nancy just might be a Poet Extraordinaire after all.

FarmCooper (Beach) creates a joyful tribute to family farms in this luminous and lyrical picture book. The text is stately, quiet, and poetic (“Morning chores would be better if they didn't happen every morning”), and the book slowly takes readers through a year of planting, good and bad weather, and ordinary details about farm life. At the same time, Cooper includes enough specific portraits and names to make the book seem like a felicitous cross between fiction and nonfiction. Like a puzzlemaker, Cooper begins with a sequence of cumulative phrases and sketchbook-style paintings: “Take a farmer, another farmer, a boy, a girl. Add a house, two barns, four silos.... Then cattle, chickens, countless cats, a dog. Put them all together and you get...” A page turn reveals “...a farm,” broad and serene, stretched across the palest of skies. Delicately shaded watercolors, outlined in black, are a mix of spot art, clustered images, and spectacular spreads that portray the farm and its inhabitants from diverse points of view. The graceful text and serenely stunning illustrations create a portrait both reverent and realistic. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)

Feeding the SheepPreS-K—There are a number of children's books that trace the steps from sheep to wool to clothing, including Tomie dePaola's Charlie Needs a Cloak (S & S, 1982); Cynthia Millen's A Symphony for the Sheep (Houghton, 1996); and, most amusingly, Leslie Helakoski's Woolbur (HarperCollins, 2008) and Teri Sloat's Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep (DK, 2000). This book doesn't cover any new ground, but its approach is unique, showing the loving relationship between a mother and her daughter through the seasons as the animals are fed and sheared; the wool is cleaned, carded, spun, and dyed; and a sweater is knitted. Schubert's musical text has a predictable, soothing structure: "'What are you doing?' the little girl asked. 'Feeding the sheep,' her mother said. Snowy day, corn and hay. 'What are you doing?' the little girl asked. 'Shearing the wool,' her mother said. Soft and deep, sheepy heap." Particularly rewarding is the way the characters come full circle, exchanging roles by the book's end. U'Ren's gently outlined watercolor illustrations contribute a vivid look at farm life, at the expansive pastureland, and at the roomy farmhouse. The sheep are both realistic and winsome. The daughter's play beguilingly echoes her mother's work; for instance, when her mother is dying the wool, the little girl is painting on paper, and they both hold up their blue-stained hands. Children will want to examine the pictures for funny little details, such as a painting of a sheep jumping over the moon. Feeding the Sheep will teach and entertain the very young, and they'll be examining their sweaters with greater appreciation.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

Finn McCool and the Great FishK-Gr 3—Finn McCool is one of the real "giants" of Irish mythology. In this story, he is not very bright, but he wishes to know the "secret of wisdom." An old man tells him to catch a red salmon and eat it and then he will have the wisdom. Finn catches the fish but is unable to sacrifice it. When he releases it, he catches the hook, cutting his finger, and then puts it in his mouth to suck on it. Then "something strange and beautiful" enters his body, the "secret of wisdom." Bunting makes this unfamiliar story accessible to readers. The art beautifully illustrates the green Irish countryside and makes Finn a real gentle giant. A fine introduction to a legend that might be unfamiliar to children.—Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT

Fireboy to the RescueGr 1–4—Fireboy, clad in a red superhero suit, is ready to defend children from all things that burn by explaining how to be safe. From the first inkling that a house is on fire, he gives sound advice—get out and then call 911. When firefighters come to the rescue, stay on sidewalk out of the way of the fire truck. Fireboy almost rolls off the page when demonstrating "stop, drop, and roll." Visual representations of the many ways fires can start are dramatic and especially impressive. Fireboy recommends having an escape plan and checking fire alarms each month. If trapped in a high-rise building, the vigilant hero demonstrates simple procedures to keep safe while waiting for help to arrive. Finally he goes over procedures for fire drills at school. Miller's brightly colored graphic style is reminiscent of 1960s art, while skillful layout and design pack a lot of information into each page or spread. The back cover features a firefighter with his gear clearly labeled. This is a solid choice for elementary collections.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Firehouse

Edward, the dapper yet hapless dog last seen mucking around the barnyard in Teague’s Funny Farm, is back for another adventure, this time to the firehouse. His sensible cousin Judy returns as well, accompanying Edward on a tour during which the all-Dalmatian crew of Engine Company 5, led by the chief, Mrs. Speckle, includes the visitors in its daily routine. From trying on a shiny fire hat to...

The firehouse lightThe true story of the miraculous firehouse light begins in the days of horse-drawn buggies. When there is a fire in a small town one night, the volunteers must light a lantern to get the firefighting equipment from its shed. One day they receive a gift: a wire burning in a glass ball—a four-watt lightbulb. They take the bulb with them ten years later to a new firehouse, where it keeps burning. Autos replace buggies, and after twenty years, despite brighter bulbs, the firefighters keep the bulb burning. Thirty years later, as children watch moving pictures, the bulb burns on. In forty years, as the bulb burns, trains and planes arrive in town. After fifty years, the town has grown. Firefighters are paid rather than volunteers. Sixty years pass, then seventy, eighty, ninety, and one hundred. A birthday party celebrates the still-burning bulb. Lafrance creates a dollhouse-like town; acrylic paints produce smooth surfaces, smoothly articulated people, and sharply defined details. The double-page scenes clearly display the changing technology while keeping the focus on the amazing light that will not quit. A note fills in the details on the actual bulb given in 1901 to the firefighters of Livermore, California, complete with photo. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

The first PupThis is the true story of how a very special pup came to live in the most famous house in America. Not too long ago, a man by the name of Barack Obama ran for president of the United States and won! He had a lot to share with the American public on the night of his victory and an even bigger announcement for his two daughters, Sasha and Malia. Once his family moved into the White House, the girls would receive a new puppy. Oh, how to choose? There were poodles and schnauzers and terriers and beagles, and spaniels and collies and retrievers and Labradors. During this decision making process, a sweet little pup had been born on a farm in Texas. Thanks to a very special senator, this chosen pup made his way to our nation's capital and found a home on Pennsylvania Avenue. This sweet story is a treasure for parents, teachers and readers. It is a fine example of nonfiction and contains a very pertinent history lesson. Staake's illustrations were created by using both traditional and digital means and are sure to evoke smiles from all who partake. Reviewer: Summer Whiting

First RainGr 1–3—When Abby and her parents depart for their new home in Israel, the rain mirrors the girl's sadness in leaving her beloved grandmother. They keep in touch through phone calls, emails, and letters. Abby shares everyday experiences like going on a tiyul (hike) and buying the freshest dates and figs at the shuk (marketplace). Their letters to one another are incorporated into the artwork, and an insert of Grandma examining a jar of Dead Sea mud shares a spread with Abby's letter and a view of the water. Grandma thinks of her granddaughter when it rains, and another insert shows them splashing through puddles together. She sends Abby brightly colored autumn leaves to share with her classmates. With summer over, Abby waits for the first rain, which also brings her grandmother for a visit. Mitter's acrylic illustrations also portray a scene at the Western Wall and the diversity of the Israeli population. Besides being a realistic look at another culture, this well-written book is heartwarming and reassuring.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Flora's Very Windy DayBirdsall's (The Penderwicks) crisp and delightful first picture book shares the virtues of her successful middle-grade novels: believable characters, a tightly constructed story line, and a nod to past children's literature--here, to the no-nonsense magic of the Edwardians. Big sister Flora must kick off her cherished "super-special heavy-duty red boots" to be borne aloft so she can rescue her brother, Crispin, when the wind blows him away. They meet a cloud, a sparrow, and other characters, all of whom make the same request: "Will you give me that little boy?" Although Crispin has spilled Flora's paints, and the creatures seem to know that she sometimes wishes to be rid of him, the encounters only strengthen Flora's resolve to bring Crispin home. "My mother wouldn't like it if I lost him," she says. Phelan's (The Storm in the Barn) rosy-cheeked Flora and dumplinglike Crispin float idyllically all the way to the moon. Yet the story contains the occasional whiff of menace ("If the wind lets you," each creature replies when Flora says she'll be taking him home). Never mind--the danger is no match for Flora. Ages 5-8. (Aug.)Fly FreeYoung Mai feeds the sparrows in a cage at the Buddhist temple in Vietnam. Setting them free would be a good deed, but she has no money. She invites another girl named Thu to help her, repeating the song, "Fly free, fly free,/ in the sky so blue./ When you do a good deed,/ it will come back to you." On her way home, Thu gives her slippers to a girl who has cut her foot, repeating the "Fly free " The grateful girl in turn gives fresh water to a weary cart driver. He hears her "Fly free..." song. He gives a ride in his cart to an old woman. The next morning she gives some rice to a passing monk, whose thanks blend in with the song. He then cures a sick boy. The boy's father, going to the temple to give thanks, sees Mai feeding the birds and singing

her song. Seeing how good deeds are passed along, he pays so the sparrows can "fly free." Neilan uses watercolors to depict quiet landscapes and more intimate scenes, applying them like stains on raw boards. The wood grain becomes a unifying factor, a subtle horizontal texture, perhaps a visual representation of the Buddhist belief in the one-ness of all living things. The costumes and scenery have an ageless but Asian character. The author adds a background note. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Forever FriendsThis quiet book about friendship retains many of the design elements and collage devices from Berger’s The Little Yellow Leaf—red polka-dot mushrooms pop up in the forest setting, dotted lines indicate the paths taken by the main characters, lined paper serves as an occasional backdrop, and words are tucked into the painted bark of trees and other vegetation. This time a blue bird and brown bunny become friends in spring, and because the bird must fly south for the winter, they are separated for months. When, “at last, the sun chase[s] away the snow,” they play together once more as “forever friends.” While Berger’s illustrations convey moments of both joy and isolation, this undemanding tale about friends being separated and rejoined isn’t quite as moving or poignant as Berger’s previous story. Nonetheless, fans of Berger’s spare aesthetic will enjoy scenes of pink tree blossoms arching over a log and the animals cavorting under fuzzy globes of firefly light in summer, as well as the basic message that real friendship overcomes distance. Ages 2–6. (Mar.)

The fox and the henYoung Mai feeds the sparrows in a cage at the Buddhist temple in Vietnam. Setting them free would be a good deed, but she has no money. She invites another girl named Thu to help her, repeating the song, "Fly free, fly free,/ in the sky so blue./ When you do a good deed,/ it will come back to you." On her way home, Thu gives her slippers to a girl who has cut her foot, repeating the "Fly free " The grateful girl in turn gives fresh water to a weary cart driver. He hears her "Fly free..." song. He gives a ride in his cart to an old woman. The next morning she gives some rice to a passing monk, whose thanks blend in with the song. He then cures a sick boy. The boy's father, going to the temple to give thanks, sees Mai feeding the birds and singing her song. Seeing how good deeds are passed along, he pays so the sparrows can "fly free." Neilan uses watercolors to depict quiet landscapes and more intimate scenes, applying them like stains on raw boards. The wood grain becomes a unifying factor, a subtle horizontal texture, perhaps a visual representation of the Buddhist belief in the one-ness of all living things. The costumes and scenery have an ageless but Asian character. The author adds a background note. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

FrogsThis set introduces the squirming, wiggling, leaping world of amphibians. From frogs to mudpuppies, emergent readers will delight in the big, colorful photos and simple text.

gray and rayPreS-Gr 1—Gary is lonely because the other forest animals find a gorilla too intimidating to play with. A tiny sunbird named Ray sees his sadness and befriends him. Gary is happy, but still wishes he could have a family of his own. Ray finds Susan for him, and the rest is history. The extremely simple story line holds little drama, and the human names and anthropomorphized attitudes of the animals are at odds with the naturalistic illustrations. Despite the flatness of the story, readers will be entranced by the textured lino prints, reminiscent of the woodcuts in Gail E. Haley's A Story, A Story (Atheneum, 1970). Stylized and blocky but full of movement, the artwork is the highlight of this book. Purchase where jungle stories are in high demand, or for use in an art-appreciation lesson.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL

Give me winsThirteen poems are presented using flying and wings as themes for the freedom to dream, to wonder, to sing, and to laugh. Children will want to soar and whoosh while hearing these imaginative verses read aloud. The poems are brief yet demand creative thought from the listener. The language used in the poems is rich for beginning readers and writers. All of the poems display common childhood experiences such as watching birds migrate, singing in a group, and dreaming of flying. Each verse is accompanied by a lovely double-page illustration using colored-ink lines with an acrylic wash. Most of the illustrations feature a single child dreaming, flying or wearing wings. The poem, "Fairies" by Langston Hughes, is beautifully paired with a vivid illustration of sprites sporting rainbow wings. The selection of poems comes from a diverse group of poets and would be a welcome addition to a science and poetry study for young children or story hour. Reviewer: Nancy Baumann

Go-go GorillasIn the jungle at the Great Gorilla Villa, the gorilla King Big Daddy calls for his royal messenger, a mouse on a moped, and says, "Summon every last gorilla / to the Villa, don't be late. / I expect them all by sundown- / please don't make Big Daddy wait!" She visits relations one by one to pass on the message, and every gorilla

hops on a different form of transport to make the appointment. Niece Isabel rows her boat. Uncle Mario drives his truck. Cuz Clementine sets off in her hot-air balloon. "Go-go gorillas! / Gotta go, / gorillas, go!" All ten arrive just in time for the announcement of a new member of the family . . . who's already on the go. Durango amd Taylor follow Cha Cha Chimps (2006) with a snappy simian tale of family and vehicles sure to have toes tapping and audiences giggling. The cartoon watercolor illustrations are full of verve and plenty of monkeyshines. A great addition to any storytime collection; by the end listeners will be chanting along with the refrain. (Picture book. 2-6)

GoalWe are on a street in South Africa where it is "soccer time," but "the streets are not always safe." Our young narrator has called his friends to play with his prize possession, "a new, federation-size football" declaring "No more old plastic ones." Setting a guard to watch for bullies, they begin the game. Suddenly, a gang on bicycles appears. Hiding the new ball in a bucket, the boys set the old ball on top. If one of the guys knocks it over, they fear their new ball will be taken. Luckily, the taunting gang takes only the old one. The players feel as if they have won the World Cup. Although the streets are not safe, they feel unbeatable when playing together. Their joy in the game shines clearly through the fear. The large size of the book gives Ford's oil paintings room to create portraits of the boys while demonstrating the action of their playing. We also sense the atmosphere, the ramshackle buildings and spare vegetation. The naturalism is modified to emphasize the drama, the intensity of the game, and the danger sensed during their encounter with the gang. The terse text, set in short phrases, gives the words a poetic quality. A note adds factual information. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Goodnight Baby Bear

goodnight, little monsterLittle Monster's bedtime ritual starts with howling at the moon. He takes a bath and gets his scales scrubbed clean. Then he gets the bugs picked off his ears, dries off, and puts on his pajamas. Next comes a yummy snack of worm juice and baked beetle bread, after which Little Monster brushes his fangs and snuggles in for a story. A thorough check under the bed shows no children lurking to nibble his toes. Finally, with his sheet pulled up snug and his night light on, Little Monster is ready to sleep. With Mama nearby, Little Monster knows he can sleep through the night. The illustrations are adorable and the author's imagination of what a little monster might like—he takes his favorite toy slug to bed with him—make this book a cute addition to the nighttime reading list. Some discerning readers might notice that the rhyming meter was occasionally off. Reviewer: Sarah Maury Swan

grandma's giftK-Gr 3—This companion to Grandma's Records (Walker, 2001) is another memoir of Velasquez's boyhood visits with his grandmother in Spanish Harlem. This time it is Christmas. After helping to shop for ingredients and make her famous pasteles, Eric and his grandmother venture from El Barrio to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The boy has a school assignment to complete and together they discover the work of Diego Velázquez, including the famous portrait of Juan de Pareja. The woman nurtures the boy's fascination with painting by giving him art supplies for Christmas. This beautifully illustrated slice-of-life is sprinkled with Spanish phrases (all translated into English) and rich details about Puerto Rican traditions and culture. Velasquez's full-bleed paintings transport readers to another time and place and expertly capture the characters' personalities and emotions. A gift, indeed.—Virginia Walter, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies

grandma's glovesIn this loving, moving tribute to her gardening grandmother, a young girl helps her mother, and readers, deal with death. She and her grandmother share a delight in the garden, and after work the pleasure of special tea and cookies or doughnuts. But one day Grandma is in the hospital, her memory failing, her special smell gone. And even though she knows that everything dies eventually, the girl finds her grandmother's death painful. Still, she is the only one who thinks of caring for the plants and flowers left behind. As she and her mother grieve together, she gets her grandmother's familiar gardening gloves and puts them on her mother's hands. Together they will grow a garden of their own in loving memory. The girl's portrait on the jacket/cover, surrounded with flowers, the gloves on her hands, effectively conveys the bittersweet emotions of the story. Sketchy watercolors, colored pencils, and digital collage illustrate the mystical connection of generations through the love of growing things. The lively drawing is imbued with a joyful spirit and intergenerational love despite the sadness of loss. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Granny gomez and jigsaw

Granny Gomez lives in a large house and has room for all the things she enjoys. But living in this big house by herself also brings loneliness. She thinks about getting a pet, but she does not know what kind. One day, a basket is left at her door, and to her surprise, she discovers an adorable piglet inside. What fun they have together. They listen to television and eat watermelon together. Most of all, they liked jigsaw puzzles, so that is what Granny names him. At first, there are not any problems, but as Jigsaw grows, he gets stuck in many things. Once he got stuck in the kitchen cupboard, and then he put his head through Granny's bass drum. After putting a big hole in the stairs through which both of them fall to the floor below, Granny knows it is time to build Jigsaw a barn for himself. After it is finished, Jigsaw will have to stay there. She fixes up the barn with a television, kitchen, and wonderful pile of hay, but when it comes time to say good night, they both miss each other very much. The ending is wonderful and shows how problems can be solved to the happiness of everyone. This warm story touches the heart and would make a great read-aloud. The illustrations add much interest, and children will read this one repeatedly. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs

gumptionYoung Peter is thrilled to join his favorite Uncle Nigel on an expedition to Africa to search for the rare Zimbobo Mountain Gorilla. But the trip is not an easy one, and when they start climbing a mountain in the jungle, Peter finds it hard to get through a thicket. Uncle Nigel assures him that it just takes "a bit of gumption," And they continue on. At each difficult spot, his uncle repeats his advice. But as we see in the illustrations, unnoticed by Uncle Nigel, Peter is coping with a series of amazing adventures. Full-page and double-page pictures in vine-bordered frames display Peter's encounters; we follow his predicaments and their solutions in four framed scenes across the pages. Pen and ink and intense watercolors create attractive jungle scenes while our main characters are shown in explorer's outfits complete with backpacks and pith helmets. There's a sense of comic silent films in the almost-retro illustrations, making the text almost redundant. Perhaps more amusing adventures of Peter and Uncle Nigel are to come. Don't miss the lush endpapers. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

GuykuBecause poetry is not considered a "guy" thing, Raczka has written twenty-four poems in haiku form celebrating the seasons, with direct appeal to boys. He begins with a section for spring, with subjects ranging from wind and kite to grasshopper and fishing. In the summer, mosquitoes and toasted marshmallows are included. For the fall, there are falling maple tree "helicopters" and leaves: "From underneath the leaf pile, my invisible brother is giggling." Then, "Winter must be here. Every time I open my mouth, a cloud comes out." Finally, "Last week's snowman looks under the weather. Must be a spring allergy." Reynolds offers lively drawings of boys in all sorts of activities as visual interpretations, with watercolor yellows, browns, and greens plus digital additions. The text is hand printed. Notes from both author and illustrator on why they did this book add background interest. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

HallowilloweenWhat lies behind the cat's big orange toothy grin on the cover? It might be a lyric about the battle between two alley cats. Or it might be Calef Brown's latest collections of whimsical and original poems about Halloween. Brown has put together some very clever and amusing poetry for the ghoulish time of year; something that one does not see very often. Each poem takes up about a page with some very unusual rhymes. Gory Rene suffers from a "hideous mange" while a square-headed green individual claims to be "Frankensteinesque" but not Frankenstein. Other poems focus on a vampire, a mummy, witches from Texas and the Grim Reaper. The large, bright acrylic illustrations also are atypical for many Halloween illustrations. They use other colors in addition to the expected orange and black and may appeal more to reluctant middle school readers. It is nice to see a book of poetry for Halloween that could inspire similarly written poems by beginning writers and to see some unique settings for some traditional Halloween characters. The opening "table of contents" page is a bit challenging to read but it hints wonderfully at some of the characters that are to soon appear in the book's contents. This original collection can be a new way to celebrate the October holiday. Reviewer: Elizabeth Fronk

THE HANDKERCHIEF QUILTWhen frozen water pipes break, flooding the school, longtime elementary teacher Miss Anderson rallies students and their families to make a quilt from handkerchiefs she's collected, gifts from those she's taught over the years. The quilt is sold for money to replace lost books and supplies. Crane, author of numerous alphabet and counting books, has based her first published fiction on an incident from her mother's life. She recounts events journalistically, chronologically and with little effort to provide tension for the narrative arc or to develop character. Although the time and place aren't identified in the story, the afterword sets it in Flint, Mich., in the early 1950s. Palmer's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations reflect the times, both in the clothing and in the classroom Thanksgiving artwork, which includes a Native American wearing a Plains Indian headdress, which will make some modern readers cringe. The people appear stiff and distant; they look away from the reader. Although the story has emotional potential, it isn't been realized in this telling. (Picture book. 6-9)

HELLO PUPPY!PreS-Gr 1—This feel-good book shows a preschooler interacting with her pet. It opens with the question: "What's that puppy doing? She's sleeping. Puppies need lots of sleep." The simple sentences are paired with cozy pastel illustrations. The youngster explores the puppy's behavior indoors and out with a special emphasis on play and fun. The story gives young readers a good sense of the responsibility of taking care of a pet.—Katie Cerasale-Messina, AC Whelan Elementary School, Revere, MA

HIBERNATION STATIONGr 2—The hibernation train, fashioned of hollow logs, is filled with all sorts of animals, including bears, snakes, chipmunks, frogs, skunks, hedgehogs, and mice. On its way to the station, it hits a few snags—crowded conditions, leakage from a stream, and a lack of snacks and pillows. As the snow falls heavier and heavier, the bears in charge manage to get everyone squared away just as the train enters hibernation station. The track is made of tree branches, and the season is clearly heading from fall into winter. The enjoyable rhyming text provides the perfect platform for the wonderful illustrations that accompany it. Cyrus blends realistic depictions of the animals with just the right anthropomorphic touches—they are all clad in pajamas. The best example is the snails complete with slime trails wearing pj's, while the snakes slithering in their nightwear is quite amusing. An author's note on hibernation is included. Good for storytime or one-on-one reading.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

hIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY CHICKSPreS—Night in the barnyard gives way to the crowing rooster. Then: "Banty hen feels…broody." She lays her eggs, waits, they hatch, run around getting into trouble, and finally night falls, leaving them safe with their mother. The story is minimal, but the pleasing sound effects and adventurous chicks testing their independence will engage young listeners. The time structure is uneven,...

HOME ON THE RANGEBanty Hen feels broody and lays seven beautiful eggs for the Aunties to bucka-buk over. She keeps them safe and warm, and "[s]oon tiny beaks pip the shells. / Pip. / Rip! / Peek. / PEEP!" Seven fluffy, curious, energetic chicks race around the barnyard. They don't know what's dangerous and what isn't, so Banty Hen has to keep them safe. Is a cat dangerous? A snake? A raccoon? Good thing Banty Hen has the help of the Aunties, Rooster and Duck. With its onomatopoeic kaks, kuks and bucka-buks, Joosse's latest straddles the line between cartoon and natural-history narrative. There are several opportunities for short counting lessons of eggs or blue-eyed chicks as they race across the pages. Chrustowski's full-bleed collage illustrations, a departure from his usual highly saturated colored-pencil artwork, are the real standout here. The author's "How Little Chicks Grow" note at the back leaves out Rooster's part in the process but is otherwise complete; the illustrator's note discusses both his models and his methods. For larger collections or where the author's books are a draw. (Picture book. 2-5)

HONK HONK BEEP BEEPPreS-K—A father and child, both dolls, take a nighttime jeep ride through a human boy's bedroom. Before long, other toys—bunnies, a road-construction crew, a farmer, sheep, a monkey, and ladybugs—join the event-filled excursion. The crowded jeep rolls across the sleeping child's bed and, when it stops, the passengers look out a window at the sunrise. In the final spread, the wide-awake boy looks out the window, too. Kirk's colorful oil-on-canvas illustrations are similar in style to his artwork in Kevin Lewis's Chugga-Chugga Choo Choo (1999) and Tugga-Tugga Tugboat (2006, both Hyperion). Playful details capture the interest of young children, while the rhyming text bounces along. Listeners will want to chime in on the repetitive "Honk Honk!" and "Beep Beep!" This imaginative story makes a pleasing choice for bedtime reading and storytimes.—Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH

HOW DO YOU READ TO A RABBIT

Probably not. After all, he would most likely eat your book. How about a bat? Maybe that's not such a good idea either -- you'd have to read upside down and in the dark!Youngsters will laugh out loud at the antics of the 13 animals -- and the child who tries to read to them -- in this delightful picture book. From bats to boas and camels to kangaroos, the animals demonstrate the many challenges of reading to them: a boa might want to hug you a little too tight, and you'd have to jump pretty fast to keep up with a kangaroo. All ends well, however, as we see the child reading to his parents. Now that's something easy to do!The comical characters and repetitive text make this an ideal book for preschoolers, who will be only too happy to come up with a host of other animals and the reasons why it would be difficult to read to them.

HOW HIGH CAN A DINOSAUR COUNT Help Heloise add her dimes, nickels, and pennies to buy a hat at Madame Millie’s Millinery; tell time on the clock at the Tutti-Frutti Zoo; and calculate with Bertram the cost of his colossal birthday cake.Clever text and imaginative art mesh to create playful, simple math problems right on target for ages 6—99 .

. . anyone who loves the magic of numbers! Valorie Fisher has created fifteen miniature worlds, each showcasing an ingenious math problem (with more questions at the back of the book). In a starred review Publishers Weekly raved, “Math made fun? Problem solved.”

HOW ROCKET LEARNED TO READ Learn to read with this New York Times-bestselling picture book, starring an irresistible dog named Rocket and his teacher, a little yellow bird. Follow along as Rocket masters the alphabet, sounds out words, and finally . . . learns to read all on his own!With a story that makes reading fun—and will even help listeners learn to read—this book is ideal for kindergarten classrooms and story hour or as a gift for that beginning reader. Fresh, charming art by Tad Hills, the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of Duck & Goose, will make this a favorite.

hOW TO CLEAN A HIPPOPOTAMUS

Who better than a husband and wife team to spotlight intriguing partnerships in nature? Among the many relationships Jenkins and Page (How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?) explore is that of the upside-down jellyfish and the crab it lives upon. “The jellyfish’s stinging tentacles provide protection in return for crab meal leftovers.” Jenkins’s meticulous cut-paper illustrations, as eye-catching as ever, reveal fascinating stories of animal symbiosis on each page. The paneled layout—graphic novel style—offers a dynamic format for these concise, present-tense stories of mutualism, complete with catchy titles. “Dinner is served” reads the spread about a seagull and a sunfish (the massive sunfish attracts the seagull with its fin, and in turn the bird eats parasites living on the fish). Closeups, aerial views, and vignettes of animals realistically rendered in Jenkins’s trademark collage have a cinematic quality. An author note about the different types of symbiotic relationships, as well as appended pages detailing each animal’s size, habitat, and diet, reinforce the book’s value as a scientific introduction to the topic. Ages 6-9. (May)

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR ROOM IN 10 EASY STEPS This simple, laugh-out-loud picture-book guide to cleaning your room is sure to make picking up a snap. Here is the first rule: Always wait until your mother hollers, "GET UP THERE AND CLEAN YOUR ROOM—NOW!" using all three of your names. Once she does, you'd better get moving. From dumping out drawers and dividing stuff into piles to arranging all eight zillion of your stuffed animals, here's the kind of advice on room tidying that everyone can relate to.With funny, direct text by Jennifer LaRue Huget and amazing illustrations by New Yorker artist Edward Koren, this book is sure to appeal to messy kids everywhere.

HOW YOU GOT SO SMART Milgrim's (Best Baby Ever) breezy yet tender celebration of childhood achievements opens with a nod to its gift-book potential: a diploma proclaims, “You've made us all proud/ By who you've become,/ And we'd like to review/ How you did what you've done.” The focus on the hows rather than the whats of accomplishments broadens the book's relevance. While the lilting verse supplies general observations (“You wandered and wondered./ You loved to explore./ For every answer you got,/ you had three questions more”), buoyant, digital cartoons—supplemented by lighthearted speech balloons—furnish examples. Accompanying a shoutout for trying new things is a picture of the cheerful boy being served a squidlike creature as his mother insists, “It tastes like chicken!” In an endearing scenario, he goes fishing with his grandfather (“You had many teachers./ You learned from them well”), and when things aren't going so well, he takes out his aggressions on an inflatable toy. Amusing recurring graphics include frosted doughnuts—a favorite of the family dog—and a colander that serves as a helmet. It's an uplifting look at the dividends childhood curiosity can pay. Ages 1-up. (May)

I AM A BACKHOE

PreS-K—An imaginative little boy pretends to be a succession of trucks: backhoe, bulldozer, crane, dump truck, and steamroller. Near the end, Daddy joins his son's creative playtime as a flatbed, which is followed by the two sharing a book on trucks. Richly colored, digitally enhanced spreads depict the boy at play, intermingled with illustrations of the actual vehicles. The text is set in white and includes plenty of action words. This is a worthy choice for preschoolers and kindergarteners with a big appetite for truck books.—Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH

I AM GOING

PreS-Gr 1—Once again, Willems shows his talent for distilling the most profound human emotions to just a few words. Gerald the elephant is exhibiting anxiety, and his issue is the fact that Piggie says, "I am going!" For young children, this fear of abandonment can surface even when a friend or caretaker leaves for a brief time. It turns out that Piggie is just planning to go get lunch, and in his typical, reassuring way, Willems shows a picnic spread at the end with the two friends enjoying the meal together, Gerald's worries having been assuaged. Fans of the series will recognize that sometimes Gerald is the in-charge character and sometimes it is Piggie; as in real life, different people show their vulnerabilities in different situations. Once again, Willems uses just two colors, showing pink Piggie marching on the front endpapers and gray Gerald hopping on the back. He uses text bubbles to indicate who is speaking and includes plenty of white space. The illustrations are hilarious while at the same time capturing the truest of feelings. Be sure to add this easy reader to your collection as an addition to the series or even as a stand-alone.—Gloria Koster,

I AM THE DOG

Jacob and his dog Max are best friends. One night, they decide to trade places—Jacob will be the dog and Max will be the boy. In this whimsical story of walking in another person's shoes, children can come to their own conclusion on whether it is best to be a boy or a dog (hint, a dog's life is better). Jacob gets the opportunity to eat kibble out of his dish on the floor, while Max gets to eat spaghetti and meatballs at the table with the family. Jacob later gets punished for eating Max's homework while Max is rewarded with playing videogames. Jacob learns that he loves playing in the park as a dog as much as he loves running around the yard. Max loves all the attention and treats he receives at school from all the other children. After a long day of activity Jacob gets to take a nap while Max has to re-do the homework that his "dog" ate. Pinkwater's comical story and Davis's illustrations provide a hilarious story that children will want to read over and over. Reviewer: Denise Hartzler

I CAN DO ANYTHING

The small child leaping across the opening spread of this book wonders, "Of all the many, many jobs, which one will be best for me?" Each following page offers a possible, alluring way to pass time, ranging from pumpkin grower to dandelion blower, and from honeysuckle smeller to funny joke teller. Five little bunnies help the child try out each possibility, as depicted in Liao's colorful drawings. In the end, the graphics and language-play build up to a double fold-out spread in which the child decides to choose every one of the fun jobs. Preschool teachers are likely to find many ways to use this book to build phonemic awareness and imagination. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry

I DIDN'T DO IT

Fourteen simple poems, written primarily in short, blank verse give the reader a delightful glimpse into the world as seen by a puppy. The well chosen vocabulary emphasizes objects a puppy would understand—vacuum cleaner, food, slippers, and jelly beans. But the real power of the poetry comes from the actions—flopping, pecking, shaking and from the repetitive phrases, "I didn't' do it", which form the refrain of several of the poems. Schneider's broad brush strokes evoke the specific mood in each poem—joy, regret, love, curiosity, and mostly love. Her illustrations figure prominently in this picture book as they occupy more than half of the available space. Schneider has chosen to use a different breed to represent each poem. This ensures that each has a distinct personality and that children are likely to find a dog much like their own pet somewhere in these pages. This would be a delightful "read aloud" for both home and school use. It could also be used to start a conversation about responsibility and owning up to one's mistakes. Reviewer: Leigh Geiger, Ph.D.

IWON'T COMB MY HAIR

K-Gr 2—Tanya has a full head of glorious kinky hair that she refuses to comb. It keeps growing and gets bushier and bushier. Soon a bird moves in, builds a nest, and hatches five chicks. Tanya stops running, playing, and swimming so as not to disturb them. Then one night she hears strange sounds from deep within her locks. A panther, snakes, monkeys, parrots, and some "I-don't—know-whats" have all take up residence. That's too much! The girl banishes all the animals and starts combing her hair. Soon she's doing it twice a day and trying hairdos with ribbons, bows, and beads of all kinds. Now when her parents try to hurry her along in the morning, she shouts, "Not yet! I'm still combing my hair!" The illustrations are a good complement to the story. As Tanya's hair grows it takes up more and more of the pages. When jungle

animals move in, it takes up almost an entire spread. The front cover has an oval hologram that switches between Tanya in pigtails and Tanya with the jungle on her head. This is not the first story about a child with wild hair, but it is a pleasant addition to the list.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

IF YOU'RE A MONSTER AND YOU KNOW IT

In this rollicking interpretation of "If You're Happy and You Know It," brightly colored, digitally created monsters à la Caldecott Medalist Ed Emberley's Big Scary Green one run amok, wriggling and roaring, stomping and twitching! The never-frightening creatures are rendered in eye-popping psychedelic colors against a flat black background and feature horns, antennae, claws, teeth and any number of eyes. It's a family affair: The father-daughter pair cleverly interprets the text with lots of satisfying onomatopoeia and monstrous movements, while Rebecca Emberley's daughter, performing songwriter Adrian Emberley, provides an online version available for download. Monsters are instructed to snort and growl, smack their claws, stomp their paws, twitch their tails and perform other monster-appropriate activities on command, and it's impossible not to picture young children dancing along to the dynamic beat, with glee. Not for a quiet storytime but great for nursery and school groups or lively one-on-one reading, this will be a favorite with adults and children alike, allowing for both imaginative play and a raucous but structured outpouring of energy. Roar roar!(Picture book. 2-6)

IN THE GARDEN WITH DR. CARVER

K-Gr 3—In this story set in the early 1900s, African-American elementary-school students Sally and her classmates get scientific lessons from Dr. George Washington Carver, who arrives in a "funny-looking wagon" pulled by an old mule, his "movable school." Everyone in the small Alabama town has heard of the famous plant scientist, however, and pays attention to what he has to say. The setting seems slightly idealized. The characters look healthy and well-dressed, although they do talk about the difficulties of farming land depleted by years of growing cotton. The focus of the story is on Carver teaching the children about plants though, not economic conditions, so Tadgell's sunny color palette, rich with earth tones, is appropriate. Sally, in a bright red dress and white pinafore, stands out in the gardening spreads. The watercolor illustrations include many humorous asides of children acting like children—making horrified faces as they taste Dr. Carver's menu of "chicken" made from peanuts and wild-weed salad, or being silly with friends when they are supposed to be listening. Scientific and historical information is well-presented through the gentle text and lighthearted illustrations. Teachers will find many uses for this appealing book.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St.

INTERRUPTING CHICKENS

It is the young chicken's bedtime, and Papa has agreed to read a favorite story. And she has promised not to interrupt. But no sooner has Papa begun "Hansel and Gretel" when the little chicken jumps into the tale to warn of the witch. And that ends that. So Papa tries again, this time with "Little Red Riding Hood." In jumps the chicken again, warning about the wolf, to end that story. The chicken promises to be good for one more story. Tired Papa begins "Chicken Little," but is foiled when the little one tells everyone it is only an acorn and not the sky falling. Out of stories, Papa asks the little chicken to tell him a story. And so she does. And guess who falls asleep? The anthropomorphic pair of fowls sport elaborate red head appendages that add to the humorous effects. The loose illustrations of the parent and child at bedtime, done in water color, water-soluble crayon, china marker, pen, opaque white ink, and tea, contrast with the double-page illustrations in the books being read, done mainly in a black and white sketchy style set in oval frames. A further contrast is provided in the pages of the little chicken's original story book, Bedtime for Papa. Parents reading aloud will be very sympathetic; savvy listeners will be amused. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN

PreS-K—As the title indicates, this is a silly book about the first day of kindergarten with one's own buffalo. The analogy here is that kids react and behave differently, and that there is a place for all of them in school. The story prompts readers to remind the buffalo that finger painting is fun and it's okay to get messy; those hooves could create a masterpiece. Buffaloes (and children) learn how to get along without using their horns. "Cooperating and taking turns are both Very Big Deals in kindergarten." This wacky picture book, with its bold cartoonlike illustrations of a buffalo that snorts, dances, and makes faces, may help apprehensive youngsters to be more at ease about going to school. "Everyone's special in his or her own way. That's the kind of thing you learn in kindergarten." Vernick's amusing tale will prove handy as a first-day-of-school book recommendation for children and teachers alike.—Lindsay Persohn, Crystal Lake Elementary, Lakeland, FL

IZZY IMPALA'S IMAGINARY ILLNESSES

JIMI SOUNDS LIKE A RAINBOW

Golio's rich text, filled with images and sounds, takes us back to the childhood of rock musician Hendrix in Seattle. Hendrix was not only "crazy about music" and involved with all the sounds around him. He was also drawing all the time. His good friends are not judgmental of Jimi's offbeat clothes or hair or his family's constant moving. Together they go to the record store or bicycle to the lake, as Jimi wonders about painting pictures with sound. When his dad buys him a guitar, he begins to try. Moving to an electric guitar, he finds he can create "new worlds with the colors of sound." Steptoe's intensely colored mixed media illustrations are demanding and visually complex. Pages are packed with Jimi and his friends as sort of cutouts in the foreground with posters, shadowy environmental shapes, and colorful symbols trying to become sounds for textured backgrounds. Sometimes the book must be turned on its side to follow the story. Along with additional factual information about Hendrix with sources, there are informative notes by both author and illustrator. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

JUST ONE BITE

A large book is needed so that Schaefer can show us not only creatures life-size, but also what each can eat in "just one bite," for example the Komodo dragon and a snake. A worm can eat a crumb of dirt "with just one scoop;" a butterfly three drops of nectar "with just one sip;" a frog a beetle "with just one flick." The others we observe include octopus, macaw, rabbit, bear, giraffe, microorganisms, and whale. Waring's images, rendered in brush, crayon, and computer, focus on the biting parts of most of the characters: the curving elephant's trunk, the whole frog with extended tongue and a trio of beetles on a plant just waiting to be caught, and the sperm whale's "GULP" with a the writhing squid that requires a double fold-out. There is a degree of naturalism, but also enough abstraction to make it easier to focus on the bites and gulps. A fold-out page at the end adds facts about each of the creatures depicted. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

LIBRARY MOUSE Sam the library mouse is content reading and writing about far-off places and events. When he meets Sarah, a daring mouse from the other side of the stacks, Sam is happy to pass on his book knowledge. But when Sarah tries to share her love of exploring the highest shelves, Sam struggles between his fears, Sarah's encouragement, and his own desire to be brave. Sam's realization that "readers and writers are explorers, too" is refreshing, but it's Sarah's response--"just think of the books you could write if you really got to see the world!"--that gives this story depth. Ages 6-9. (Aug.)

tHE LIFE OF RICE

This photographic narrative of the life of rice in Thailand from the beginning at the Royal Plowing Ceremony to the food made with rice, this work includes photographs of farmers and rice fields, and illustrates with words and images the effort that goes into growing such a crop. Beginning with the receipt of an official invitation from the king of Thailand to the Royal Plowing Ceremony, Sobol portrays the importance of rice to the people of Thailand, through the many celebrations of rice throughout the year. Children will gain an appreciation of the culture, traditions, and life in Thailand. Written in a child-friendly manner, this work educates as it entertains, teaching about the process of growing rice as well as the life of a farmer in general. Sobol has included a list of rice facts, the types of rice, a glossary, a list of rice holidays by month, and some Thai rice dishes. This work is a valuable addition to any cultural studies or agricultural collection for children. Reviewer: Sara Rofofsky Marcus

LITTLE RED RIDING HOODThere are endless ways to visually interpret familiar folktales. Spirin's lush illustrations in the style of the seventeenth-century Dutch paintings accompany a mostly traditional retelling of this familiar Grimm tale. For the ending he has drawn from a Russian version he heard as a child in which two hunters who chase the wolf outdoors before they cut open his stomach. Instead of a cape, this little girl wears just a red cap. She is youthful and innocent. The roguish wolf on the other hand is quite a dapper dandy in his flamboyant suit and plumed hat. His sharp claws and white teeth, always visible, let the reader know he is dangerous. Careful attention has been given to the layout of this book. The title page presents the birds of the forest, large cameos of the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood, and smaller cameos of mother and grandmother and beckons the reader to meet these characters within the story. The staging of each turn-of-the-page makes the reader feel as if she is watching a play. What a contrast between the well-dressed wolf who approaches Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf who is confronted by the hunters. The scene where the wolf is pouncing on grandmother sends shivers down one's spine. Recommended for a

slightly older audience than the Trina Schart Hyman version, which has the traditional Grimm text and a cozier feel to the illustrations. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

THE LITTLE WHITE OWL

PreS-Gr 1—A little white owl has no parents, no name, and few possessions, but he has the courage to explore the world and meet new friends. He does it through storytelling, even when facing the most reluctant of listeners. Setting out with his backpack, he swoops down from the sky to meet a group of colorful owls. Although they shun him at first, they eventually become immersed in his tales of adventure and fantasy. When he leaves, they follow him home, and when he sits under the stars drinking cocoa and eating toast, they keep him company. The little white owl's enthusiasm for life is as obvious as the rainbow of colored feathers on the bigger owls. The belief in the magic of stories is catching and continues to the very end of this book. This tale could be read aloud in a storyhour about owls, friendship, or acceptance, or to encourage storytelling.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

LIVELY ELIZABETH PreS-Gr 2—When lively Elizabeth pushes Joe Fitzhugh at school, she sets off a domino effect with falling children and broken toys in its wake. In the aftermath, as the children sort themselves out, the blame eventually falls to Elizabeth. Joe shouts at her, "What have you done? You pushed me and hurt everyone!" Luckily for her, Joe and her classmates (there are no adults in evidence) accept her sincere apology, and they all head outside to play with no further incident. The text is placed in and around the illustrations for maximum effect as it describes in detail who falls into whom and the ensuing damage. Thomas's illustrations make the whole thing work. The action is clear, as are the consequences of that ill-fated push. The myriad children wear wacky costumes, have expressive faces, and are awash in detail that makes multiple readings a joy.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

THE LONELY PHONE BOOTH Evoking the same kind of New York charm as favorites like The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge and The House on East 88th Street, screenwriter Ackerman celebrates a humble phone booth (still standing at 100th Street and West End Avenue) that saves the Upper West Side--and vice versa. Fellow newcomer Dalton's retro vignettes set the scene with square-jawed men in skinny ties, Girl Scouts in braids, and assorted neighborhood clowns, ballerinas, and secret agents while Ackerman explains how things used to be. "Each week, phone company workers came to clean and polish the Phone Booth, to collect the deposited coins, and to make sure that its buttons were working properly." The booth has plenty of customers until people start holding "shiny silver objects" to their ears, puzzling the phone booth and eradicating the long lines of callers waiting "just to wish their grandmas a happy birthday." An electrical storm reveals the vulnerability of the cellphone network ("Hey, does this old thing work?" a construction foreman asks, eyeing the dilapidated booth), causing the locals to reevaluate its worth. Cultural history of the best sort. Ages 5-7. (June)

LOTS OF SPOTS Gr 2—In keeping with her traditional bold, collage illustrations, Ehlert portrays an array of animals with spots and stripes. Each one is described in a catchy, four-line rhyme. The subjects include a wood duck, an iguana, a turtle, a goose, a goat, a Dalmatian, and a cow, among others. Lots of Spots would make a good addition to an author/illustrator unit on Ehlert's work, but its stand-alone value as a poetry or animal book falls short of remarkable.—Lindsay Persohn, Crystal Lake Elementary, Lakeland, FL

LOPUISE THE BIG CHEESE AND THE LA-DI-DA SHOES K-Gr 2—Louise Cheese wants wants a change from the same old, boring clothes, especially her brown-laced school shoes with sticky rubber soles that squeak when she walks. What she wants is a pair of black and sparkly shoes so she can go to Paris fashion shows. Louise tries to convince her friend Fern to get rid of her grass-stained sneakers for a pair of "la-di-da" shoes as well. When she and her mother go shopping, she has great hopes, but she ends up with another pair of brown-laced school shoes. The next morning, Fern is wearing black-leather pumps with sparkles on the toes, and Louise is jealous. When school ends for the day, Louise offers the olive branch by suggesting they walk home together, but Fern can't move. Her shoes are scuffed and ruined and her feet hurt, so they trade, and Louise discovers that her feet hurt, too. Louise is a lovable, spunky character with big dreams. The bright, expressive illustrations, filled with splashes of hot pinks and dialogue balloons, capture her personality to the fullest. Girls will appreciate her feelings, dilemmas, and desire for "la-di-da" shoes.—Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

LOVE STINKS When grungy dog Bill, digging in the rubbish bins, sees perky white poodle Peachy Snugglekins walk by, he immediately falls in love. Jolly rhymes describe his attempts at courtship. Her owner, Great Aunt Bleach, shoos Bill away immediately. "My Peach is far too good for you!" she hollers. That night poor Bill howls at the moon. The next day his family is surprised to see him beg for a bath. At the dog parade that day, Bill looks shockingly different. He no longer smells, but looks "like a walking toilet brush!" He walks

away in dismay. But a giant hound arrives to chase all the dogs, particularly poor Peach, who falls into a bog. Bill manages a rescue, and ends a hero. In a jacket/cover portrait, the smiling pooch holds a rose in his mouth. The hairy letters that spell the title add to the comic adventure inside. In his sketchy, wildly comic style Postgate's imagination creates an appropriate cast with just enough props to supplement the fun. For the finale, the two pups, with Great Aunt Bleach as chaperone, sit atop the roof to watch the huge orange sunset. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

LOVE THAT KITTY

Being a human is okay, but being a cat is a lot more fun—at least, that's what a little boy named Peter decides. After transforming himself into a cat, he learns how to sleep in a basket, take catnaps, purr, pounce, and even use kitty litter. His parents are not amused, however, when Peter also begins to scratch the furniture, climb the curtains, and shed hair on the sofa. So, Peter decides to be a boy again, and his parents are pleased until—wait, has Peter now turned into a frog? In this humorous story, young children will learn about cat behavior, both good and bad. Nevertheless, the real star of the book is the artwork. The pictures are big, and cover the entire page with bold, bright colors. They are also funny and creative: the inside front cover shows a picture of Peter as a cat, while the inside back cover portrays Peter as his new alter ego, a frog. Little boys that like cats, or those who have active imaginations, will probably enjoy this tale. Reviewer: Leona Illig

NOBODY Wordplay adds a fresh twist to this humorous tale about a small boy and his imaginary playmate. George wakes up early one Sunday morning: "Nobody was up and about." Turn the page, and readers are off on a romp into the kitchen with George—and Nobody. Nobody flies through the air, clambers up the refrigerator door, and hangs upside down while breaking eggs. He is drawn in gentle blurry grays that contrast with George's own eye-poppingly striped red-and-green pajamas. Nobody earns his keep in the text as well. The hilarious, escalating omelet preparation sequence, for example, involves the rapid-fire addition of progressively unconventional ingredients, all shown mainly in the pictures. Oh, the delights of strawberry-tossing! The pictures lead the eye to a single line of text: "Nobody mopped up the first few mistakes." Page turns are artfully placed as well. The parents are saints, naturally, and when George is diverted to the cause of pancake preparation, Nobody begins to shrink. A final story turn ends the book on a suitable note of affirmation of the young duo. There is more than enough here to reward both the adult reader and the child listener. The straightforward text is a nice foil for the wild antics of the illustrations. In all Nobody is as satisfying as a good stack of pancakes. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami

NOT ME PreS-Gr 1—On the title page, five children are introduced and largely identified by the clothes they wear and the objects they hold. Jake is into dinosaurs, Paul carries a paintbrush, and so on. Jess the Pup is there, too. The book works as a guessing game. "Who's been dropping all these peas?/Not me! said Louise." Clues will delight young listeners, who can study the illustrations for tell-tale signs, such as a dinosaur left on the scene. Then an offstage voice pipes up: Who is going to clean up the mess? At the end, Jess the Pup shows his face and, with a wink, ties things up. The illustrations and typeface will melt hearts and delight and inspire potato-printing young readers. The simple, expressive shapes, mostly in muted tones with dapples of red to keep things cheery, are utterly fresh and warm, and the textures feel organic. Children will delight in this sweet-natured picture book.—Sarah Paulson

oH NO OR HOW MY SCIENCE PROJECTSantat and Barnett collaborate seamlessly on this slapstick adventure about a pigtailed, bespectacled science fair entrant trying unsuccessfully to control her prize-winning robot. "I probably shouldn't have given it a superclaw, or a laser eye, or the power to control dogs' minds," she sighs as she watches the metallic monster storm across her city. Barnett's (Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem) telegraphic text packs wicked humor into economical, comic book–style lines, while Santat's (Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo) skylines pay homage to old monster movies. In one scene, the robot looms Godzilla-like, railroad car in hand, over an urban Japantown; another sequence is viewed through its fish-eye lens, with crosshairs trained on its creator. When the robot reacts with fury to the girl's futile attempts to stop it ("I should have given it ears," she laments), the girl and text become blurred, testimony to the impact of its stomps. Blueprints for the robot and the genetically altered toad she deploys to defeat it are included on the endpapers, but, kids, don't try this at home! Ages 3–7. (June)

ONE OF US Gr 1 3—When Roberta James arrives at Baker School, it's only natural for her to seek out other students with common interests. The only problem is that when she joins various groups of students who, say, wear their hair a particular way or play specific games on the playground, she finds that they tend to exclude anyone who isn't exactly like them. Roberta feels discouraged—it seems there are no groups who value individuality—until she is hailed by a table of kids eating pita roll-ups, and they proclaim their diverse interests with pride and acceptance. When Roberta itemizes some of her interests, expecting to be ousted

yet again for not being the same, her newfound friends claim she is "perfect" because she is different from everyone else. This is a simple but powerful story about diversity, friendships, acceptance of others despite apparent differences, and the importance of being oneself. The bright, detailed illustrations, many of which abundantly fill two pages, include children whose facial expressions clearly reflect their distain or approval of others.—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID

ORANGUTANS ARE TICKLISH A behind-the-scenes look at the photographer's craft, and more. A two-page spread featuring several small pictures of Grubman working with animals accompanies a full explanation of his work methods and introduces the main event. Then come 13 animal essays, in serviceable text (punctuated by rather too many exclamation points) and accompanied by terrifically vivid pictures that also show personality in abundance. The aardvark close-up highlights his huge pink ears and a wrinkly hide. The chimpanzee displays more poses than Tyra Banks. The tiger just stares into the camera with a knowing look. Also included are the hippopotamus, western gray kangaroo, grizzly bear, lion, alligator, orangutan, elephant, giraffe, zebra and the exotic coatimundi. Although the organization and presentation suggest that the animals were selected for inclusion on the basis of their photogenic qualities alone, there's no denying they have child appeal. The nifty four-page backmatter features more bulleted facts about each animal, as well as an additional picture of each, but there is nothing to point kids to further resources. (Picture book. 3-9)

OUTFOXING THE FOX A young fox feels he does not need to go to school, for "foxes are clever enough already." Desiring chicken fricassee for dinner, he decides to visit the hens, but, fearing a hunter may shoot him, he goes in the dark night. In the hen house, asking for a chicken, he is invited to come in and discuss it. He notices that the chickens all look sick, so he decides to wait until they feel better. As the visual story has proceeded across the double pages, unmentioned in the text, a white hen has been busy in a corner... After waiting a week, the impatient, angry fox is feeling a bit sick as well as hungry. The next morning, dreaming of a rabbit stew, he encounters a sleeping hunter, grabs his sausage sandwich, runs away, feels better, and determines to get a chicken tomorrow. The smart chickens, however, are not waiting around. Most of the fun here is stimulated by the shrewd white hen that paints across the end papers and white areas of each scene with a different tool, unmindful of the fox's actions. The sketchy, colorful illustrations are light-hearted; the "sick" chickens wear mufflers and treat fox as if they are housewives, while the painter hen steals the show. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

THE PATTERSON PUPPIES AND THE MIDNIGHT MONSTER PARTY There is only one word that perfectly describes this book—delightful! Petra Patterson is fast asleep in her bunk bed when she wakes up terrified. It is quite dark. And there is a monster in the room! She saw its shadow! She heard it scratching on the roof! The other puppies—Andy, Penelope, and Zack—sleep all through the night, but Petra is so frightened that she wakes Mama and Papa. Papa carries her back to bed and tucks her in, but she is still frightened. Now the other puppies are awake, and try to help her. Penelope's magic wand, Andy's T-Rex, and even Zack's "super strength" and special cape are not enough. Even "sixteen of her favorite stuffed animals" cannot chase away her fear. The monster is real, and Petra knows that "it wants to eat us all up." What can four puppies do? Andy has read (in a book) that monsters love cookies. Mama helps them bake some special cookies, and "they filled a big plate for the monster—and ate the rest, of course." They write a nice note for the monster, set the table with cookies and milk, and go upstairs to bed. That night when Petra wakes up, she wakes the others, and they all go downstairs to see what has happened to the cookies. But no one is there, and no one has eaten the cookies, so they decide to have a snack. When Petra hears something, "IT'S THE MONSTER!!" "Cover your eyes, so it can't see us" says Zack, but when Petra peeks, she sees that the monster is hiding—from THEM! When Petra persuades it to come out, it has sixteen stuffed animals (four under each arm), and is happy to try a cookie. Snack time turns into party time, dance time, and having-so-much-fun time, until Mama and Papa show up. They, of course, do not see the monster, but "marched the puppies straight back to bed. And this time, Petra went right to sleep." Highly recommended. Reviewer: Judy Silverman

THE PERFECT GIFT

Lori, a small lorikeet, found a perfect strawberry the bigger lorikeets overlooked. And she knew the perfect person to have it—her grandma. But Lori grew tired as she flew with the berry, so she stopped to rest. Unfortunately, the strawberry rolled and hopped and plopped into the river where it sank to the bottom. A chipmunk heard Lori crying but, though she tried, could not retrieve the berry since chipmunks are not very big. Next came a goose who tried to help but alas her neck was not long enough to reach the river's bottom. Finally came a frog, who swam to the river's bottom and brought back the strawberry. He also brought back a crocodile, though he hadn't meant to. The crocodile scoops up Lori, chipmunk, goose, and frog in his toothy

mouth and means to swallow them. Quick thinking Lori saves them all when she tosses her strawberry in the air. Greedy Mr. Crocodile opens his mouth to catch the berry and the four friends jump out to safety. At first Lori is sad she could not take the strawberry to Grandma, but then she comes up with the perfect solution. The four friends write and illustrate a story about their adventure. Grandma says it is the perfect gift. Sweet story with nice illustrations. Reviewer: Sarah Maury Swan

PERFECT SOUP Most readers, along with Murray and his animal friends, would agree that there is nothing more perfect on a snowy day than a bowl of warm soup. But Murray the mouse must find a carrot to make his soup perfect. This quest develops into new tasks as each encounter brings a new demand before he can get the carrot. This is a story about friendship as each character rises to the occasion so the perfect soup can be made. Young readers will be delighted as the shopkeeper, horse, old lady, farmer, Miller's son, and snowman do their share to make it happen. The whimsical illustrations show the snowy winter day and the activities of the respective characters. Murray is a perfect illustration of someone on a mission to achieve his goal. He is a good role model for children as his determination shows through in both the text and illustrations. Why then does Murray make his perfect soup without a carrot? The final illustration will bring a smile to readers of all ages as Murray enjoys the soup with his new friend, the snowman, who wears a new carrot nose. Reviewer: Annie Laura Smith

PIERRE THE PENGTUIN Gr 2—Stories don't come any sweeter than this. Pierre the penguin lives at the California Academy of Sciences. Being an African penguin, he prefers warmer climates. For some reason (it's not clear why), he loses his feathers and thus will not swim because he is too cold. In addition, the other penguins are afraid of him and bray at him. Pam, his caring handler, designs a neoprene wetsuit that keeps him warm when swimming. Over time, his feathers grow back, and the story ends with Pierre making a "nest for his very best friend." Regan's realistic paintings work well with the text and enhance the drama and appeal of the storytelling. The book concludes with "Questions from Kids with Answers from Pam." They include "What is neoprene?" and "How many kinds of penguins are there?" This is an excellent book to share with children as it offers multiple discussion points and curriculum connections.—Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL

PIGGY PIE PO This pig definitely is a relative to the little pigs in the picture book, Piggies, also written by the Woods. Unfortunately the corresponding hand games are present here as in their previous pig book. This picture book tells the story of Piggy Pie Po who can do many things: dance, swim, boat, dig and splash in the tub. He is as smart as the beginning readers who might find Piggy interesting. Piggy can count and paint and read by himself but not tie his shoelaces. It is in the third story that Piggy has a true adventure by eating a hot pepper. The pepper sends him to bed. One cannot help like Piggy Pie Po with his verve for life; his disappointment and enjoyment are very evident on each page. The rhymes are helpful for beginning readers; what may be missing is real action. If one can be patient and read to the third story and see Piggy's reaction to the pepper, this book could be amusing. Kindergarteners in particular may find the rhymes and jubilant pig entertaining. There is also a small amount of counting and vocabulary shown but otherwise, this early reading book is best for big fans of Woods' pigs. Reviewer: Elizabeth Fronk

THE PIRATE CRUNCHER Even before the title page, we are invited as fellow pirates to follow a map and claim a prize. The adventure begins on a dark night on the docks. Inside an inn, dastardly Captain Purplebeard and his crew are intrigued by the song of an old fiddler. Displaying a map, the fiddler promises to take them to a treasure island. Off they sail, as the captain scorns the mention of a monster that eats both pirates and ships. Told in alternating jolly rhymes and speech balloons, the tale gradually reveals the menace awaiting the greedy captain at the end of the voyage. The pirates and their ship have a digitally-created sculpturesque solidity to them; somber blues and browns produce the desired melodramatic aura in the prologue and the scenes at sea. Line drawings on white backgrounds show the horrible dreams of the crew; the top of an octopus-like arm intruding in early scenes gives fair warning of the reality of these dreams. A foldout page displays the dramatic scene of the bug-eyed monster with tooth-filled mouth agape, followed by a double-page "CRUNCH!" as it swallows pirates and all. On the final spread, we see a lifeboat with a parrot and the old man—who seems to be a marionette manipulated by the sated monster—plus an enigmatic sign stating "the END?" This is great scary fun. The map is also available on the endpages. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

A PIRATES GUIDE TO FIRST GRADE This rambunctious first day tale is fit for any young buccaneer. Leading an imaginary crew who are drawn in pale pencil, the red-haired protagonist shines his “snappers” (brushes his teeth), breakfasts on grub and grog, and boards the “great, grand jolly boat” (also known as the school bus), journeying to meet his teacher: “Silver was her name, and a fine old salt was she!” The pirates are ever-present companions, sharing in the ups and downs of the day (“We counted and spelled ’till we nearly dropped, brain-addled and weary”). Preller’s buoyant pirate-inflected storytelling and Ruth’s illustrations, which have a decidedly vintage flair, form an exuberant tribute to imagination and a spirit of adventure. Ages 3 6. (Aug.)

PLEASE TAKE ME FOR A WALK Told in first person by a small white dog with brown ears and a brown tip on his tail, the story's message is clear on the first page. The dog has his leash draped around his body and says, "Please take me for a walk." He then elaborates on his ideas about the activities of a walk. He would chase the neighbor's cat, send birds to their nests, and keep squirrels in the trees. He would greet people and some of them would pet him. The local business people are waiting for him to stop by and say hello, especially his friend the butcher. He could watch children scamper in the schoolyard and old men play chess in the park. Take along a ball or a Frisbee, and he will catch them and bring them back. The dog wants to feel the wind lift his ears and the sun warm his belly. He could visit with other dogs, but most importantly, people would see "my best friend and me." Colorful pictures fill the pages with action and humor in this fun read aloud. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.

POLAR OPPOSITES K-Gr 1—Alex the polar bear and Zina the penguin live at opposite ends of the world but are best friends. In a succession of cartoon images, young readers can easily see the numerous ways the two are opposite: e.g., "Alex is BIG and Zina is small. Alex gets up late. Zina rises early. Alex is loud. Zina is quiet. Shhh...." Liking sour or sweet, messy or neat, their preferences may be dramatically different, but the two find ways to come together-by phone, mail, or a visit in the middle of the globe. There's no lack of motion and detail in full-page and (spilled-over) framed pencil, charcoal, and watercolor cartoon illustrations. Predictable, but a child-friendly way to explore friendships and differences in individuals, this book might provide an opportunity to introduce youngsters to geography or the actual habitats and activities of animals found at the poles.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX