(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Readers meet Louise Bennett Coverley (1919–2006), a Jamaican poet, musician, storyteller, and broadcaster known as "Miss Lou." Her "dialect poems sounded like the speech of everyday Jamaicans"; as a schoolchild, however, she was discouraged from writing anything but "proper English." Fernandes's vibrant textured illustrations reflect young Coverley's creativity and enthusiasm. Hohn's author's note includes her inspiration plus more about Coverley and Jamaican patois. Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Mutanu wakes up excited because "today is the day" at her Kenyan orphanage: a birthday party for all of the orphans, both those whose birthdays are known and those, like Mutanu, whose date is not. Presents and cake are great, but best of all is having her existence validated. Acrylic illustrations add joy and context. A note on The Creation of Hope orphanage is appended.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. In Kenya, Mimi's sister almost dies after drinking dirty water, and upon Mimi's suggestion, her village builds a clinic to provide care and teach illness prevention. The worthy if message-heavy story includes warm acrylic art full of cultural details. Lengthy sections of activism-inspiring information highlighting real international organizations, the importance of basic health care, and how kids can help concludes the book. Glos.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. This story tells of a Ghanaian boy who starts out with one hen and builds up to a large poultry farm while always helping others. Microcredit is a major topic in contemporary international relations, and this accessible picture book based on real events will help young children understand the concept. Gold-hued acrylic illustrations depict the West African setting. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Spinelli treats her subjects, which range from orange-golden bumblebees to arctic poppies to polar bears, with respect and--when warranted--playfulness ("O ever clever ptarmigan"). Her poetry evokes myriad sensory impressions, suiting form to subject ("Thrumming and drumming / Caribou coming"), and the seemingly textured illustrations invite touching. Three "Arctic Facts" pages conclude the volume.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Lighthearted but a bit uneven, these thirty rhyming poems will tickle the funny bones of children developing their language skills and wordplay ability. Subjects of the poems include a hoarse horse and a daredevil chicken who's anything but chicken. Bright, zippy pictures help support the verbal jokes. A list of the poems and the language skills they exemplify is appended.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. A mouse loose in the classroom and sticky gum on shoes are two of the tribulations grade schoolers face in this collection of school-related poems. Singsong lines present some humorous situations and enough of a gross-out factor (stinky socks, yucky school lunch) to keep kids entertained. Meter and rhyme are uneven at times; the illustrations, however, are appropriately silly.

Reviewer: Sharon Korbeck

(4) K-3 Teelo's Adventures series. Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Accidentally lost at sea, Teelo the cat is rescued by Lilly, who is spending the summer sailing with her grandfather. When Teelo again falls overboard at summer's end, his original owner fishes him out, and Lilly is saddened at the thought of giving up her new pet. Despite the occasional use of overly cute phrases, the somewhat far-fetched story may entertain young readers, and the watercolors give the book a lighthearted tone.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Photographs by Gilbert Duclos. The second-person narration involves readers in the wonders of pregnancy and birth which are explained briefly in fourteen double-page spreads. Some topics are quirky (what an unborn baby hears), some more practical (a doctor's visit), but all answer questions children commonly ask. Sidebars give additional facts or activities. Color photos combine with cartoon illustrations of uneven quality to extend the text.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. When his cat, Teelo, finds an abandoned seal pup on the beach one day, Victor the vet takes her in. Caring for the seal upends the crowded but otherwise peaceful animal-filled household, but returning her to the ocean when she's big enough proves even more challenging. The somewhat contrived story, accompanied by cartoony gouache illustrations, has touches of humor but overuses repetition and alliteration.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli