(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. A frightened mouse is chased into a theater by a cat, takes refuge in ballerina Céleste's pointe shoe, then cautiously strikes up a friendship by leaving crumbs and baubles for Céleste to find. The pear-shaped mouse and long-limbed dancer make endearingly incongruous dance partners. The mouse's-eye-view perspective heightens the drama of a few scary moments, but a warm pastel palette throughout will reassure readers.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ethan Long. Cartoon punctuation marks arrive at Hiring Hall, eager to get their assignments. Everyone wants to be helpful except Greedy Apostrophe, who mischievously inserts himself into plurals where he doesn't belong. Eventually he learns to behave. A "When Do You Use an Apostrophe?" page may help clarify the rules, but readers looking for anything other than a refresher will likely be confused.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 When Hiram, a cranky elf who lives in New York's Union Square, discovers that the park is to be renovated, he stages a campaign to keep it run-down. Fifth-grader Jack and his reporter friend Will try to figure out why the square is suddenly full of dog poop and infested with rats. The stories of Hiram and the human characters never quite coalesce in this wan fantasy.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) PS Illustrated by Dorothy Donohue. "Sun comes peeking / Hide-and-seeking / Days are playful / Spring's a sprout!" On a rainy spring day, three friends venture out to stomp in puddles. After the sun appears, they examine crocuses and baby robins and attempt kite flying. The catchy rhyme and the bright, cheerful cut-paper collages complement the energetic escapades of the children as they enjoy the spring day.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) PS Illustrated by Dorothy Donohue. Looking out at the winter cold, three friends decide to bundle up tightly. Once outside, they try sledding, skating, and making a snowman. At day's end, they come home to warm blankets and cocoa. This winter adventure, told in rhyme using simple language, is cozy and satisfying, and the colorful cut-paper illustrations add a gentle touch of humor.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Robert Bender. Rosie the pig adores being "covered with mud." When her owner takes her to town to pose in costume for a photo shoot, she soon becomes disgusted and makes a dramatic escape back to the farm. Though the ending falls flat and Rosie never looks muddy, even in the mud hole, the illustrations portray her adventures energetically, and Carr's playful use of language is a plus.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert