(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie. A soothing text follows a mongoose through the Serengeti from early evening into the night as he visits zebras, elephants, and other animals who are all sleeping (or settling down) before heading to his own burrow for the night. Light-infused, painterly spreads show the progression into night, with occasional sequential panels adding visual interest. Back matter gives more information on the featured animals, the Serengeti, and nocturnal and diurnal animals; all the ones in the book, it explains, “live in the Serengeti and rest for all or part of the night.”

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) K-3 Welsh presents an account about the migration habits of six different animals that can function as a comforting bedtime story or thoughtful read-aloud. With lyrical patterned text, we follow the travels of an arctic tern "in search of summer in the sky," followed by the oft-repeated line, "It was time to move south for winter." Next, humpback whales swim "in search of summer in the waves" and caribou climb "in search of summer in the hills." Canada geese soar "in search of summer on the lake," a leatherback turtle dives deep "in search of summer in the ocean," and monarch butterflies sail and flutter "in search of summer in the trees," each acknowledging that "it was time to move south for winter." The simple, descriptive lines are accompanied by expansive, double-page illustrations in washes of cool blues that capture the sweep and movement of the story while also providing small details that enhance the informative aspects. For example, the life cycle of the arctic tern is suggested by the changing colors of its feathers, beak, and legs as it migrates and grows to adulthood, ending with a nest and a new baby tern being born. The last line of text--"Time to move north for summer"--provides another satisfying, full-circle moment. Brief back matter offers a paragraph of helpful information about the six animals depicted, along with a simple image of Earth showing the migration patterns of each one.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Åsa Gilland. A young girl narrates this touching story about her older sister's illness. "At first nobody knew." The sisters love ­building shelters in the woods from sticks, but sometimes the sister gets tired. She always seems to regain her strength, though, and during those periods the girls resume their play, constructing their forest shelter higher and higher and fortifying it to withstand any storm. On the night the narrator learns that her sister is sick, "a river of rain fell from the sky," destroying the shelter. The weather mirrors the girl's feelings; storms and precipitation coincide with fear, sadness, and anger, while wind kicks up when things feel unsettled. In the hospital, after the sister is feeling better, the siblings build a shelter with sheets, a broom, and bedding, and the girls eagerly look forward to resuming their normal play. Illustrations feature a lush, wild landscape full of plants, flowers, and leafy foliage and a close-knit biracial family. Medical equipment and other hospital indicators are rendered faintly so as to recede into the background, allowing the girls' play and relationship to take precedence. This reassuring work provides comfort to young children struggling to understand a serious illness, and is a testament that the close bonds between siblings can withstand even the worst storms.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2021