(2) PS Illustrated by Ron Barrett. This alphabet book explores abstract ideas and spotlights "invisible" objects. The text is straightforward, with each letter of the alphabet given its own page or double-page spread: "A is for Air / B is for Bare / C is for Clear." Barrett's scratchy black-and-white illustrations, enhanced with rusty-orange highlights, offer context: an open window; a child headed into a bathtub; a fish tank. Working to understand how each letter's word is being represented is part of the fun, and humor abounds. For example, "N is for Nothing" sits upon a blank spread. While characters and situations change throughout the twenty-six concepts, a bus stop serves as the hub for the story. It is shown through multiple seasons of the year, and it sets the stage for several scenes, many of them involving missing the bus ("D is for Delayed / J is for Just missed it / T is for Too late"). While perhaps not instructive for learning one's ABCs, this title offers a fresh perspective on the familiar alphabet book structure and affords viewers opportunities for close examination and discussion.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Barrett. In a companion to the nearly half-century-old Animals Should Definitely [cf4]Not[cf3] Wear Clothing., the Barretts present a gallery of elegantly--if hilariously--dressed animals. A horse in sneakers, a bear sporting a down coat, a turtleneck-wearing turtle: accompanying sober-sided text explains why the animal is better off without. The digitally colored pen-and-ink illustrations have a decorum that plays well with the silly, kid-pleasing concept.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Barrett. The Barretts explore the alphabet with one colorful and energetic search-and-find picture after another (e.g., "Avalanches of As" shows a bunch of As consorting with a wild assortment of images of A words). The final page consists of items found in the previous pages to go back and search for. Not many actual words appear, but the book is lots of fun to pore over.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Barrett. Joe imagines that his new neighbor up in a treehouse is an evil creature. He transforms into Superhero Joe to face the creature, who, of course, is actually a nice kid who also likes bugs and snacks. Although the fear factor feels overblown, the feeling of needing courage to confront something new is universal. Barrett's comic book–style illustrations maintain the story's tension.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Barrett. Because his parents need his help, Joe--with his "Torch of Radiance" (flashlight), "Shield of Invincibility" (trash-can lid), and "Cape of Confidence" (bath towel)--overcomes his fear of the "Darkest Depths" (basement) to retrieve the "Staff of Power" (mop). The text is a little self-aware, but the setup is entertaining. Menacing furniture and clothing populate the shadowy corners of the comic book–style illustrations.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Barrett. The stories that inspired 2009's Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movie are included in this book. The title tale describes the inhabitants of Chewandswallow, their unique food source (the sky), and the highly unpredictable and dramatically changeable weather. The less suspenseful, more message-y Pickles to Pittsburgh rounds out the volume.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Barrett. Two neighboring kingdoms are sworn enemies. When someone accidentally crosses the border, it sets off a marshmallow battle. The residents eventually decide their divisions are silly and they make peace over s'mores. The Barretts' (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) latest again features flying food, but the plot lacks cohesion. Clear pen-and-ink illustrations display the political machinations and silliness.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 This edition is slightly larger than the original, with a vertical rather than horizontal shape. Superintendent of an apartment building, Old MacDonald begins encouraging tenants to vacate their apartments so he can replace them with vegetables and farm animals. Barrett's pen-and-ink illustrations are quite funny, and only the plants and produce are colored, so they stand out in the drab building.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.