(2) PS Illustrated by MacKenzie Haley. An offstage narrator warns readers (à la Grover in The Monster at the End of This Book) about the "ferocious monster" that haunts the pages ahead. "It's not too late for you to choose a different book about something more pleasant." A page-turn reveals the speaker/monster: a terrifying(ly cute) white kitten doing its darnedest to be threatening. "Hey, quit laughing." Enlisting the help of two sweet puppies, a fluffy duckling, and other animal friends, the kitten's subsequent jump-scare attempts yield similar results. And then...from the doorway...a foreboding shadow looms..."Bath time!" The well-paced text, vibrant pencil and digitally painted illustrations, and effective use of page-turns heighten the drama--and the silliness.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) PS Illustrated by MacKenzie Haley. Patrick loves his purple polka-dot tights. They provide extra warmth under snow pants, add flair to dress-up outfits, and make great teddy-bear lifesaving equipment. The only problem: technically, the tights belong to his sister, even though "Penelope didn’t care about the tights...most of the time." The cartoonlike illustrations, featuring an energetic boy with curly orange hair, amplify emotions in the child-centered text. "It wasn't fair," the narrator comments when Penelope takes back the tights to wear during her piano recital. The accompanying illustration shows a visibly displeased Patrick sitting amidst smiling, oblivious audience members, including his parents. "Disaster" strikes during a post-recital ice-cream outing (Penelope spills hot fudge on the tights), and Patrick's body language clearly conveys his dejected feelings. When his dad presents him with new tights--a three pack!--a double-page spread celebrates along with Patrick. Featuring realistic sibling dynamics and parents who model nonchalant support without editorializing, this book affirms kids' creative expression and imaginative play.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021