(1) K-3 Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Fifteen adroitly phrased rhymes, voiced by pieces of clothing, reflect children's amiable relationships with these intimate possessions. Schertle's contagiously rhythmic, playful verse is perfectly reflected in the art (full-page alternating with lively vignettes). From delicately comical to downright funny, Mathers brings her signature style to endearing watercolors of the various animals who stand in for children.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2009

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Pierre is a humble fisherman in love with ballet instructor and painter Catherine. He dresses up and admits his love, but she has already given her heart to a rugged fisherman, who, in the end, turns out to be Pierre. The story's romantic theme may not appeal to its picture-book audience, but the dreamy watercolor illustrations add a dose of humor.

Reviewer:

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Petra Mathers. This collection features twenty-eight poems with no real cohesion other than being fun to recite. Many of the poems appear to have been written to include specific places--cities, states, countries--but they have little apparent connection to their locale. The animal-themed works show greater craft. The watercolor illustrations are playfully dreamy (though a few are rather listless).

Reviewer: David Elzey

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Anderson's clear, direct text invites the reader to enter the reality of the complex and notoriously mercurial French composer Erik Satie, and we find ourselves rooting for him--terrible temper, unconventional hygiene, and all. Both author and illustrator seem to have channeled Satie's spirit of risk-taking in their verbal and visual depictions of the composer's artistry. Author's note, suggestions for further reading and listening.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2003

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Illustrated in the appealing stick-figure-and-crayon mode distinguishing Jonell and Mathers's previous collaborations, this observant family story follows Mommy's crummy mood as it passes along to one of her two sons. Only when Robbie declares himself a prickly "borkupine" does Mommy realize how her unexplained irritation has been worrying and rubbing off on those around her.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Here are twenty-eight lighthearted poems, many of which invoke place names in the United States. Prelutsky is content to describe scenes that vary from realistic to whimsical. The mild humor lies not in the action but in the deft use of language, particularly effective when shared aloud. Demurely naive, Mathers's cheerful, delicately delineated human and animal characters focus on their activities with becoming modesty and grace.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2002

(2) PS Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Mom is so busy preparing a holiday dinner that Christopher and Robbie decide to make a pie of what they want most, with ingredients such as Mom's snuggly slippers and her soft gloves. "'Mom pie is not good to eat,' said Christopher. 'It is good to touch and to smell.' 'And to snuggle with,' said Robbie, 'when you are busy.'" In words and pictures, Jonell and Mathers respectfully portray the small dramas of a child's world.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2001

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Because Papa, a cobbler, is busy, Nanita makes her own First Communion shoes. They carry her to a strange house where she's forced to clean and make flan (recipe provided). Finally, a parrot leads her home. The plot feels schizophrenic--why are Nanita's shoes evil? Why doesn't Señor Parrot help sooner?--but the careful prose and fastidious watercolor depictions of Mexico easily recommend the book.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Jonell and Mathers once again go straight to the heart of the child's experience in this story of sibling dynamics. Christopher, the small boy from Mommy Go Away!, is getting bigger and is now contending with little brother Robbie (last seen in I Need a Snake). Mathers's kindergarten-crayon drawings capture all the emotional drama between the brothers and add unremarked-upon details of the birthday-party setting.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1999

(3) PS Robbie insists that he needs a snake, and library books and trips to the museum and pet stores do not satisfy the need. Finally Robbie solves his problem by finding snakes around the house--a shoelace, a belt, and a jump rope. With the same childlike art and very simple storytelling style they used in 'Mommy Go Away!', Jonell and Mathers have created a story that will ring true with both parents and kids.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.