(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. A folksy omniscient narrator tells the tale of two families, rabbit and human, that share a territory. Young cottontail Alice and her brother Thistle are enjoying their first spring in their home of Burrow. Humans Carl, his baby sister, and his hapless idealistic back-to-the-land parents have just moved to a nearby country farm. Carl and the bunnies find a common goal in foiling a rapacious real estate developer by ensuring the viability of the farm as Carl and the rabbits, with a little help from their friends (fox, bald eagle, family dog), invent and carry out various schemes. As an animal fantasy, this lies somewhere between Watership Down and The Tale of Peter Rabbit, with detailed and fascinating rabbit world-building à la Adams ("Rabbits have four birthdays a year, one for each season, so the kits of her litter were three months old in human time") and cozy, cadenced prose à la Potter ("brave the meadow, dodge the dog, outwit the farmer, and tunnel beneath the garden fence"). The storytelling is relaxed and digressive, the humor genially satiric, and the dialogue sparky. Fans of Cynthia Voigt's Young Fredle (rev. 3/11) will feel right at home, and readers of Charlotte's Web will delight in several sly echoes. An excellent choice for a family or classroom read-aloud.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. The sweet luminosity of Denise's digital illustrations temper the sappiness of Pace's tale of Moose, Squirrel, Bunny, and Porcupine's plan to include Groundhog in their Valentine's Day celebration. But on February 2, even after they convince Groundhog that shadows aren't scary, he still opts to retreat for six more weeks: "it is cold up here." A slight story of possible use for Groundhog Day storytimes.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. In Lucy's opinion, her beloved but grubby doll, Smelly Baby, is pleasantly odiferous. But when Smelly Baby gets lost, a kindly lady returns her to Lucy--freshly washed and, unfortunately, without her special fragrance. Fear not: after a few days of play with Lucy, Smelly Baby is comfortably smelly again. Denise's illustrations create distinctive characters and enhance the story's considerable drama and humor.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. Vole dreams of sailing downriver to rejoin family and friends lost in a flood; Firefly dreams of flying to the moon; and baseball-loving Cricket yearns to be the best catcher since Yogi Berra. Affectionate third-person narration follows the friends' preparations for these quests. The entwined fates of the three characters (and human friend Peter) will move readers with their rightness.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(3) PS Illustrated by Christopher Denise. Three bear cubs visit Grandma while she bakes holiday goodies. Rhythmical text relates their day: "Wooden spoon and measuring cup, / mix the batter; stir it up. / Fold it gently in the pan, / lick the spoon because we can." The Photoshop art glows with warm hues; double-page spreads alternate with single-page illustrations facing creamy pages with spot art. A chocolate cake recipe is appended.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) PS Illustrated by Christopher Denise. As daylight fades and the moon rises, animals settle in for the evening, streetlights come on, cars head home, and nighttime rituals are set into motion. Cozy, muted digitally rendered illustrations in rich purples and blues but for the glow of fireflies, lanterns, and night-lights are visually lulling; the spare rhyming text, occasionally faltering in meter, is soothing but secondary.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 I Am a Reader! series. Illustrated by Christopher Denise. In three episodic chapters, Teeny, a monkey, and Tugg, a gorilla, demonstrate true friendship with their jungle neighbors: they cheer up a self-conscious hippo who thinks she's fat, help a dejected rhino find his lost horn, and invite everyone to a potluck for Good Neighbor Day. The resolutions are underwhelming, but soft illustrations of animals in their jungle setting are amiable.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. All of mouse Jenny's life Grandfather has been there, gently teaching her how to smile at the world so it smiles back. Then suddenly, he's gone. Devastated, Jenny begins following visions of her beloved grandfather until she finally comes to terms with his death. Quiet black-and-white illustrations illuminate this tender story of loss set in vivid mid-twentieth-century Boston.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 I Am a Reader! series. Illustrated by Christopher Denise. In three episodic chapters, Tugg (a gorilla) supports his best friend Teeny (a monkey) in her pursuits to become a musician, an artist, and a poet, respectively. Cheery jungle-themed illustrations effectively convey tone and emotion, while occasional sound effects ("squeak, squawk, screech") contribute to the somewhat cutesy text's fluidity.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) K-3 I Am a Reader! series. Illustrated by Christopher Denise. In three short stories, the gorilla and monkey buds help their friends track down some missing possessions, judge a zebra race, and investigate a "kite bird." There's not a lot at stake in the episodic tales, but they're diverting for new readers. Cheerful digital-looking illustrations (some a little out of focus) have a cartoony Lion King-esque look.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. Bella is nervous about moving. Her stuffed-animal elephant, Stella, after growing into a life-sized imaginary friend, provides companionship and comfort as Bella explores the new place; things like the bathtub with feet remind Stella (and in turn Bella) that home has changed but there's lots to discover. Soft-focus pastel-hued illustrations reinforce the homeyness in this familiar and reassuring story.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. A rhyming text conveys the tender connection between a cub and her grandfather bear: "my favorite me will always be... / when I am me with you." Soft, expressive digital illustrations fill the pages as the little cub swings, sings, and plays with Grandpa. It's all a bit precious, but the story does effectively illuminate a caring intergenerational relationship.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Colección Luz Verde series. Illustrated by Christopher Denise. In this "Little Red Hen" takeoff, Digger Pig's friends refuse to help her make a turnip pie. Since they did not help, Digger Pig doesn't share the pie. Though the pages are crowded with both English and Spanish text, the use of repetition and simple vocabulary will encourage new readers. Cheerful textured illustrations show a cozy farm environment.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(3) PS Illustrated by Christopher Denise. Knitty Kitty knits cold-weather accessories for her three little kittens--though they have other plans for their hat, mittens, and scarf. In the acrylic and ink illustrations, softly detailed backdrops create a satisfying contrast between indoor warmth and outdoor chill. A "clickety-click" refrain moves the simple story along before it winds down to a sleepy and comforting close.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) PS Illustrated by Christopher Denise. This loving ode celebrates the tender bond between mother and child: "If I could, / I'd rouse the sun / and make it shine / till day is done." Warm acrylic and charcoal images depict two expressive raccoons enjoying a day of picnicking and playing at the beach. Though the repetitive verse occasionally stumbles, it successfully communicates the constancy of a mother's love.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) PS Illustrated by Christopher Denise. This board book edition is well suited to a toddler audience. Little bear Oliver gets lost in the woods near his house. The tension is appropriately short-lived, and Oliver uses his wits to get home safely. All ends well in his world, shown in warm autumn-colored pastel and charcoal illustrations.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2003

(3) PS Illustrated by Christopher Denise. When Mamma pig starts making potatoes for little pig number one, soon everyone--brother, sister, Pappa, neighbor--is clamoring for some. The jaunty text ("Then three more little piggies / show up just in time / And Mamma adds potatoes / SEVEN, EIGHT, and NINE") and soft acrylics bring to life the camaraderie around the dinner table.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. Clumsy, ill-tempered Biddy Malone stumbles upon a faerie village, where a beautiful boy asks what her wishes are. She asks for the ability to sing and dance and to have a loving heart. Biddy returns to her Irish village and through hard work achieves her wishes. Dreamy acrylic and charcoal illustrations in a muted palette suit this original twist on a three-wishes tale.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen

(2) PS Illustrated by Christopher Denise. Despite the alluring rural setting, glowing with autumnal colors, young viewers will be drawn to the small bear perched on the back porch of the farmhouse. "Oliver chases a big yellow leaf..." down the hill and toward the woods where he becomes lost. Oliver temporarily succumbs to his fear but quickly finds his way: he roars louder and louder until his parents roar back, then follows the sound all the way home.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2003

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Christopher Denise. Digger Pig repeatedly asks her friends Chirper Chick, Quacker Duck, and Bow-Wow Dog for help in making a turnip pie, but they only want to help eat it. Accompanied by expressive illustrations, the simple text in this easy reader features lots of repetition. The typeface is large, but more leading between the lines of text would be helpful for emergent readers.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin