(2) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Though oversize, this eighty-eight-page picture book is not for story hour; it's perhaps best suited for just one or two listeners. And get comfortable; kids will insist on multiple readings because, while the story begins the same way each time (Rosie must take a cake to her sick grandma), the choose-your-own-path format results in multiple endings (and middles). After introducing Rosie, the text asks, "What next, Rosie? Which coat will you wear?" Readers choose either her faux fur coat or her favorite red cape and are sent to a specific page number depending on their choice. Those pages tell more of the story and offer further choices (kiss your scary-looking granny or run for the door; jump out a window with your eyes open or closed). The numerous possible endings are split fairly evenly between happy and not-so-happy ones. In the latter, Rosie usually finds herself dead--not as morbid as it sounds because, if readers choose (and they will), Rosie can start her story over and hope for a better outcome. The humorously grim text is well matched with amusing illustrations that keep even the darker story elements lighthearted, as readers meet (or not) such characters as Snow White, a wicked queen, Jack, and Sleeping Beauty. Santat's Rosie is small but sturdy and never terribly perturbed, even when she finds herself swallowed by the wolf ("You've got no choice. You sit and wait. It's dark, and what a bore! / You're not quite sure if this is death. You've never died before!"). Both text and art are endlessly clever.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Halloween is Crankenstein's favorite holiday, obviously, but this year it is not going well, with a toothache, rain, a pumpkin-carving fail, and the like all conspiring to bring forth a grumbling "mehhrrr" from our young hero. The text relies on a repeated subjunctive conceit ("Crankenstein would say") that is sometimes confusing, and the ending is abstract, but Crankenstein's crankiness remains relatable (see also the monster's previous self-titled story, rev. 9/13, and sequel) and even ­endearing, and the busy full-page ­digital paintings let it all hang out in a panoply of Halloween motifs.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) PS Illustrated by Dan Santat. "Bear is a bear hopeful and shy. Bear is a bear full of love." The large furry creature becomes a baby girl's best friend, playing all sorts of roles (as a "tissue," "soft, warm pillow," etc.). Always, however, "Bear is a bear full of love." As the story unfolds the girl grows older, until finally Bear, who had been a "brave protector" when she was scared and a "piece of home" she took to college, becomes a "memory" packed away in a storage chest. But fear not, this isn't a sad tale, as eventually Bear is introduced to the next generation: a new little-girl playmate. Stutzman's (Santa Baby, rev. 11/20) declarative sentences are short and purposely repetitive, packed with meaning, which Santat (2015 Caldecott winner for The Adventures of Beekle) explores through the loving relationship between the characters in his expressive watercolor, pencil, and Photoshop illustrations. The brevity of the text allows for visual creativity, especially with humorous lines such as "Bear is a fancy lady" (accessorizing for a tea party, of course) or more serious moments (Bear, as a "scholar," sits quietly on a dorm bed as the girl works at her desk late at night). That Santat draws the creature throughout as a real bear makes the impact of the final surprise reveal all the sweeter, and upon rereading reinforces an appreciation for the ­larger-than-life presence favorite toys can have in our lives.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) PS Illustrated by Dan Santat. In this cheery and engaging alphabet book, a classroom full of anthropomorphic letters at Times New Roman School explores the day's lesson: "For all of the letters--from A on through Z-- / Can look like each other in some way, to me." Rhyming text from poet Harris (I'm Just No Good at Rhyming, rev. 11/17) spotlights letter pairs, offering comparisons that are playful as well as thought-provoking (though not always sensitive: "A P is a B that just went on a diet"). Santat's vibrant cartoony digital illustrations support meaning-making; rounded corners and bold black outlines emit a vintage photographic-slide vibe. Silly moments of dialogue (in word balloons) and wonderfully adept facial expressions add extra humor to each snapshot. In one illustration, A smiles and says, "Yay! My grade is the same as my name!" while F adds, "Yay! Mine isn't!" A sentimental message of unity and connectedness ends the narrative, alongside a secret communication that readers can decode using the story as a key. Endpapers recall popular English-language handwriting practice exercises. Recommended for fans of wordplay and other pun-filled alphabet books such as Tom Lichtenheld's E-mergency!

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

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Lê and Santat (Drawn Together, rev. 7/18) present another story focused on everyday familial relationships, expressed through concise writing and extraordinary visuals. As young Iris waits for an elevator with her family in their high-rise apartment building on Monday, she says, "There's one thing that always cheers me up: PUSHING ELEVATOR BUTTONS." Same thing on Tuesday and Wednesday--but on Thursday, Iris's pesky younger sibling gets there first. On Friday, Iris irritatedly retaliates by pushing "ALL THE BUTTONS!" A series of deliberately repetitive panels depicts the family's subsequent tedious descent to the lobby, and growing frustration. After the sullen Iris pockets a discarded elevator call button from the lobby garbage bin, she tapes it up next to her closet door--and her real adventures begin. An encounter with an impressively illustrated tiger (similar to the stuffed version her sibling totes) and a journey to a space station lead to eventual sibling cooperation. The story's clever premise is fully realized by Santat's mastery of light and atmosphere, resulting in multiple arresting spreads. Readers will be excited to link aspects of Iris's real world to her fantastical adventure, and intrigued by the open-ended conclusion. Uplifting.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Santa-obsessed Freddy Melcher "desperately" wants to add a selfie with Santa to his collection of Santa paraphernalia. Santat's gleeful mixed-media illustrations are in cahoots with the rollicking text, which has Freddy devising and implementing an elaborate, almost perfect plan to detain the big guy. Saint Nick's no fool, but he is still Santa, so Freddy isn't left totally defeated. "There's always next year!"

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. This collection of twenty-three irreverent, kid-pleasing poems by Miller (singer/songwriter of the alt-country band Old 97's) covers familiar subjects: a case for staying home "sick" from school, a tyrannical Little League coach/dad, sibling rivalry, etc. With expressive caricatures and varied compositions, Santat's boisterous illustrations amp up the absurdity and enhance the subversion. A solid offering, providing an all-star lineup of mostly relatable, occasionally thought-provoking, and always entertaining reflections.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. In a mash-up of fairy tale and auto race, the Princess passes a litany of favorite characters from fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and classic books like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz after a pit stop. In the vibrant art, full-bleed pages of bold lines and dramatic layouts play up tension and movement. This speedy freshening up of classic children's literature honors the power of confidence and determination and puts the Princess in the driver's seat.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Frederick Fredrickson is bullied, even by his so-called friends. After a boating dare goes awry, Frederick washes ashore at a disciplinary camp for boys, where he is mistaken for a notorious-bully camper as a hurricane approaches. Frederick is a sympathetic protagonist for this story of bullying and boyhood; mild crude humor, camp shenanigans, and a lion encounter add to the entertainment. Includes occasional black-and-white illustrations by Santat.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. A platypus ("DUDE!") and a beaver ("DUDE!") hit the waves with their surfboards. When one spots a shark in the distance ("DUDE...?"), the surf buddies scramble for shore ("DUUUUUDE!"). "Dude" is a surprisingly malleable word, making it a good fit for a one-word (well, almost) yarn. The elastic facial expressions of the three main players in the colorful illustrations say everything the text can't.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Nick's toy dinosaur helps him with his fears. After a soccer game in which he scores (with the dinosaur's help), his talisman gets lost. Nick confides his problem to his dad, who takes him back to the field and helps him find it. The boy-friendliness of the text is matched by robust paintings that give the toy dinosaur life--and heft!--as it appears super-dino-style as needed.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(3) PS Illustrated by Dan Santat. A pudgy, giant, T-shirt-clad monster wreaks havoc--stomping on city buildings, shooting stink-rays and slime missiles, etc. When "Rodzilla" injures himself and needs his parents' comfort, the creature turns out to be human toddler Rodney using his imagination during playtime. The humorous text's style and pacing resembles comic-book narration, while watercolor, pencil, and digital illustrations enhance the goofy chaos with cartoonish energy.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. President Penguin of Pluto, enraged that Squeakyville's scientists have dropped Pluto from its planet status, rockets to Earth to avenge Pluto's demotion. Ricky and his Mighty Robot step up, but it's Ricky's precocious cousin, Lucy, who ultimately saves the day. The fast-paced, full-color mash-up of chapter book, comics, and "flip-o-rama" pages should pull reluctant readers into another silly and slight Ricky Ricotta story.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. After a fox chicken-naps their parents, two chick siblings go after him, and their wits and martial-arts mojo save the day. As in this team's previous successes with ninja-fied retellings (The Three Ninja Pigs; Ninja Red Riding Hood), the rhymes are silly-sassy ("The fox said, 'Surrender? / No way, chicken tender!'"), and Santat's snazzy stylized art shows a cast ready for their close-ups.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Joules and Kevin battle evil alien rabbits again, and these bunnies have extra-large noses, a premise ripe for jokes about smell. Beaty keeps the direct-address wisecracks coming, helped along by Santat's too-goofy-to-be-scary drawings and occasional comic strips. Hand this to your favorite smart aleck, especially if that smart aleck liked the predecessor, Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. In this installment of the newly illustrated series, Ricky wishes for a size-appropriate friend for his giant robot; the wish comes true, but the Ladybot is key to an alien's plan to take over Earth. The slight plot is accompanied by full-color digital art. With several "flip-o-rama" animation pages and embedded comic-book sequences, this chapter book will appeal to reluctant readers.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Ricky Ricotta has a whole new look in these repackaged editions. The intrepid mouse still vanquishes neighborhood bullies, but now the slight plots are accompanied by original full-color digital art by Santat. With several "flip-o-rama" animation pages and comic-book sequences embedded in the stories, reluctant readers will appreciate chapter books that are easy to get through. Review covers these titles: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter and Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Ricky Ricotta has a whole new look in these repackaged editions. The intrepid mouse still vanquishes neighborhood bullies, but now the slight plots are accompanied by original full-color digital art by Santat. With several "flip-o-rama" animation pages and comic-book sequences embedded in the stories, reluctant readers will appreciate chapter books that are easy to get through. Review covers these titles: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars, Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury, and Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Ricky Ricotta has a whole new look in these repackaged editions. The intrepid mouse still vanquishes neighborhood bullies, but now the slight plots are accompanied by original full-color digital art by Santat. With several "flip-o-rama" animation pages and comic-book sequences embedded in the stories, reluctant readers will appreciate chapter books that are easy to get through. Review covers these titles: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars, Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury, and Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Ricky Ricotta has a whole new look in this repackaged edition. The intrepid mouse still vanquishes neighborhood bullies, but now the slight plot is accompanied by original full-color digital artwork by Santat. With several "flip-o-rama" animation pages and comic-book sequences embedded in the story, reluctant readers will appreciate a chapter book that is easy to get through.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth