(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. 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. 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 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 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

(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

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. A hungry wolf, who "kept getting licked / by the dinner he picked," hopes that a meal will be guaranteed after he studies martial arts. Unfortunately for him, Riding Hood has been ninja-schooled and Gran knows tai chi. As with this book's predecessor, The Three Ninja Pigs, this retelling is adroit, and super-stylized art freeze-frames the cast's extremely smooth moves.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Imaginary Veterinary series. Illustrated by Dan Santat. After reporting to Dr. Woo's hospital for imaginary creatures as apprentices, Ben and Pearl find they're the only ones available to help a dying rain dragon in the Imaginary World. Acting on guesswork and luck, the children complete their mission. This third entertaining tale is filled with implausible fun and expressive black-and-white illustrations. Interesting information about the fantastical creatures and activities are appended.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Dan Santat. In this third Nanny Piggins novel, the porcine former-circus-performer-cum-caretaker leads her three (human) charges in ridiculous adventures such as mediating a dispute between a dissatisfied lion and her tyrannical tamer. The varied word choice and deadpan humor marks this as a solid read-aloud option. Spot- and full-page art illustrate memorable moments in each adventure. A chocolate soufflé recipe is appended.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Sometimes when you have to do things you don't want to, all you can say is "MEHHRRRR!" The life of the little guy depicted here seems to be one unfortunate event after another, and he responds accordingly. This is a No, David! for slightly older kids, with intense but comical close-ups of a child's enraged face, turned Frankenstein's-monster-green for that Halloween touch.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013