(2) K-3 "Ari was mad. She was not allowed to yell when upset, so she danced." Unfortunately, Ari fails to work out all her anger dancing and instead takes it out on an innocent snail munching greens nearby. Her insults drive it away, but later that evening the snail (Ms. Snail, she proclaims) pays Ari a late-night visit, making her hurt feelings known and demanding an apology. Ari delivers an insincere one, and Ms. Snail feels even more offended. All the next day, she and many snail friends seek revenge. Soon it is Ari who feels hurt and mistreated. Ink, watercolor, pastel, and colored-pencil illustrations are soothingly rounded with plenty of white space and, combined with a text full of snail-based humor, work to keep the snail vs. human showdown from becoming too harsh or unpleasant. "'It is time for Snaily Justice!'...Ari could feel the rage emanating from the escargatoire." In the end both Ari and Ms. Snail recognize that they have let their emotions get out of control, and sincere apologies and compliments are bestowed all around. More dancing and a new friendship ensue. This visually appealing, engagingly wacky story offers an emotionally honest look at the way we can carelessly hurt others when our feelings overtake us.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sophie Diao. In this affirming story, an immigrant parent speaks to a Chinese American child. The parent assures young Mei that while "people [may] tell you that you're different and you can't be one of them," those differences are her own secret power: she carries a "golden flame inside." Mei is the visual center of many of the bright, glowing digital illustrations. She emerges from a lotus flower, rides the back of a traditional Chinese dragon, and, surrounded by family, takes a video call from grandparents far away. At book's end, both author and illustrator share their own experiences as Chinese Americans feeling "in between worlds."

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(2) K-3 "I can't ask her what it means. Then she'll know I don't know." The resident of apartment 2C (skinny bright-blue walking rectangle with a red bow tie and a thatch of brown hair) prides himself on being "the know-it-all neighbor." When 2B (pink teardrop with red high-tops at the end of stick legs) asks 2C to "wake me up in 20 coconuts," though, 2C is thrown for a loop. Keller's wacky mixed-media illustrations set the tone and the scene: a red-brick apartment building inhabited by a variety of cartoony characters who mainly communicate by shouting out their front windows. 2C tries logic ("How many coconuts in a minute?"), removing the sock and noisy chicken from his ear, and getting his brain washed, all with the hope that the meaning of "coconut time" will become clearer. The existential crisis reaches its ridiculously exaggerated crescendo when 2C finally admits (to the whole building) that he doesn't know what 2B is talking about. And this is where the silliness has been leading: "It's all right to say 'I don’t know,' 2C. It doesn’t mean that you're not smart." An encouraging note provides more details on the benefits of owning what we don't know.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Juana Medina. In accessible rhyming verse, the young narrator of this queer-themed picture book describes their mixed-race family's preparations for a Pride parade. One mom packs lunch, while the other mom makes sure the narrator and little sibling (both of whom have brown skin) get to bed early. But before bed, the family shares the story of the Stonewall Riots and "the very first Pride" with baby Sammy. The family-friendly text and simple cartoon illustrations handle discussion of the police raids and protests in an age-appropriate way. In general, Pride staples such as drag queens, bikers, and glitter, as well as participants of all ages, races, genders, and abilities are depicted as a smiling egalitarian community. This affirming story centers its protagonist's assessment, "Pride means to me: Being yourself is a blast!"

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(2) K-3 Translated by Elisa Amado. Illustrated by Mariana Chiesa. In the Andean mountains of Argentina, five-year-old Picu sets off on a trek to Doña Ciriaca's house to borrow "the flavor bone" that is shared among the Quechua families in the surrounding foothills and used to flavor soup. Picu's mother, with many children to feed, instructs Picu ("the shusca--the smallest sister") not to delay and to return before noon, in time to prepare the day's supper, or face punishment. Moreno establishes a folkloric narrative arc in the voice and style of Argentinian Quechua storytelling (per the translator's note). She weaves in Quechua words (a brief glossary is appended) and reveals how the land and its flora and fauna enable Picu's successful completion of her important task: "She followed the little goat prints. There were more thorns but also more mistolas. She stopped to pick some of those reddish, sweet fruit, sucked them, and then continued along the hillside." Immersive textured crayon illustrations (digitally modified) heighten the feeling of a sensorial wonderland, conveying Picu's imaginative flights. For example: a "cloud of pilu-pintu butterflies" morphs into Picu with her siblings and cousins at play rendered as white-winged butterflies. Chiesa skillfully uses light to convey mood, juxtaposing the blazing yellows of the morning sun with cool violet tones of night's intimate darkness. The story ends satisfyingly: thanks to Picu and the flavor bone, the family enjoys a delicious, nourishing soup, and Picu revels in her mother's praise.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Paola Escobar. Baby Beauty's arrival into the world begins in the womb, "First there is one heart, / then two." With a metered, lyrical cadence, Ramos's text centers on the collective, enumerating how the kinship family--from la doctora, to the espiritista, to the community at the Puerto Rican Day Parade--envelops Beauty and her immediate family in love. As she grows up, this kinship family transmits to Beauty an understanding of her Taíno, African, and Boricua ancestral ties, a deep cultural knowledge that ignites "resistance, / imagination, / hope" in Beauty. This knowledge ultimately supports her when she encounters racist language aimed at "people that looked like family." Confused and hurt, Beauty runs through her neighborhood to process the emotions of “her heart brusin' / black and blue." Escobar's digital illustrations include neighborhood murals that incorporate Taíno symbols with faces of children and elders as well as Black and Brown raised fists of resistance. The concluding subsequent spreads in luminous colorful palettes show Beauty's return home, where a healing ceremony empowers her to see the beauty of her heritage.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones

(1) 1-3 It's an early chapter book! It's a graphic novel! It's a story about a creature with an overabundance of pride! It's an unexpected friendship story! It's a collection of strange-but-true facts about crows! Gravel (Disgusting Critters series) manages all this in three short graphic chapters marked by her signature sly humor. Her blocky cartoon birds on simple backgrounds in a limited color palette help keep things simple. Arlo, a boastful crow, finds an audience in a little yellow bird named Pips, who questions whether crows really are the very best birds, as Arlo claims. On finding that Arlo is new to the city, Pips offers to show him around, and a new friendship is formed. As their small adventures unfold--tricking other birds, visiting the beach, finding shiny things--facts about crows are sprinkled throughout in the form of footnotes. These facts are used to great effect, making the reader believe that maybe crows are truly as amazing as Arlo says.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) PS In the forest lives a tiger: strong, powerful, and fearless. When hunters come to the forest, the other animals hide and warn the tiger to hide as well. But the creature is not afraid and does not hide. Eventually, the hunters capture the tiger and bring him to the city for other humans to see. As the animal grows smaller and weaker in his cage, he realizes that strength was not what he enjoyed most when he lived in the forest. After he manages to escape and return to the jungle, he treasures his freedom above all else. This simple story reads like a traditional fable, with animal characters representing values through their actions and thoughts, and learning explicit life lessons. Horáček's illustrations use texture and vibrant hues in the jungle settings, contrasted with dull gray tones and lines for city scenes, creating a strong sense of atmosphere and mood on each spread.

Reviewer: Autumn Allen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) PS Illustrated by Charles Santoso. A lion father is proud of (read: obsessed with) his well-manicured lawn. When a dandelion brazenly sprouts, Daddy races to get rid of the eyesore...but his little cub, Sweetie, has already befriended (and named) the "flower." Dyckman's well-paced text digs into the comedic contrast between Daddy's stressed-out hysteria and Sweetie's unhurried calm. Santoso's cartoony digital illustrations enhance both the humor and the loving father-daughter relationship.

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

(4) PS Illustrated by Anne Passchier. "Rainbows! / Every color means something." Following an interpretation of each stripe ("Red means life," "Orange is healing," etc.), an omniscient narrator concludes, "Rainbows sing out. / Be happy. Be love. Be proud." The text is uplifting but vague: to understand the book's LGBTQ+ message, young readers must rely on the illustrations, which show gay and lesbian couples delighting in their kids' company.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. Bryan's vibrant, colorful, and moving illustrations accompany a selection of Giovanni's poems (new and previously published). Topics range widely (dance, self-reflection, nature, friendship); illustrations affirm the beauty and worth of black and brown children. Several poems recall slavery and the civil rights movement, providing a historical source of strength and courage. It's a combination of poetry and art that will bring readers back again and again.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Soud. In poetic verse, Pate addresses self-perception and seeks to help children develop positive self-images and make good choices. Vibrant and realistic, the illustrations lend specificity to the generalized poem, depicting children of color going about their lives in a city neighborhood and at school while demonstrating a wide range of human emotion.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(3) K-3 Little Princess series. The Little Princess considers her dad a royal killjoy: he doesn't bake as well as the cook, swim like the admiral, etc. She realizes the king's value only after suffering through cooking, swimming, and other lessons with the maid. Ross continues a successful streak with this latest comic drama for his Little Princess, whose relatability shines through in the chipper, featherweight art.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Translated by Vanessa Miéville. Illustrated by Ronan Badel. A dragon father instructs his son to burn down houses in the nearby village: "It's tradition!" Instead, Drake makes friends with the villagers. His father is first disappointed then won over after receiving a magnificent portrait painted by one of the dragon-admiring schoolchildren. Character-rich pen-and-ink illustrations with humorous details accompany this entertaining, well-told story first published in France.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Sean Tiffany. Black-and-white full-page illustrations accompany these hi-lo stories involving talented athletes in tennis (Doubles), football (Punter's), bull-riding (Rodeo), and golf (Secondhand). The message-laden texts highlight the importance of focus and fair play to achieve team victory and accomplish personal goals. The engaging, action-packed stories should appeal to sports enthusiasts. Each book is supplemented by background on the sport, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Sports Stories titles: Double Trouble, Punter's Pride, Rodeo Challenge, and Secondhand Slice.

Reviewer: Jack Forman