(2) PS Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. A minor drama unfolds when Duck and Cat visit the playground and find a new taller and curvier slide. Duck is excited to try it, but Cat has concerns. Could this slide be "too exciting" or "too fun"? Rather than admit fear, Cat tries to steer Duck toward the familiar swings and sandbox, but Duck keeps gravitating back to that slide. This picture book has all the hallmarks of a beginning reader--limited vocabulary, short sentences, strong visual support of plot, lots of sight words, and ample word repetition--and it can serve just as well for new readers as it can for storytimes. Rosenthal's pastel-hued, cartoon-style illustrations add warmth, humor, and nuance. Duck's open facial expressions telegraph excitement, while Cat's, in contrast, cycle through worry, hope, desperation, and determination. In the end, Cat realizes that good friends don't deny friends new experiences, and the slide turns out to be enjoyable for everyone. Many books for young children explore conquering fear, but fewer contextualize how one's fear can dampen someone else's good time; this book adds something fresh to the shelf.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Karen George. Joe is having a ball playing pirate at the playground until some kids he hasn't met before arrive. One of them shouts, "You've only got one leg!" Joe agrees, unimpressed: "And you've just squashed my shark." Too few picture books recognize and validate the full, happy lives of children who have disabilities; this one does both with sensitivity, goodwill, and humor. The colored-pencil and gouache illustrations in a summery palette focus on the children, particularly their faces as they move from caution to puzzlement to connection. Joe deflects invasive questions, sometimes directly ("What do you think?"), and sometimes with humor ("Stop staring at my bottom"). A wordless double-page spread at the denouement allows Joe a moment of quiet sadness and frustration, and the other children finally realize Joe's leg (or lack thereof) isn't the most interesting thing about him. They go from being Kid One, Kid Two, and Kid Three to Simone, Yuto, and Caspar, and they join Joe's pirate game. An endnote for adults gives suggestions for how to talk with children about disabilities.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. When a rosy-cheeked "small-footed human" visits the park, he spies a gaggle of friends showing off their playground skills--they are sports stars, reading machines, and even adept backwards-counters. Small-footed human, however, is more...0human. Running to keep up with the pack, he trips over his shoelaces, forgets how to re-tie them, and totally loses his cool. His verbal frustrations summon an unlikely support team to his side: a Yeti and his close relations Sasquatch, Bigfoot, and the Abominable Snow Monster, all ready to help the protagonist back onto his feet with some friendly growth-mindset wisdom. With loosely drawn limbs and toothy grins, the fuzzy quartet bounds around the park demonstrating the punnily identified "Power of Yeti"--as in, when asked to high-five a Sasquatch, remind yourself that you're "not tall enough...YETi!" The ambling cryptids assure their small-footed friend that their own skills--in everything from basketball to ballet—developed with time, practice, and persistence. Van Slyke's bubbly narrative and Karas's ever-smiling figures paint the acquisition of social-emotional skills in a perhaps-too-rosy glow, but the straightforward presentation makes for a practicable introduction that will make even the biggest and hairiest challenges seem more approachable.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) PS Illustrated by Hanna Cha. This warm-hearted playground-set concept book focuses on circles and on counting from one to ten. "One circle...bounces! Two circles...roll!" Warm-toned, digitally colored ink illustrations depict a child bouncing a basketball and another cycling up on a two-wheeler. More friends appear, each shown with a circular or spherical item. Some of these items are toted (hula hoops, flying discs), some are built into the playscape (climbing rings, sprinkler heads), and all are intended for cooperative enjoyment. After we get to ten circles--in the form of festively decorated cookies--the count returns to the beginning. The children join hands as "one circle gathers. One circle opens. One circle grows. Circle Round." The message of inclusion, underscored by the illustrations' casual diversity in characters' skin tones, ethnicities, genders, and abilities, is clear for very young children--all of whom would likely be welcomed enthusiastically into this circle of friends.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(3) 1-3 Big Idea Gang series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. A group of third graders form the Big Idea Gang and convince their schoolmates to ditch their traditional armadillo mascot for a dragon (Mascot); the group then persuades their school to add two buddy benches to the playground to help students find new friends (Buddy). The short, heavily illustrated chapter books contain a solid dose of learning along with the appealing contemporary-school-story plots. Review covers these Big Idea Gang titles: Everybody Needs a Buddy and Worst Mascot Ever.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(1) PS This inviting counting book could also serve as a set of inclusivity instructions. A lone boy plays on a slide ("how to one"); when he joins a girl on a seesaw, we learn "how to two." One by one, children are welcomed until there are ten engaged in a jubilant game of tag. Bright watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations on simple backgrounds keep the focus on the children's joyous dynamics.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(4) PS Illustrated by Maple Lam. The authors (HGTV stars and cousins) are depicted showing a diverse group of children how to build a playground using various tools: "This is a level. We use it to make sure the monkey bars are straight." With child-friendly, soft-hued watercolor illustrations and very simple, accessible text, the book invites younger audiences into the world of construction through a friendly if not terribly original story.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tom Disbury. Each day, Sylvia Samantha Wright collects what seems like junk: empty paint cans, tangled rope, half-rotten bananas, and so on. But when a water tower leak washes away the playground, knocks out the town's power, and lets zoo animals escape, she re-purposes the items to fix the problems. Amusing cartoons illustrate this well-built tall tale of giving trash a second life.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(2) PS A fallen tree balanced atop a boulder makes a perfect prehistoric seesaw for dinosaurs of increasing size (newcomer lifts previous dino into the air: "I'm bigger than you"). Then a fiery-red T. rex shakes up the narrative and the muted paint and watercolor palette, losing its temper and breaking the seesaw. Play resumes--cooperatively, this time--on a broken-seesaw-parts slide. It's a solution as elegant as...a simple machine.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) K-3 STEAM Stories series. Illustrated by Magalí Mansilla. In this STEAM-endorsing series of picture books, Suzy and Max use problem-solving skills to build playground equipment, race go-karts, and rebuild a robot. Using trial and error, they explore science and technology to achieve their goals, occasionally helped by an adult. Additional STEAM information is provided on the last two pages. The stories are pretty basic, but the kids' can-do attitudes will inspire the youngest scientists and engineers. Websites. Review covers these STEAM Stories titles: The Backyard Build, The Great Go-Kart Race, and Robot Repairs.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) PS Illustrated by Bob Graham. Jack and Alex find common ground in the sandbox at the playground, even though Jack likes trucks and Alex prefers dolls wearing "pink, sparkly" tutus. With some flexible thinking ("Let's play dolls...that drive trucks"), the two boys play together while remaining true to themselves. Graham skillfully illustrates a diverse cast of characters to support Stott's gentle message about individuality and inclusion.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) PS Illustrated by John Joven. "The clearing is done. The sun disappears. / A bulldozer stops. He shifts down his gears." But even after the 'dozer bathes (at the car wash), noshes (gasoline), and settles into bed, it can't help but dream about work--this time, building a playground. As in Race Car Dreams, Chriscoe delivers chrome-plated rhymes, and Joven's sleek art is buffed to perfection.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marla Frazee. A group of children sees the potential of a hill with a lone tree; the kids discuss their idea with parents, who in turn bring it to others. After the community pitches in on construction, a beautiful playground--with the pink-blossomed tree at its center--is the result. Frazee's vignette-style pencil and watercolor art shapes Clinton's spare text into an inspirational full story.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) PS Illustrated by Dan Hanna. Mr. Fish and friends are playing at the park when suddenly, "The shark showed his teeth, / And he growled as he swam. / 'Move aside, micro-fishies! / It's my turn. SCRAM!'" Mr. Fish's eventual response defangs the shark implausibly easily, but six Pout-Pout books in, there's still impressive bite in Diesen's rhymes. As always, Hanna's adorable cast conjures aquatic Muppets.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS Illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez. The boys on the playground claim that girls can't be superheroes, making Lucía mad. Her abuela gives her a luchadora costume, which emboldens Lucía. Hidden behind the mask, she soars through the playground better than all the other children; after rescuing a puppy, Lucía reveals her identity. Energetic watercolors illuminate a diverse crowd of children led by a strong, dynamic personality who's unabashedly proud to be a girl.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(3) K-3 "One morning, Jonah decided to become ruler of the playground." Everyone follows King Jonah's rules until Lennox makes her own power-play for half the playground. After realizing all their conquering has rendered play impossible, the rulers collaborate on an apology. The text plays it straight, but the ample white space contrasting with the muted palette allows readers to zero in on the students' hilariously telling expressions.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) K-3 Zach Rules series. Illustrated by Darren McKee. Zach can't figure out how to traverse the playground trapeze rings, resulting in frustration and disappointment. His best friend Sonya suggests formulating a plan and reflecting on previous successes to boost his confidence. This is a cheery and realistic, if transparently message-driven, bibliotherapy story illustrated with cartoony digital pictures. Back matter includes tips and detailed strategies for "helping children persevere."

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(1) 1-3 Illustrated by Emily Hughes. This beginning chapter book is full of sincere, slice-of-life sibling moments. In four chapters, brothers Charlie and Mouse spend a day together in their home and neighborhood. Oodles of white space and large font combined with textual repetition support new readers and create momentum. Hughes's graphite and Photoshop illustrations in muted tones radiate humor and heart.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(3) PS When rabbit Mimi and her teddy bear go to the park, Mimi gets to be best at everything on the playground. Then a new animal arrives, and Mimi begins to doubt herself and lose confidence. The gentle double-page-spread illustrations are full of personality and support the short and simple text, which conveys a sincere message about being a friend.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Priscilla Burris. Maggi's best friend is her dog, Milo (Maggi and Milo). When Maggi's mom encourages her to meet new friends at the playground, she worries because dogs aren't allowed. Jitters fade as Maggi learns that she can enjoy both new friends and old. While the sketchlike digital illustrations enhance the playful tone, the making-friends message gets sidetracked by the rambling story.

Reviewer: Russell Perry