(4) K-3 Translated by Kathryn Bishop. Illustrated by Eve Tharlet. Even though marmot Bruno knows it's time to hibernate, he doesn't want to sleep. His animal friends suggest Bruno spend the winter (awake) with them, but he reluctantly hunkers down. Then, as Bruno hibernates, his winter dreams have him flying alongside swallows, climbing mountains with goats, etc.: "Anything is possible in dreams." Full-spread, earth-toned paintings create an attractive rural landscape for the heavy-handed story.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eve Tharlet. Bear Martin's parents keep telling him that he's either too big or too small to do various things. When Martin turns the tables (e.g., to his frosting-licking mother he says, "Aren't you too big to do that?"), readers will be in his corner. In this amiable third book about these bears (following Here She Is!), Tharlet's loving portraits accommodate the relatable low-level family friction.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 When Santa breaks his ankle, his child takes his place. At the end of the night the child has delivered all the presents but, confoundingly, still has one house to visit. The art--a mix of evocative landscapes and cozy domestic scenes--is gorgeous; the child narrator's voice is affecting; and the closeness between father and child may bring a lump to one's throat.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Feridun Oral. Because she's too old to live alone, rabbit Great Aunt Fanny moves in with her niece's family. This includes three bunny kids who adjust well to their cramped but lively new domestic situation. The illustrations of bunny family harmony recall the work of Clement Hurd, but the coming-to-terms-with-death story, while sensitive, lacks similar artistry: Weninger spells out everything that happens.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Feridun Oral. An owl describes how Baby Jesus bestowed upon the birds a "special song of blessing, of joy and good will." "'Why don't we sing it anymore?' asked the robin. 'People don't listen,' said the partridge." The birds decide to restore their song's hope and promise by singing to children. In this small-trim edition, delicate naturalistic illustrations capture the hush of winter and the transformative power of love.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) K-3 Retold by Anthea Bell. Translated by Anthea Bell. A complex tale with Cinderella-like themes, translated and adapted from great Russian folklorist Alexander Afanasyev's original. Russian artist Morgunova's fanciful, finely detailed illustrations recall the aesthetics of Chagall, Klimt, and Picasso but are also uniquely beautiful. In a short introduction, the illustrator describes her interpretation of Baba Yaga, the woman from whom Vasilisa must get light, as an enchantress rather than a witch.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(2) K-3 Translated by Anthea Bell. Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. This collection of eleven stories about fourteenth-century German trickster Till Eulenspiegel is as fresh as ever; its reissue is especially welcome given the dearth of collected folklore currently published for children. The wandering peasant clown outwits thieves, kings, and scholars: he's an equal-opportunity mischief-maker. The language is brisk and concise; accompanying illustrations capture each story's essence in a rich, bright palette.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 1991; November, 2016

(4) K-3 Translated by Kathryn Bishop. Elschner's retelling of the Epiphany story (with its yearly celebration detailed on the last page) focuses on the Magi and their journey to and gifts for the "new-born king." Children might require additional context to connect this to the Nativity story (Jesus is unmentioned by name). The various handsome Renaissance images may require adult elaboration, as they don't always clearly illuminate the meaning of the poetic text.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Translated by Anthea Bell. Illustrated by Robert Ingpen. In this handsome edition (here reissued in inexpensive paper-over-board) of one of Andersen's best-known stories, the familiar text about the shunned duckling who becomes a beautiful swan has been smoothly translated, and Ingpen's rich illustrations are full of texture and show unusual insight into the animal world. Unfortunately, on some pages the narrow-margin text is a bit difficult to read against the illustrations.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) PS Illustrated by Alireza Goldouzian. Because of his size, Elephant keeps failing at the games his animal friends suggest: hide-and-seek (Monkey: "I can see you!"), hopscotch (Leopard: "Wrong square!"), and so on. But it's a whole new ballgame when Elephant proposes tug-of-war ("I win!"). This cheeky tale of finding one's strength (in both senses) contains richly illustrated spreads that make the gentle giant's outsize proportions abundantly clear.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. In the original large-size edition, Zwerger invoked a surreal dreamland devoid of background and details, but with an ambiance so intensely realized it inspired readers' own imaginations. The impact of the exquisitely composed paintings (especially the full-page ones), however, is lost in this mini-edition.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2000

(4) K-3 Translated by Kathryn Bishop. Written in short, powerful phrases and illustrated with historical paintings, this is an introductory biography of the priest who upended Roman Catholic practices in the sixteenth century. Fleeing the church, Luther translated the Bible into German for commoners, sparked the Protestant Reformation, and would become an influence for many activists. Source notes are included for the (uncaptioned) paintings but unfortunately not for the text's quotations.

Reviewer:

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kvӗta Pacovská. An unusual presentation of the folktale, perhaps best for children already familiar with the story. The full version of the Grimms' tale is presented in a few text-heavy pages scattered throughout the volume's abstract artistic interpretations, including figurative scribbles of Hansel, Gretel, and the witch. Pacovská's graphically strong illustrations in bold colors, including metallic silver on glossy paper, are arresting.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Translated by Anthea Bell. Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. A bad fairy enslaves young Jacob, then turns him into a hideous dwarf. He befriends a goose--who is really an enchanted girl--and they work together to free themselves. The lengthy text is crisp; Zwerger's spare artwork employs gentle lines and colors that often carry frightful, haunting undertones.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Retold by Renate Raecke. Translated by Anthea Bell. Illustrated by Yana Sedova. On Christmas Eve, young Marie and the Nutcracker Prince journey to "Candytown" in a dream--or was it? Simple but vivid language retells the classic tale. Sedova's stylized, jewel-toned illustrations are rich with texture and detail, including clockwork (in homage to Drosselmeier's toy-making) and Christmas tree–ornament motifs throughout. An afterword gives some background on Hoffmann's story and its many adaptations.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) PS After his mail carrier father bicycles off to work every day, Little Bear gets "lonely and bored" staying by himself. But one day, Mr. Bear abandons his mail route to lead a big parade of new animal friends back to Little Bear. With their whimsical details and unusual animals, the soft paintings add interest to an amiable if wordy story.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri. In alternating statements about Mama Bear and Little Bear, this touching story compares and contrasts the perspectives of parents and their children: "Mama Bear treads familiar paths. Little Bear likes to find new paths." Illustrations with nicely varied compositions, rounded shapes (including the figures of the two bears), and a soft palette lend extra humor and depth to the text.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 One snowy morning, Little Mouse ventures out to collect firewood. Upon realizing that he's gathered more than he can pull, he enlists the help of several animal friends. The story doesn't have much of an arc--a blizzard upsetting the friends' mission lasts two pages--but the art is dazzling: although restricted to a wintry woodland palette, each spread is unique.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 A mouse emerges from a hole in the ground and steals a frog's flower. This escalates into full-fledged war between frogs and mice until destruction is nearly total. In the original wordless version, Popov's message was clear, if simplistic; the addition of text, while unobtrusive, seems somewhat unnecessary. Double-page spreads progress from open spaces and cool green tones to cluttered, hectic, dark pages.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 A pessimistic frog reluctantly goes boating with an optimistic friend; multiple obstacles threaten to end their adventure, but each time the friend finds a solution. Told through spare dialogue, the story's message feels a bit heavy-handed, and it's unclear which frog is Kwik and which is Kwak. Still, the soft, full-bleed illustrations add humor and excitement to a comforting tale of friendship.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan