Cute pictures. Rather an odd little story.  Lambkins is a lamb whose body is covered with a cloud instead of wool, and this sets him apart from the other sheep, but he finds his own way of getting on with the snails and flowers, until he dies and then his mother sees him in the sky as a cloud. In the very back is a nice little mission statement from the publisher, declaring their purpose to publish uplifting books, but I’m not sure this one particularly hits the target, as it’s a little hard to tell just what the author was aiming for.

Bright, bold, cartoonish illustrations accompany rhyming text telling the story of Hanukkah, with a repeated refrain: “Sometimes it only takes a few, who know what’s right, and do it, too.”  A worthwhile book for multiple audiences — both as a selection for the Jewish child looking for a book to celebrate the holiday, as well as for outsiders who want to know what the holiday is all about.  The moral contained in the refrain is certainly a good reminder for all.

Clancy is having a hard time adjusting to his family’s move to a new house:  while Mom and Dad are declaring the benefits of the new house, Clancy is missing his favorite features of the old house.  When he starts to play in the empty moving boxes, he makes the acquaintance of a neighbor who comes to play with him, and all is well.  Though the topic is one I think many students can relate to, the coloring of the illustrations is a bit drab.

Strictly an early reader.  The full-page color photos will attract readers, but the text is limited: a single sentence on each page, repeated throughout the book with only the last word changing: “Some cool cars are…”  Perhaps more suitable to classroom use than to the library.

Colorful, cartoonish illustrations accompany rhyming text introducing young readers to what germs are, where they hide, and the importance of washing hands and covering coughs.  In the back are a few extra pages with extra learning activities using the germ theme (patterning, counting, etc.).  Though the extra pages in the back seem a bit removed from the primary purpose of the book, the book does a good job of introducing young children to necessary health concepts in an engaging way. And it’s got a good sturdy binding, too.

Martin has a difficult week with a substitute teacher who loves to give out homework and is very unbending when it comes to excuses.  Each day a new disaster befalls Martin’s homework, from dog to laundry to wind gusts, etc.  And each day Martin faces the consequences, all the while sure his real teacher would have been more understanding.  The cartoonish illustrations will appeal to kids, and they will all sympathize with Martin.  Part of me feels like I should give it a “Recommended” on grounds of kid appeal, but the teacher in me cringes at the way it’s never Martin’s fault that his homework isn’t done.  Really? I think the kid needs to learn some responsibility.

The folks who really need to read this book are those parents out there who are so determined that their children live life to the fullest and make every moment count that they over schedule their lives, leaving them little time to just be kids.  Ernestine’s parents are like that.  Ernestine has a packed schedule, with different activities every day.  As she dashes off to one class or another, she looks longingly at the little boy next door, playing independently in his yard.  One day when she revolts and schedules some play time in the park instead of showing up at her usual class, her parents make the rounds of all her classes trying to locate her.  Before they finally do locate her, they’ve gotten a taste of how exhausting Ernestine’s usual schedule is, and the family makes some changes, with some new ideas about what it means to live life to the fullest.  The illustrations are bright and silly, adding to the sense of absurdity to it all.

Tallulah reminds me of me as a little girl.  She’s so excited about wanting to take ballet lessons, because she wants the tutu that comes with being a real ballerina.  When faced with the reality of the time and practice and work involved in earning one’s tutu, she almost gives up in disappointment.  She quits for a while, but finds herself drawn back by the dancing itself.  Many young girls will relate to Tallulah’s hopes and wishes, and they may just learn something from her about delayed gratification.  The pictures are charming and sweet and full of personality.

Elmer the patchwork elephant must come to the rescue when all his jungle friends notice that the rainbow has lost its colors.  Elmer makes his way through the jungle, asking his animal neighbors for advice on finding the end of the rainbow.  When he finally locates it in the waterfall, Elmer enters the waterfall to share his colors, much to the concern of friends who worry that he’ll lose them in the sharing, but as Elmer informs them, “Some things you can give and give and not lose any.  Things like happiness or love or my colors.” The books is sweet and colorful, and reunites readers with beloved characters, while teaching a philosophical truth.  It’s a charmer.

Bright, cute, charming, sweet illustrations and simple text (sometimes only one word per page) celebrate a young girl and her kitty enjoying that universal childhood delight: playing dress up.  A fun book for very young children, but its limited audience keeps me from giving it a full recommendation for a school library.