Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Jin Woo tells an adoption story from the perspective of older brother David, also adopted. Bunting writes with perceptive tenderness about his anxieties as his parents prepare to welcome a new baby home… This is an excellent choice for any family, but may be especially helpful for young children whose families are preparing for adoption.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. Stanley is an ordinary boy whose life changes when a large bulletin board falls on him during the night, flattening him to a thickness of a half-inch…. This whimsical fantasy is entirely enjoyable, and what it lacks in depth of plot and character development (no pun intended), it makes up for in imagination.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. Travis Coates is a 14-year-old boy, left alone to protect his mother and younger brother on his family’s 19th-century Texas homestead…. [He performs] an extraordinary act of moral courage, but it comes at the end of a story filled with ordinary acts of responsibility. In this outstanding coming-of-age story, Travis’s manhood is achieved at great cost, and in this cost he proves his worth as a man.

Age 08-12. 2 Stars. A combination of The Wild Children and The Westing Game, with a dash of fantasy added in the form of a magical merry-go-round that can bring either youthfulness or adulthood… One element of concern is that there is no a healthy family depicted in any part of the story… Another possible concern is that the homeless children are forced to steal in order to survive… It could be enjoyed with caution by readers who are discerning, but ought not to be introduced to children who will not recognize its playfully unreal qualities.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. This is a charming rendition of the classic fairy tale, well told and illustrated pleasingly…. The story is valuable for its humor and its read-aloud qualities: each goat trips across the bridge with a different sound, and the repetition of the story, with its dialogue between goats and trolls, is interactive and pleasing for young children. The troll is depicted frighteningly enough to seem a real threat without causing nightmares, and the tension builds toward a satisfying climax. While not essential, this is a very nice addition to a children’s library. It is also available in an audio version.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. A collaboration between Eve Bunting and Jan Brett, two of my favorite authors, this is a sweet story that introduces the concept of Mother’s Day at a level young children can understand. Three mice brothers wake up early on Mother’s Day morning and embark on a quest, braving several predators, to obtain gifts for their mother…. It might not make it into the regular reading basket, but as a special holiday book it is an excellent choice.