Age 00-04. 4 Stars. Pelle, a young Swedish boy, has a lamb which he cares for himself. When he begins to outgrow his coat, he shears the lamb and seeks help from his family and community to card, spin, weave, dye, and sew the wool into a suit…. Pelle not only demonstrates responsibility in caring for his lamb, but also contributes to the priorities and needs of others as they care for him. The story also gives a picture of how clothing and fabrics were laboriously crafted before the advent of industrial mass-production, and the cooperative nature of the project emphasizes a value for community. All these elements combine to create a book which is both enjoyable and educational.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night is a wonderful old folk song telling the ageless story of a fox who raids a farmer’s goose house and brings his kill home to his family. Peter Spier’s detailed and charming drawings bring the story to dramatic life with alternately black-and-white and colored illustrations…. The story is good enough to be enjoyed for its own sake, but also may provide an opportunity to discuss themes such as creation stewardship, ownership, theft, and animal predatory behavior.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. This is a masterfully crafted science-fiction fantasy about a widowed mouse and her young family, who live on the edge of hunger at the Fitzgibbon farm…. she discovers that an advanced rat society exists under cover of the rosebush. The rats have escaped from a place called NIMH (the National Institute for Mental Health) and are planning to end their parasitic existence on the farm, where they use the Fitzgibbons’ electricity and other resources. Their plans are disrupted by the coming of representatives from NIMH, who have been trying to recapture them since their escape…. A great science fiction premise, convincingly anthropomorphized animals, several heroic characters, a strong tenor of loyalty, friendship and family, all combine under the pen of a skillful writer to make an unforgettable story.

Age 04-08. 3 Stars. This [book] deals with the process of garbage disposal and recycling in Western society. It gives a detailed, interesting description of how landfills are formed and used, and the best feature of the book is probably the simplified models of glass, aluminum and plastic recycling processes. It is illustrated in an adequately detailed, fairly simple style that communicates the meaning of the text.

Age 04-08. 3 Stars. This story introduces the Incarnation of Jesus, beginning from the animistic worldview of many tribal peoples…. What Buckley is attempting in this story is to portray an animistic religious teaching, established in the culture but incomplete in its ability to restore, which may be fulfilled and redeemed through Christ…. In his preface…. Buckley [makes] an explicit claim that the Christian Gospel answers questions left unanswered by American Indian religious tradition. Since he does not address the biblical admonition for humans to rule over creation, and since he plays off of traditional animism rather than confronting it head-on, some may feel he skirts too close to the line between cultural contextualization and syncretism. However, I believe the story succeeds in its goal of introducing the Gospel in a culturally understandable way. This is a very beautiful and unique Christmas book, which should be presented with careful discussion of its deep spiritual themes.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. A sweet story combining very nice artwork, enjoyable dialogue, a bit of wildlife observation, and a look at Boston’s landmarks…. The duck family are anthropomorphized enough to express some human virtues in their orientation toward family… The story also introduces the tension that sometimes exists between present human development of our environment (by which I mean to include our cities) and the well-being of animals under our dominion, raising the question of how we ought to provide for animals that make their home within our dangerous city landscape. This is an excellent addition to our home library.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. A beautiful story of a “girl Robinson Crusoe”…. This is a quiet, memorable story of survival and persistence in the face of difficult conditions and profound grief. Karana’s practical means of surviving against the elements and predators are interesting in themselves, but her courage in facing hunger and danger, and living alone year after year, make her a heroine worth emulating.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. A very simple, beautifully illustrated story, told in gentle rhyme, of a young girl and her father embarking on a journey by bus to the grocery store to buy a window flower box…. The way this father includes his daughter in the project of honoring Mother’s birthday expresses excellent leadership, good child training, and tenderness toward his wife. Implicit is the fact that this family works hard, with limited means, and that beauty means a great deal to them.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. A wonderful story about the importance of telling the truth…. Ping… Although he gives his best, Ping fails at getting the seed to grow. Nevertheless, he demonstrates courage in presenting his empty pot, and his honesty is well rewarded.