“[T]he watercolor illustrations are well executed and match the tone of the story.”

"A winsome prison fable from the Netherlands. ... [C]hildren will respond to its daffy logic and celebrate along with the lovers."

“The child cruncher never has a chance with the feisty young heroine in this delightful picture book filled with kid-friendly humor. ... Readers will chuckle... Recommended.”

"Rinck's narrative is crisp and direct, and economical enough to be tackled by beginning readers, and van der Linden's illustrations are superb. ... A winner."

"This protagonist exhibits self-confidence similar to Charlotte, who is featured in Stein’s Mine! (2007), and the bubbling child cruncher is as nonthreatening as the monsters along the path in Stein’s Brave Ben (2006, both Lemniscaat). The dynamic illustrations are consistent with van Hout’s work in those titles. ... The style serves to reinforce the action in the story while allowing for plenty of details for careful readers to discover. The result is a far-fetched adventure that will have children cheering for their heroine."

"Sparrows, originally published in the Netherlands…is easy for children to comprehend; at the same time, they receive educational information. Parents and teachers can use this book as an instructional tool for elementary school children. The illustrations are clear, such as the picture of the mother bird laying eggs, and adults should prepare to answer questions that young ones may have. ... Overall, Sparrows ignites a love of bird watching into children."

"An informative book about behaviors shared by animals and humans. The delightful, colorful illustrations reveal adult creatures teaching, feeding, protecting, and playing with their offspring. Charming and intricately detailed... This appealing title offers the valuable lesson that all living creatures have much in common."

"As in the earlier book [The Prince Child], a lyrical poem is paired with a realistically painted animal. ... The art is the standout, with each animal so realistic that readers are tempted to stroke its feathers or fur. The birds, hippo, dog, etc., are bedecked or decorated in gorgeous attire or colors, reflecting an amalgam of cultures."

“This delightful story is simply told and illustrated with charm and humor, reminiscent of Bruce McMillan’s The Problem with Chickens (Houghton, 2005). An entertaining read-aloud."

“Features captivating pastel artwork that creates a distinctive setting. The beautifully composed, rather spare scenes feature lines that sweep lyrically across the pages and provide details that reward children studying the pictures. Lila herself is portrayed as such an appealing, droll, down-to-earth figure that the happiness she finds on her birthday is entirely satisfying. A rewarding choice for reading aloud."

“In this pleasant import, a grabby ghost is taught how to share. … Cheerful pictures and a lighthearted tone make this lesson easy to digest. ...Simple and sweet."

“The ‘cute’ illustrations reinforce the ‘just be yourself’ message by highlighting Toby's hilarious transformation from ‘cute’ rabbit to demon biker. Indeed, from the end pages featuring cameos of Toby strutting his stuff to the domestic details of Toby's rabbit home, this one’s just plain cute."