PreS-K Anyone who has ever had a hyperactive pet will understand Dog's need for a little adventure. When too many naps cause this cattle dog to go stir crazy, Bird shoos him off to the country to find a cow. Stevens's watercolor paintings show Dog's journey from city elevator to wide open spaces as he encounters first a chicken, then a pig, and finally a donkey before lying down dejectedly in the dust. Children will enjoy correcting Dog as he mistakes each of these animals for a bovine and will likely chime in with the corresponding animal noises. Upon seeing the poor defeated Dog, a cow kindly takes pity on him and helps him find his way back to the city. After being shooed back outside the city limits by alarmed urbanites yelling things like, "eee-eee-kkk!!" and "Call the POLICE!!!," Dog finally learns that his helpful friend is indeed the cow he's been searching for. After such a long and exciting adventure, Dog decides he's finally ready for one of those naps again. This simple and engaging story is well told, but it is the vibrant and energetic artwork that makes it stand out in a crowd. Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH

When popular Nolan winds up dead at his own party, five girls who were seeking revenge on him become the prime suspects. Proving their innocence will be hard, as will uncovering the true killer--Nolan, described as a dictator and bully, had many enemies. Shepard employs her familiar mix of mystery, secrets, deceit, and suspense in this new series.

When Dog's herding instinct kicks into high gear, Bird sends him on the titular mission to do what he needs to do. Sisters Stevens and Crummel join forces to show and tell the difficulties that ensue as Dog misidentifies a few other farm animals before finding Cow and trying to take her home to the city. Playful, bright illustrations capture each creature's typical postures both at rest and when agitated, from bewhiskered Dog to bossy Bird. The cityscapes are blurs of human faces and mechanical noises in contrast with the pastoral country scenes, each background colored to show its heat or cool calm. The simple but direct text, filled with onomatopoeic utterances, shows Dog's dogged personality and Bird's larger worldview. Brief but energetic, the tale ends as it began, but with Dog's other prime instinct nap.