In the latest Ruby Raccoon book, Ruby wakes up expecting to have a perfect day, but one by one her friends say they're too busy to hang out with her. Ultimately, it is a perfect day--"for being all by myself!" This tribute to self-reliance has substance beneath its deceptively simple sentences. The art is sweet and delicate without being too precious.

BREDESON, Carmen . Fun Facts about Turtles! ISBN 978-0-7660-2785-5 . LC 2006035904. ea vol: 24p. (I Like Reptiles and Amphibians! Series). diag. photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Enslow Elementary . 2007. PLB $21.26. Gr 1-3 Succinct texts present basic facts about the featured animals, including physical characteristics; typical behavior; diet; etc. Each spread focuses on a different topic, introduced by an outsize heading that asks such questions as, "Where do salamanders live?" and "How do turtles eat?" Most two-page sections have a sharp, full-page color photograph of a representative species, many in close-up, and a small photo of a different species is often included on the text page as well. The opening spreads have a photo of the subject animal with labels for major body parts. About a dozen species are depicted in each book, identified in captions by common names. Both titles boast clean, colorful formats that will attract browsers. Salamanders helps fill the gap in the dearth of material on this amphibian for this audience. With its concise text and profuse photographs, Turtles is a good companion to Melvin Berger's Look Out for Turtles! (HarperCollins, 1992), which offers slightly more information on anatomy and reproduction and discusses threats to turtle survival. Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library