%% This is a multi-book review: SEE also the title Police Officers. %% Ages. 47. From the In My Neighborhood series, these picture books begin with stories, then broaden into discussions of what police officers and postal workers do. In Police young Natalie hears noises in the night, and her mother calls the police. The officers investigate, finding nothing the first night, but they catch raccoons at the garbage cans on their next visit. Soon Natalie's quick wits lead to the police catching two bicycle thieves at school. The book ends with a section on the many roles of the police and a few pages on stranger danger. Postal Workers follows a birthday card that Gordon sends to his grandmother. Along the way, children will learn about postal workers and machines at the processing center as well as the more familiar letter carrier. Illustrated with engaging line-and-wash artwork, these appealing books will brighten primary-grade Community Helpers units, though the text is a bit long for reading to preschool classes. (Reviewed July 1999)

In their first easy-reader entry, muskrat Cork and possum Fuzz, best friends, reconciled the fact that they like different things; in this second entry they discover another major obstacle--their height difference. Soft illustrations reaffirm the sweet theme: friends don't have to be exactly alike. This soothing story will fit beginning readers well as they try out their newfound skills.