(2) K-3 Illustrated by Christa Unzner. On Christmas Eve, Mia helps an old man. Realizing, in the confusion, that she left her Christmas tree behind, she goes looking for it. Instead she find a little boy who has lost his hat, and Mia gives him hers. Fackelmayer presents readers with a story about the true spirit of giving. Unzner's light-filled illustrations bring their own magic to this old-fashioned tale.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2009

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Christa Unzner. This book invites readers to join in the search for magical creatures. Nature photographs are overlaid with delicate cartoon-illustration fairies, to varying effect. The reminder that fantasy worlds could lurk beneath acorns, flowers, and other natural objects will appeal to fairy fans ("Under a tiny waterfall, fairies might...stretch out and dry their wings by the light of the moon").

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Christa Unzner. With her room and toys as her kingdom, a girl imagines herself as a lovely, kind princess who wears fancy clothes and rules gracefully. Beneath the sparkly pink book jacket are detailed watercolor and ink illustrations that, while plenty pink, also include some other cool, muted hues. The slight rhyming text concludes, gently, at bedtime.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Christa Unzner. This simplified prose version of the play emphasizes Romeo and Juliet's romance while eliminating all subplots and secondary character development. Unzer's sophisticated, graceful, layered illustrations are the book's greatest strength. Bits of original text are interlaced with the delicate ink drawings and sometimes-translucent painted pictures.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 1-3 Translated by Martina Rasdeuschek-Simmons. Illustrated by Christa Unzner. Tony hasn't seen his grandmother for a while, so he's apprehensive when she offers to take him for the weekend. Her ideas for a good time, however, delight him, and by the end of the weekend, all agree they should visit more often. Grandmother is only mildly unconventional, but her exploits are amusing. Some of the facial expressions in the illustrations are unattractive.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Translated by Marisa Miller. Illustrated by Christa Unzner. Tired of being scared by the ghosts that dance around her room each night, Miranda frightens them with her scary Halloween witch's mask. The feisty protagonist soon tames the nighttime spooks and gets rid of them all together. The illustrations show a gang of not-too-scary ghosts and a determined Miranda. Despite the unoriginal premise, a young girl taking matters into her own hands is a satisfying message.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Christa Unzner. Nell loves her pet guinea pig--they are best friends--until her classmates make fun of her "pet for babies." Her poorly reasoned plan to rid herself of Fluffy, the ensuing heartbreak, and a happy ending tempered by realism are all involving. The strong story features engaging characters and an important theme about responsibility. The illustrations deftly convey emotion.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Christa Unzner. A group of forest animals invite Badger to help them build a house where they can all spend the winter in comfort; but Badger turns out to be such a fault-finding perfectionist that they can't work with him. Expressively lined, earth-toned illustrations occasionally obscure the text, but nonetheless enhance this cozy story about the warmth of friendship.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) K-3 Translated by J. Alison James. Illustrated by Christa Unzner. Tommy tries several ploys to get rid of Wendy, his new baby sister, but nothing works. His feelings change dramatically when he realizes that he can make the baby happy and quiet her crying. The story is not a new one, but the feelings are genuine. Sketchy watercolors include Tommy's fantasies--baby Wendy flying away (like Wendy in Peter Pan) or tucked neatly in a box and delivered to Granny through the mail.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth