''Twas the night before Christmas and not only is a mouse stirring, he is delivering gifts to a haunted house and driving a sleigh powered by eight tiny bats in Sierra and Hillenbrand's (collaborators for The House that Drac Built) gigglishly ghoulish, Halloween-inspired rendition of Moore's Christmas classic. After initially blaming one another for interrupting their long winter's naps, the werewolf, zombie, mummy and pals soon make nice, encouraged by the tiny rodent with a red cap. Readers will enjoy tracking the mostly unnarrated progress of the mouse amid the funny and dynamic mixed-media paintings. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal ... the real fun lies in the charming illustrations. Kids will grin at the dragon's gaping nostrils, the manticore's one sock, and the fact that almost all of the creatures have a small object to cuddle. The tiny mouse appears on almost every spread but must be hunted for, adding to the entertainment, and the sled-pulling bats are an amusing touch. Not a necessary addition, but a frightfully pleasing one.-E. M. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

ISBN: 0152020357

Look Out, Jack! the Giant Is Back by Tom Birdseye, Will Hillenbrand Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Holiday House; 1st ed edition (September 1, 2001)
ISBN: 0823414507
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly ... Hillenbrand's ...mixed media artwork (crayon, colored pencil, oil) ... soars. He captures the rambunctious nature of the author's premise, all the while depicting Jack as a sweet-faced kid with more than a few tricks up his sleeve. The details Jack's ramshackle home, the rolling mountains and a pair of putrid green giant feet (cracked toenails and all) supply the comedy. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal In this rollicking sequel to "Jack and the Beanstalk," the giant is dead, but his big brother is out for revenge. The boy and his mother hightail it to the mountains of North Carolina and settle down. Mr. Giant ("twice the size of the little one, ten times as nasty, and as ugly as slug pie") doesn't let a little thing like distance get in his way. It's a close call but Jack takes command of the situation and the angry Mr. G. stomps so hard that the mountain falls in and swallows him up. Hillenbrand captures the spirit of the text with lively, humor-filled illustrations done in a variety of media including pencils, inks, tempera, crayons, and oils. "Wham blam hickity hack!"-readers will love this tale about Jack. Janie Schomberg, Leal Elementary School, Urbana, IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist  Kids who thought Jack did away with the "fee-fi-fo-fum giant" when the beanstalk came down are in for a surprise. ... the pictures, especially those of the giant with a grand case of indigestion. Just right for small groups. Stephanie Zvirin  Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved

Kiss the Cow! by Phyllis Root, Will Hillenbrand Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA); 1st ed edition (November 1, 2000)
ISBN: 0763602981
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly Mama May has "so many children she couldn't count them all." Annalisa, the most curious and stubborn of the bunch, is never too far from Mama May's side. The red-headed pony-tailed girl observes how Mama May coaxes daily buckets of milk from Luella the cow using soothing words and, to Annalisa's disgust, a kiss on the nose. Eager to learn if she, too, can yield milk from Luella, Annalisa imitates Mama May to the letter until it's time to pucker up. Annalisa's refusal to deliver a bovine buss causes chaos Luella won't provide any milk and that means lots of "hungry, crying children." Root's (Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble) original comic folktale clips along at a jaunty read-aloud pace, befitting the eccentric Mama May and her boisterous brood. Hillenbrand (Down by the Station; The House That Drac Built) obviously delights in depicting the extensive family's full-to-bursting life in his sunny mixed-media paintings. Mama May's "house" is a ramshackle collection of small buildings and add-ons that stretches across a full spread (or as Root describes, "as wide as the prairie"). But best of all are the matriarch's sweet countenance and her passel of children a virtual United Nations of race and nationality, all clad in denim overalls. Youngsters will be rooting right along with them for Annalisa to kiss the cow and save the day. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal ... This lighthearted tale is accompanied by colorful cartoonlike illustrations. A good discussion starter on curiosity and its consequences, it also provides an example of a stubborn character backing down. Flowing language makes it a fun read-aloud.Anne Knickerbocker, Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist  ... Elements of folklore echo through the story that reads aloud rhythmically with a satisfying, folksy sound. Hillenbrand's artwork, which appears to combine pencil, pastel, and watercolor, has a rhythmic sense to it as well. The well-conceived illustrations, warm in color and graceful in line, depict a variety of scenes with style and panache. Children will find many entertaining details in these lively pictures. A satisfying read-aloud. Carolyn Phelan Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved

Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand Reading level: Baby-Preschool Edition: Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Gulliver Books; 1st ed edition (August 16, 1999)
ISBN: 0152018042
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Hillenbrand's (The Golden Sandal) whimsical interpretation of a familiar song offers preschoolers a ticket to ride on an enjoyable excursion through a children's zoo. As an engineer makes repeated stops along the tracks, baby animals board a rainbow-tinted train. Each adds his or her own sound to the cumulative refrain: "Puff, puff,/ Toot, toot,/ Off we go!" from "Thrump, thrump" for the elephant calf to "Flip, flop" for the seal pup, building up a symphonic chorus that begs for audience participation. Hillenbrand shapes the simple song into a full-bodied story with a visual narrative populated by characters such as a kangaroo Joey that jumps rope and a monkey that rescues a woman in the alligator pond via an upturned umbrella. The artwork foreshadows the creatures to come (e.g., a sign pointing to "Seal Island" appears on the spread before the seal pup's introduction), and the lyrics point up the unusual names of the animal offspring. Softly shaded but brightly colored, Hillenbrand's mixed media illustrations embrace an abundance of droll detail and gently outline landscapes in which the sky gradually changes from the pink hues of early morning to a glorious blue studded with cotton-candy clouds. All aboard for fun. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal ... Between the bouncy text and the motion-filled pictures, this is a story that just keeps chugging along. Hillenbrand pays attention to detail: a red balloon released in the first spread soars through the rest of the book, and visual details on each spread give clues to the next creature to be introduced. Pastel tones convey the exuberant feel of a sunny morning, and the excitement of a field trip for both the animal and human children. The music score is appended. This twist on an old favorite combines sunny illustrations, playful humor, and appealing animals, making it a surefire selection for storytime success.
Kathleen M. Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, Eldersburg, MD Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews Hillenbrand takes license with the familiar song (the traditional words and music are reproduced at the end) to tell an enchanting story about baby animals picked up by the train and delivered to the children's zoo. The full-color drawings are transportingly jolly, while the catchy refrain``See the engine driver pull his little lever''is certain to delight readers. Once the baby elephant, flamingo, panda, tiger, seal, and kangaroo are taken to the zoo by the train, the children representing various ethnic backgrounds, and showing one small girl in a wheelchair arrive. This is a happy book, filled with childhood exuberance. -- Copyright 1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Andy Russell Series
	The Many Troubles of Andy Russell by David A. Adler, Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 9-12 Edition: Hardcover: 144 pages Publisher: Gulliver Books (October 15, 1998) ISBN: 0152012958 Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal Fourth-grader Andy Russell faces a host of problems over a period of a few days. They range from escaped gerbils to finding out that his mother is pregnant to worrying about a friend who would like to live with Andy's family because her foster parents are going to South America. All of the boy's troubles, though, great or small, are described in a fast-paced, breezy style and kids will be sure to identify with his befuddlement and concerns. Fortunately, Andy's best friend is on hand to supply some funny one-liners. The black-and-white illustrations capture the humor of the story, although readers may be somewhat unsettled by the 180 degree swivel of snotty Stacy Ann's head on one of the pages. This is the first in a series of books about Andy and his friends, a fact that will undoubtedly be good news to many young readers. Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
	Andy and Tamika (Andy Russell)  by David A. Adler, Will Hillenbrand Reading level: Ages 9-12 Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Gulliver Books Paperbacks (August 9, 1999) ISBN: 0152019014 Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal Andy Russell's active brain is always busy but rarely tuned into what is going on in his fourth-grade class. While the other students are hard at work, he chooses names for what he hopes will be a new brother, worries about a stray cat hanging around the playground, and thinks about his pal Tamika or his enemy Stacy Ann Jackson. Fractions may not be Andy's bag, but he makes top grades at caring for animals and for friends in need. He willingly offers some of his 50 baby gerbils as prizes for the school carnival but insists the new owners sign a contract promising proper care for their new pets. When Tamika loses her foster family, Andy's family takes her in and he arranges a celebration to welcome her. Andy is an unusual male character because his exploits deal with emotions and relationships rather than physical challenges. ... Maggie McEwen, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, ME Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
	School Trouble for Andy Russell (Andy Russell) by David A. Adler (Author), Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator) Reading level Ages 9-12 Edition: Hardcover: 128 pages Publisher: Gulliver Books (August 9, 1999) ISBN: 0152021906 Editorial Reviews From Library Journal This third installment in the series is filled with fun and misadventure. Poor Andy! His mother is expecting a baby, his foster sister, Tamika, is homesick for her family, and he keeps finding himself in trouble at school. When his strict teacher falls ill, Andy's class plans on taking advantage of the substitute. This, however, only leads to more trouble for Andy, who keeps getting blamed for things he didn't do. The perspective of fourth graders is perfectly captured, as is their angst. In the end, the boy learns that teachers aren't always as bad as they seem. Hillenbrand's black-and-white illustrations show a likable Andy in some of the unpleasant, though often funny situations in which he finds himself. A good choice for reluctant readers and those looking for easy, entertaining chapter books. Christy Norris Blanchette, Valley Cottage Library, NY Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Last Snake in Ireland: A Story About St. Patrick by Sheila Macgill-Callahan, Will Hillenbrand Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Holiday House; 1st ed edition (March 1, 1999)
ISBN: 0823414256
Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly  ...

MacGill-Callahan (The Seal Prince) combines two pieces of colorful lore in a crisp and breezy text that depicts a religious figure at his most human and appealing. In Hillenbrand's (The Biggest, Best Snowman) softly hued pastel and watercolor paintings, snowy-bearded Patrick has the predominantly sweet countenance of a Santa Claus, while his beady-eyed nemesis is all forked-tongued nastiness. The rolling green countryside and vast blue waters evoke Ireland's timeless landscape. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal This frolicsome blend of folklore and legend has Patrick chasing the snakes from Ireland because "they were so naughty folks were sick and tired of having them around." One sneaky snake, however, cleverly eludes him, and from there this tale grows tall enough to stretch any imagination. When Patrick builds a beautiful snake box, the curious creature slithers into it but escapes before the lid is closed. Patrick chases the reptile through the Irish landscape, pushing the Blue Stack Mountains open to form the Long Glen of Hunting and eventually crossing the Giants' Causeway to the sea. After a passing mother eagle snatches the snake, Patrick frees him and tosses him into the box, which promptly sinks into Loch Ness. When Patrick returns years later, he is greeted by his nemesis and discovers that the creature has become the Loch Ness Monster. This delightful read-aloud is full of tongue-tickling language that will accommodate a wee bit of a dialect. Hillenbrand's mixed-media illustrations engulf the pages with humor, texture, and exuberant color. Perfect for holiday collections as well as year-round reading, this story should slither into any collection. Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.