Dawn Friedman

age 4+ Fun, warm book about would-be flower girl. Parents need to know that Lilly is a strong and spunky character who's self-confident and warm-hearted. This book may lead kids to want to read about Lilly's other adventures. none This book may lead kids to want to read about Lilly's other adventures. none Lilly is a strong and spunky character who is self-confident and warm-hearted. What's the Story? Lilly wants to be the flower girl in her teacher's wedding but her teacher has someone else in mind.

age 4+ Busy retelling of Red Riding Hood is a winner. Parents need to know that there's nothing scary about this retelling of the Red Riding Hood story. What's the Story? The story itself is familiar to most of us -- Red Riding Hood (here, Carmine) steps off the path on the way to Grandma's giving the wolf time to mess with everyone's plans. (Fortunately for little kids, this wolf has no interest in turning Grandma -- or Carmine -- into a meal.) Is It Any Good?

age 9+ Gross-out, creepy laughs meant for older kids. Parents need to know that this isn't a book for everyone, but it's just the thing for families who love Tim Burton movies, Edward Gorey books, and TV shows like Dead Like Me. Monsters sing about gross and macabre things and the detailed images -- of rotting, creepy things with bulging eyes -- will probably be disturbing for the usual picture book crowd. The publisher even recommends this book for ages 9-12, not the usual ages of 4-6.