Jacqueline Davies

The joy of a summer swim in a pool is jubilantly depicted in animated illustrations augmented by well-placed, lyrical language that bubbles up along with the young swimmer. The girl is ultimately joined by a more reluctant younger swimmer with floaties on his arms, sure to reassure more timid swimmers that pleasure awaits.

Hedgehog Taylor wants to fly despite his skunk friend, Sydney’s trepidation about it. This funny, warm tale of friendship is generously illustrated with complementary illustrations that augment the tone. Young readers may have met the duo in their other adventure, Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World (opens in a new window).

Who will outsmart whom — Phineas Bump, the 1790 U.S. census taker who rides into Tunbridge, Vermont, heartsick, saddle-sore, and down on his luck but determined to count the people for his job, or the townsfolk who don’t want to be counted because they think they’ll have to pay more taxes? When young rascal Boston Pepper gets an idea, it switches their thinking: more people would mean more government representation and more votes to get things done!