The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett.

Brett has taken The Three Bears and moved it to the Arctic where Cinderella is a little Inuit girl named Aloo-ki who has managed to get separated from her sled dogs.  The three polar bears are out for a walk waiting for their porridge to cool when they discover the dogs trapped on an ice floe.  Aloo-ki discovers the bears' igloo where she is drawn in by the smell of porridge, she tastes them all, then moves into the igloo further to try on three different sizes of boots and finally to fall asleep on the perfect sleeping bench.  Meanwhile the bears save the dogs and return home to discover Aloo-ki asleep.

Brett has refreshed this traditional tale by not only moving its location but infusing it with regional details.  I really enjoyed Brett's attention to the smallest details in her illustrations.  The story is carried forward not only by the main illustrations on each page, but also the side panels where the other branch of the story is happening.  The side panels also have whimsical arctic animals dressed for the wintry weather. 

A perfect winter book, this is a good book to share with a few children at a time so that the details of the illustrations can be enjoyed.  Highly recommended for ages 4-7.

Ivan the Terrier by Peter Catalanotto.

As the author tries to tell stories like the Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Three Bears and the Three Little Pigs, he is constantly being interrupted by Ivan, a small black and white dog.  Ivan bursts into each story, barks loudly and makes a horrible mess.  When finally the author decides to tell a story featuring Ivan himself, Ivan ignores him.

The illustrations of each fairy tale are deep colored and pastoral, but when Ivan arrives, each image has bright white as a background and all pastoral feeling is gone.  It is a dynamic way to make the illustrations burst with noise and surprise as well as the words.  The language of the book uses the same model from calm storytelling to a wild burst of yelling and scolding of Ivan. 

If you are looking for a story to capture the attention of children at the end of a preschool storytime, you have found it.  Recommended for sharing with a group, especially if you are not afraid of really yelling out loud.  This book will have children giggling and demanding a return of Ivan as soon as possible.

Glass slipper, gold sandal: a worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Julie Paschkis.

Fleischman has created a picture book that pays tribute to the varied Cinderella stories from around the world.  The storyline of the book follows the Cinderella tale, but touches from each country can be felt.  What could have been a muddled mishmash is a truly amazing experience as readers see the differences and the similarities in Cinderella tales.  A large part of the success is Fleischman's ability to showcase cultures in single lines, small details and wording.  Another part of the book's success are the illustrations which have bright colored frames that allude to other details of the story in that culture.  Each frame offers insight into the differences of that exact story, and the book could be read again and again looking at the various pictures.

This is exactly what is meant by a multicultural story.  It is a celebration of both our kinship and our diversity.  A must-purchase for all public libraries, you will find that older children who have a sense of different countries will enjoy this more than 4-6 year olds.  Highly recommended for folktale units or just for the joy of sharing.

Nobody Notices Minerva by Wednesday Kirwan.

Minerva just can't get noticed by her family!  No matter how very naughty she is, her mother and father just ignore her.   Finally, it is too much to take and Minerva starts to cry.  Her father sits near her and explains that he has noticed her and that she probably wants to be noticed for other things than being naughty.  So Minerva makes up her mind to be noticed for being very good.  And it works!

Minerva is a charming little whirling dervish of a child.  The scowl on her face and the attitude of her body completely encapsulate her attitude.  The illustrations are bright, and vibrantly colored.  The book is well done with just the right amount of information for the reader who will also be worried that Minerva's parents ignore her!  I haven't seen a book before on ignoring unwanted behavior, and this one captures it perfectly.

Recommended as a book to share with preschool groups or with your own child.

The Story of Charles Atlas, Strong Man by Meghan McCarthy.

This is a picture book biography of Charles Atlas, who started life with the name of Angelo Siciliano.  Atlas came to the U.S. from Italy through Ellis Island.  Throughout his boyhood he was the victim of bullies.  When he saw a statue of Hercules at a museum, Atlas was inspired to get himself into shape.  But the first weights he used don't seem to work.  Finally, Atlas created a new fitness routine and his body started to change.  His career after that was all based on his muscles and body.  He sold his fitness course to millions of people and his measurements are on file as the perfect human specimen. 

Picture book biographies often are dry and uninspiring, but this one will hold the interest of readers.  Even children uninterested in body building will be inspired by the way Atlas refused to give up and persevered in changing his life and build.  There is much more here than muscles, there is a real heart.

Recommended for children who normally won't read picture books, this melding of picture book and true story will perfectly suit some readers.  The book also reads aloud well, and could be used in elementary school as a great example of a biography.