Spike!

SPIKE, UGLIEST DOG IN THE UNIVERSE by Debra Frasier. Beach Lane, 2013.

Poor Spike, his owner entered him in an ugly dog contest, and Spike won! Now he is a laughingstock. To make matters worse, his owner abandons Spike. Forlorn, Spike wanders to a neighbor to see if he can find a new home and the love he needs. Collages built from a wide array of fabrics add texture to the illustrations. A lovely surprise at the end will enchant readers.

Parrots

PARROTS OVER PUERTO RICO by Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore with illustrations by Susan Roth. Lee and Low, 2013.

Parrotse native to Puerto Rico came close to extinction due to encroachment of humans within their habitats. Now steps have been taken to ensure their survival. Colorful collage illustrations enhance the narrative of how the parrots' numbers dropped precipitously over the year and what scientists are doing to save the species.

The inimitable Eric Carle

Is there anyone out there who knows children's books and does not immediately recognize the work of master illustrator Eric Carle? Unlikely. And the arrival of a new book with his vibrant collage illustrations is always reason to drop everything and read. Here is THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE by Carle (Philomel 2011), Carle's tribute to German painter Franz Marc whose outlandish paintings of animals, mostly horses, in unconventional colors, is celebrated in the simple text and incredible collages that are the hallmark of Carle's work. <532>