Inspired by the real-life plight of a free-roaming flock of sheep in the Pacific Northwest, the Rands (Fighting for the Forest) allude to a certain nursery rhyme but spin a gentle yarn all their own. When a newborn lamb is abandoned by its mother, a kind woman named Mrs. Paradise steps in as an adoptive parent, tending to the fluffy charge she names Mary. Mary quickly feels at ease (perhaps too much so) with her caretaker and other humans. The little lamb becomes a nuisance in town ("That lamb of yours is marking up the school porch with her sharp little hooves," the maintenance man complains), and Mrs. Paradise is forced to search for a more appropriate home. The perfect solution makes Mary and all the humans who love her happy. Gloria Rand again taps into an affinity for creating quietly suspenseful and emotionally resonant stories that focus on people-and very often, animals-who make a difference in their community. Wrought in a folksier style and palette than usual and almost recalling the work of Patricia Polacco, Ted Rand's accomplished watercolor-and-pencil compositions bring to life the details and denizens of an island hamlet. Cheery faces, rugged, beautiful landscapes and the beguiling black-and-white bundle of wool that is Mary, prove an inviting mix. Ages 4-7. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Another successful team effort that encourages responsibility and caring, in this case for an abandoned sheep--well, not really abandoned, call it forgotten by its mother who has just had twins and the second lamb has slipped her mind. The sheep, born on a deserted farm on an island, is found by a citizen, taken in, and named--what else?--Mary. Soon, Mary is a full-fledged member of the community. But as she grows, as sheep do, she becomes a minor destructive force, putting dents in floors with her sharp teeth, eating homework assignments, and the like. Since Mary will have no truck with her flock, she finds a new home--and many new admirers--in a petting zoo. Low, low key--and a true story, to boot--definitely suitable for nighttime reading, though Ted Rand's saturated colors and lovely brushwork that resembles sophisticated finger painting will keep young readers' interest constantly refreshed. (author note) (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1-Feisty Mary is a newborn lamb abandoned by her mother on a deserted farm on Cranberry Island. Mrs. Paradise adopts her, and the islanders quickly become fond of the animal-until she becomes a nuisance, making marks on the porch of the one-room schoolhouse with her hooves, peeking in the windows and distracting the children, and leaving nose smudges on the panes. Mrs. Paradise finds the perfect solution: Mary is given to the mainland petting zoo, within easy distance of her admiring friends. Based on a true story, the text provides just enough detail to capture readers' interest, and the richly colored illustrations are expressive. The portrayal of the ever-curious lamb is wonderful. This book is an excellent choice for storytimes, perhaps coupled with the nursery rhyme itself.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Island resident Mrs. Paradise adopts and raises a stray lamb. But Mary the lamb roams freely and peskily, becoming a community pet, until everyone agrees to take her to a mainland petting zoo where she can be more appropriately contained, cared for, and visited often. Bright, frisky illustrations and a satisfactory resolution make this a pleasing story. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr. 1. Mrs. Paradise finds an abandoned lamb and takes it home. The wooly white lamb becomes a favorite on the island where she lives, especially with the children--perhaps too much of a favorite. Before long, Mary, as the lamb is named, is down at the dock greeting the island commuters and following the children to school. But Mary becomes a little annoying, distracting students with her high jinks. So Mrs. Paradise finds her a place at a petting zoo in Seattle, where Mary soon becomes the darling of zoo visitors, both mainlanders and those from the island. This is another welcome package from the Rands, who often base their books on real events, as they did here. The warm, appealing story works exceedingly well with the ink-and-watercolor artwork. The pictures are a delightful mix of images: sheep gamboling in the grass, close-ups of human faces, and the pixyish antics of Mary. There's a satisfying element to this that will bring children back for more than one read. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2004 Booklist