Although the illustrations are very nicely done, very amusing, the story itself could use some help.

A pet iguana's health suffers as she lacks something in her life - outdoors, sunshine...adventure, perhaps. I found it a bit sad that the iguana was able to leave her friend/owner so easily to go off on an adventure on her own.

The direction this story should have gone was for the owner to figure out that the iguana needed a change of scenery. Then the story could have shown how the owner of the iguana went about getting her pet to a happier place, if even just for a vacation.

My grandaughter and I read a lot and Megan McDonald is one of our favorites. "Iguana" is very contemporary and yet charming as are other books by this author. My 4 year old asks for them to be read over and over. Other books By Megan McDonald that we have enjoyed are "Is this a House for Hermit Crab" and "Insects are my Life". Both have a wonderful rhythm to the text. I know that you will enjoy this author.

Iguana has a wonderful home and (human)sister but she feels a powerful need to go South. In Florida she has adventures both scary and cool. I thought this was a sharp allegory about growing up and becoming independent. Vivid illustrations are true to the modern tone, and the lesson is really warm-hearted. A good choice for a kid with an independent streak, or one whose independence you'd like to foster.

Megan McDonald's "The Potato Man" is the tale of what happens when bullies get their comeuppance. It begins with a grandfather telling his granddaughter and grandson a story from his childhood. After just the first page, we are quickly whisked back to somewhere around the beginning decade of the 20th century. The "potato man" in question is a man who drives a vegetable-and-fruit cart, and who is catcalled and jeered at by the neighborhood boys because he is missing an eye and thus has a face that looks somewhat like a potato. It turns out that the grandfather telling the story is one of the boys who is rude to the potato man. When push comes to shove, however, and the boy realizes that he should treat the potato man as kindly as he himself would want to be treated, the potato man forgives him without a second thought. It's a powerful lesson for children.

Ted Lewin's illustrations are up to his usual sky-high standards. You can practically hear horse's hooves clop-clopping through the city neighborhood as they land on the cobblestone roads. You can almost smell the warm produce as it sits in the sun, and hear the hurdy-gurdy man as he cranks his instrument up to play "Pop Goes the Weasel." Lewin is a master, and he is in fine form here.

This is a humerous book about a little girl that is using excuses not to go to bed. The little girl is constantly yelling there is bugs in her room. She is just using her imagination and seeing bugs in her room. She solemly swears she is going to bed only if Dad gets the bugs from under her bed. Her Dad enters the room and sees she's not playing tricks.
The author in this story explains Bedbugs very well in his use od sentences. Everything important comes out in 1-3 sentences,and still makes his story sound good. The author used lots of descriptive words in just a few words.
My opinion of Bedbugs is it would be a good book for children when they are not really seeing scary things, just imagining.