Who could not love an author whose website biography begins: "Born in a small room, in a big city to medium sized parents, Victoria has always lived low in high times"? Silverlicious becomes the latest addition to a Victoria Kann picture book shelf that already contains Goldilicious, Pinkalicious, and Purplicious. Simply delicious storytelling.

Pinkalicious is dismayed when she loses her sweet tooth: "This cookie has no flavor," she complains. "It tastes like... dirt!" So, using mystifying logic, she requests that the Tooth Fairy bring her something sweet to tide her over until her big tooth grows in. She's instead visited by Carlos Cupid, Edgar Easter Bunny, and elf #351; they bring her requested treats, but (as she ought to have known after the cookie incident) they taste terrible. An ungrateful Pinkalicious eventually learns that real sweetness comes from inside, but readers may wonder why it takes so long for the heroine to change her tune. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 5–8. (Feb.)

Pinkalicious, star of Pinkalicious, Purplicious and Goldilicious, is back in this sparkling, silvery story. When she snatches and bites her brother's large chocolate cookie, Pink's wiggling tooth finally comes out. At first she is thrilled! Then she realizes: She didn't lose just any old tooth. The tooth that came out was her sweet tooth. Without it, nothing tastes sweet. Pink resolves to solve this problem. She writes to the Tooth Fairy, asking for advice and "something sweet to eat" until the new tooth grows. But things don't turn out quite as Pink expects. Toothetina sends Carlos Cupid in her place. He decks out the room in hearts and leaves three candies. But they're not sweet; they're red hot! Pink throws a tantrum and leaves a critical note for Cupid. The next morning finds eggs sprinkled about and a note from Edgar Easter Bunny, whose jelly beans taste like "pebbles." Again, Pink complains. And so it goes. Elf #351's visit is a disappointment, too. Finally, Toothetina makes it to Pink's room. She leaves a note, three sweet candies, and an important lesson. Pinkalicious is as exuberant and princess as ever, and the key to sweetness she finds is a good reminder for us all. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green

PreS-Gr 2—Pinkalicious is back with another adventure that is likely to put most adults into a diabetic coma. Pinkalicious's tooth is loose, but when it falls out after she steals her brother's cookie, she loses all taste for sweets and realizes that it was her sweet tooth. She leaves a letter for the tooth fairy, but Carlos Cupid comes instead and leaves her red hots. Subsequently, after writing letters complaining about the candy and generally behaving like a brat, she is visited by the Edgar Easter Bunny and one of Santa's elves. Finally, Tootheetina leaves her three silver-wrapped chocolate coins and an admonishment that sweetness comes from within. Immediately Pinkalicious turns over a new leaf, shares the coins with her brother, regains her taste for sweets and vows: "From now on I am always going to be as sweet as my sweet tooth." The didactic and saccharine text, unpleasant little girl, and implausible turnaround are likely to make many readers wince. The cartoon-style illustrations are so packed with details after each visitor as to nearly be visually assaulting. The letter from Cupid is written in flowery script that is difficult to read. That said, Pinkalicious is nearly a franchise now, and libraries that own the earlier titles are sure to have requests.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT