Without launching into a hand-wringing session about the state of overbooked kids in Manhattan, I will admit that I spend lots of time reassuring my nannying brood that it's okay if they don't want to grow up to be investment bankers and cardiothoracic surgeons. And sure, I pounced on Phillis Gershator's Sky Sweeper because it echoes that sentiment. Sky Sweeper follows the life of Takeboki, who's happy to just sweep the flowers and leaves at a Japanese Buddhist temple, much to the chagrin of his friends and family. Takeboki considers everyone's pleas to do normal things (get a high-profile job, marry, breed) but ultimately decides to keep sweeping. I am positive the kids were too mesmerized by the lush chiyogami collages to digest the book's sweet, zen-like message of inner happiness, but it made me feel better knowing that my weekly heavy-handed attempt to teach them Life Lessons had been accompanied by pretty illustrations. — Annsley Chapman