(2) K-3 Frances describes her first riding lesson at her friend Mae's horse farm where Mae takes the lead in outfitting Frances in boots and a helmet and showing her how to groom and tack. However, Frances's anticipation (she had imagined riding her dashing toy horse Excalibur) does not match reality: the barn is smelly; Mae's mother is shoveling horse poop; Frances's mount is a rotund pony named Snowball; and, most confidence-shaking of all, Snowball steps on her foot at the mounting block. Frances's toes are luckily saved by her borrowed boots, and Mae kindly redirects the lesson to a demonstration and then a low-key trail ride through the orchard with Frances riding double behind her. Confidence restored, Frances tries going solo back in the ring and even helps shovel poop. This substantial picture book augments traditional first-person narration with cartoon panels and speech balloons, the emotional thrust ably advanced by Mann's (The Camping Trip, rev. 5/20) evocative illustrations, reminiscent of crayon drawings. Frances's discomfort is humorously expressed through her saucer-like eyes (Mae's mother: "Let me make sure that the girth is tight enough—you don't want to fall off in your first lesson." Frances, in thought bubble to readers: "Fall off?"), and her experience will ring true not just with equestrians but also with any child who's ever ventured out of their comfort zone and ridden bravely on.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(1) K-3 City-dweller Ernestine has never been camping, but when Aunt Jackie and cousin Samantha invite her, she gets her dad's okay and starts preparing: new flashlight and sleeping bag, a homemade batch of trail mix, and a long list of things to pack--all helpfully pictured and labeled in the engaging art. After a long car ride, they arrive at the campground, and Ernestine learns that tent pitching is harder than it looks and that hiking in the woods is tougher than walking to school. Dinner (tofu hot dogs and broccoli salad) and swimming (with fish!) present some new challenges for the girl, but bedtime proves the trickiest time of all. Aunt Jackie knows just what to do to help her niece get over her homesickness and enjoy even the night: "Let's go look at the stars"--accompanied by a stunning double-page spread in deep purple and black. Ernestine narrates the story in first person and present tense, capturing the immediacy of her experiences. Mann's skillfully crafted pencil and "digitally collaged and painted" illustrations, in a nicely paced mix of panels, full-page illustrations, and double-page spreads, quietly foster a love for the wilderness while they show how time spent outside can bring families closer. A rare and welcome depiction of an African American family enjoying nature (see also Hike, rev. 3/20).

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(3) K-3 Shark-lover Josie is bummed to be the only kid in her class who hasn't lost a tooth. When one finally does get wiggly, she attempts to extract it. A game of sharks at recess with her BFF unintentionally does the trick--but where's her tooth? The relatable conflict, shown in clear, unfussy pencil and pastel illustrations, is engagingly portrayed.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Sam and his stuffed rabbit, Jump, meet a new friend named Thomas while playing at the beach. Unfortunately, Sam forgets his rabbit on the sand, and he's inconsolable until the next morning when he discovers--to his (and readers') delight--that Thomas rescued Jump. Spacious, childlike illustrations complement the simplicity of the text and hint at what will happen next in the touching story.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 4-6 In their third book, eleven-year-old Masha can't wait to go to a dude ranch, but, thanks to her "evil genius" sister Sunny, the girls go to mathematics camp instead. Masha wishes her six-year-old sister would get lost, but when Sunny does run away, Masha predictably changes her mind. Mann successfully depicts a complex sibling relationship. Half-tone illustrations capture each scene's mood.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 To her chagrin, narrator Rose consistently fails to earn a blackboard star (for doing math, for reading aloud) from her teacher. But by book's end, she has (inadvertently) found a way to shine. Mann really nails how young children can stress out over seemingly low-stakes challenges. The bold, loose-handed mixed-media art shows kids' dishevelment in a way that's not belittling.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jana Christy. Still recuperating from her evil-genius little sister's last experiment, eleven-year-old Masha (Sunny Sweet Is So Not Sorry) unknowingly becomes the subject of Sunny's latest, which involves red dye, falling into a grave, and public humiliation. Mann shrouds a lesson about accepting differences in over-the-top humor; fans of the unrelenting absurdity, enlivened in sweet black-and-white drawings, will hanker for the next experiment.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 Ginger does not want strange Lyla Browning to come to her birthday party. But when her other friends disrupt Ginger's party plans, she discovers that she and Lyla have some things in common after all. Mann infuses a simple text with humorous details and insights, and her art combines pencil, paint, and digital collage to produce a quietly complex backdrop that echoes the story.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jana Christy. When eleven-year-old Masha wakes up with plastic flowers glued to her head, she knows it's the work of an evil genius: her six-year-old sister, Sunny. This crazy experiment-gone-wrong is followed by a string of unbelievable antics (e.g., a cast for an unbroken arm). Although the sisters' experiences are over the top, readers will enjoy Masha's witty voice; black-and-white illustrations showcase the hijinks.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes