(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Published in association with The Thomas Jefferson Foundation. A former curator at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello takes readers on a tour of the historical museum through a fictionalized one-day account of how the third U.S. president spent his time. An easy-flowing but often idealized present-tense narrative is accompanied by a combination of photographs, archival images, and Elliott's static illustrations. Slavery is lightly addressed through a series of sidebars. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. The simple story of fictional sled dog Yukon unfolds from her puppyhood through steps of basic training, and, after four years, a race in which Yukon leads. The elements of dogsledding are simplified in the story but elaborated in the author's note. The cuddly pups in the awkwardly rendered pencil and digitally colored art will capture readers' interest.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Sixth-grader Jordan Johnston thinks she is plain and average but learns to appreciate herself after she deals with a bully and saves the orchestra from a tornado. While the natural disaster ending feels contrived, her character's genuine insecurities and desires add universality to the story. Elliott's pencil illustrations capture moments with simple, sketchlike lines.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. This joint biography parallels Jackie Robinson and Hank Greenberg--baseball players who both faced prejudice because Robinson was African American and Greenberg was Jewish. Beginning with their births, Fishman traces their careers until their fateful 1947 collision at first base, where Greenberg encouraged Robinson to ignore the heckling. Elliott's figurative art is handsome but stiff.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Clay can't wait to tell his older brother Mitch--a troublemaker in his day--about his latest trip to the principal's office. But Mitch has just gotten out of jail, and he doesn't want Clay following in his footsteps. How does Clay go about reinventing himself? Clements has fashioned another fine school story, this time about second chances and the possibility of change.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2011

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Nine-year-old Eli, helped by his father and grandfather, prepares bull calf Little Joe to show at the county fair. This touching story of one boy's unconditional devotion to his calf is ideally suited for readers with an interest in farming, animals, and country life. Elliott's illustrations complement the tender friendship that emerges between Eli and Little Joe.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2010

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Reluctant student Abby chooses an Afghani pen pal, Sadeed. Because Sadeed's teacher disapproves of him corresponding with a girl, Sadeed writes to Abby in secret. A plot twist brings this story of international relations together; in the end, Abby becomes a more serious student while Sadeed questions gender roles. Clements's timely story should receive high marks from middle-grade and early-middle-school readers.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2009

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Identical twins Jay and Ray try out life as a composite individual when Ray is sick for the first day of sixth grade and no one notices. The boys take turns being Jay, but their different talents trip them up. Clements depicts their quarrels energetically and honestly. The short, easy-to-parse sentences, conversational tone, light, funny style, and realistic school setting are appealing.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2008

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. After several exchanges about who talks more, girls or boys, fifth-graders Dave and Lynsey come up with a contest to see who can talk the least for three days. Clements's point that "less talking allows more time for real thinking" is less than subtly conveyed. Still, a peek-into-the-teachers'-lounge element will appeal to middle-grade readers. Nicely textured sketchlike illustrations effectively capture moments in the text.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. "I'm the new kid. I am tuf." Or so he'd like everyone to believe. Through a class writing project, mad-at-the-world Dexter (who's living with his grandma while his father undergoes cancer treatment) revises his story as his attitude changes. Dexter has an authentic voice that will connect with readers who've had similar experiences, or who know a not-so-tough-after-all kid like him.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(4) 1-3 Princess Tales series. Illustrated by Mark Elliott. In Return, a joke-telling baker's son uses a sticky goose and a train of fools to make the princess he loves laugh. Biddle reverses and expands on the story of "The Frog Prince." Both books in this series employ flat characterizations and over-broad, often unfunny farce, but the amiable plots and ubiquitous comic fairies make a pleasant diversion. Black-and-white sketches illustrate the books. [Review covers these Princess Tales titles: The Fairy's Return and For Biddle's Sake.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 1-3 Princess Tales series. Illustrated by Mark Elliott. In Return, a joke-telling baker's son uses a sticky goose and a train of fools to make the princess he loves laugh. Biddle reverses and expands on the story of "The Frog Prince." Both books in this series employ flat characterizations and over-broad, often unfunny farce, but the amiable plots and ubiquitous comic fairies make a pleasant diversion. Black-and-white sketches illustrate the books. [Review covers these Princess Tales titles: The Fairy's Return and For Biddle's Sake.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Fourth-grader Eve and her kindergarten-age twin sisters, the protagonists of Big Trouble in Little Twinsville, are back in a school and family story that doubles the fun with a second set of twins, new teachers in town. A contemporary setting (complete with nightly instant messaging) coupled with believable, likable characters gives this chapter book a realistic feel that readers will enjoy.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. Everyone loves Eve's little twin sisters, but she thinks they're pests. So when her family attends a twins festival, she and her two cousins set out to prove that singletons are people, too. The twins' relentless trouble-making and Eve's justifiable frustration with them are too one-noted in this otherwise entertaining story, illustrated with spare but expressive and energetic line drawings.

Reviewer: Erica L. Stahler

(2) 4-6 Princess Tales series. Illustrated by Mark Elliott. In The Fairy's Mistake, an extended spoof of the folktale "Toads and Diamonds," a fairy rewards and punishes two sisters' respective kindness and greed, but both plans backfire wildly. In The Princess Test, a retelling of Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea," a blacksmith's kind but fastidious daughter wins the prince's hand. Fans of funny fairy tales will enjoy these dryly humorous stories.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1999

(2) 4-6 Princess Tales series. Illustrated by Mark Elliott. In The Fairy's Mistake, an extended spoof of the folktale "Toads and Diamonds," a fairy rewards and punishes two sisters' respective kindness and greed, but both plans backfire wildly. In The Princess Test, a retelling of Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea," a blacksmith's kind but fastidious daughter wins the prince's hand. Fans of funny fairy tales will enjoy these dryly humorous stories.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1999