(3) 4-6 Illustrated by David Ouimet. From headless ghosts and books that literally come to life to mysterious disappearances and exceedingly creepy characters, these thirteen tales, featuring both male and female protagonists, provide enough page-turning suspense to satisfy intermediate-level thrill-seekers. Occasional dark, brooding black-and-white illustrations (most aren't too scary) enhance this worthy addition to the Dare to Be Scared series.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 This stand-alone sequel to Chief Sunrise, John McGraw, and Me combines baseball history and fictional characters to good effect. Hank, sixteen, works for the New York Giants during Babe Ruth's first season with the Yankees. The two teams share a ball field, and this gives Tocher the opportunity to contrast the personalities of the disciplined Giants manager, John McGraw, with the freewheeling Bambino.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 This book organizes its jokes by topic (e.g., animals, school, food). The last chapter offers eleven (and a half) tips for putting together a standup comedy routine. While some jokes are familiar or corny, the clever arrangement and useful advice--Brewer takes his comedy seriously--make this a good supplemental purchase. Comical black-and-white illustrations add to the fun.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by John Sandford. As pirates attempt to hijack her ship, eleven-year-old Sarah is thrown overboard. She finds herself washed up on a mysterious island where children are forced to weave elaborate rugs by the ill-tempered Mr. Grim. Sarah's efforts to save the Woolies--and herself--while figuring out what's behind Grim's dastardly plan carry readers through this entertainingly spun (though frenetically paced) yarn.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Ouimet. These thirteen short stories provide a mix, from the expected horror staples (in which bad children are punished by supernatural forces) to the most original tale here, a Field of Dreams takeoff about an undead baseball team. Overlooking some broadly sketched characters that verge on stereotypes, this mild horror collection is pleasantly scary fun.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Paul Brewer. Robert Dorfman works on a school assignment; plays with his best friend, Paul; and negotiates getting along with classmates. When new girl Taylor, who is hearing impaired, comes to town, Robert and Paul try to figure out what it's like not to hear. This story isn't a handbook on deafness but a continuation of Robert's good-natured journey toward understanding those around him.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2007

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Paul Brewer. In this genial series entry, Robert Dorfman attends day camp without best friend Paul, who's spending the summer in Vermont. Lester, with whom Robert built a tentative friendship in Robert and the Happy Endings, is there, too, and his character shines when he realizes Robert's fear of the water and helps him overcome it.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by David Cox. Hamish loves to hear and tell stories but has a hard time learning to read. His parents cook up a number of madcap situations (shown in the sketchlike line art) to help Hamish understand the importance of reading. Befuddled and unkind teachers and classmates make Hamish's challenge much more difficult--and unrealistic--than it has to be.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by D. Brent Burkett. Alex finds a toy mouse and feels immediate kinship with it. When he sees "lost mouse" posters around town he's not ready to return it, even though he knows that would be the right thing to do. When his dog goes missing, Alex begins to empathize with the mouse's owner. Alex's emotions (also portrayed through sketchy pencil art) are convincingly drawn.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 Heroes series. Sticking close to the traditional Greek myth, this version of the adventures of Perseus is engaging and well written. After an oracle decrees that he will be killed by his yet to be conceived grandson, Acrisius has his daughter imprisoned, but she becomes pregnant anyway. The story unfolds with a quest, evil rulers overthrown, and Acrisius unable to stop fate.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Paul Brewer. In this eighth book about Robert Dorfman, king of the everyday crisis, Seuling details the minutiae that make up a third-grader's life. This litany of experiences provides a familiar context for new readers engaged in the somewhat unfamiliar skill of reading an entire book. As he's done before, Robert triumphs in his own way, bumbling through some problems and solving others.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) 4-6 Heroes series. For those who aren't ready to tackle Homer's epic poem, this prose adaptation of The Odyssey does a creditable job disseminating the tale. McCaughrean clearly relishes the epic's adventure and drama, and she captures a bit of Homer's style by repeating her phrases and descriptions.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Leslie Tryon. This chapter book features an ebullient potbellied pig named Harriet. In each episode, Harriet faces challenges, such as helping a friend overcome her fear of heights and winning a swim race. This is familiar, perhaps mundane, territory, but the writing is lively and characters are full of personality. Amusing black-and-white illustrations are included.

Reviewer: Amanda Sullivan

(2) YA As in What Are You?, Gaskins allows an array of young people to speak for themselves on matters of faith and religion. With approximately sixty voices representing Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, there's quite a spectrum of responses. It's surprising there isn't more controversy, but the voices and their questions are real and thoughtful. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2004

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ed Young. In this sensitive and honest glimpse into another culture, poems, sketches, and photographs create an engaging travelogue of the three weeks Grimes spent in China sixteen years ago. Brief commentary precedes the poems; spare but evocative black-and-white drawings, created while Young was in China at the same time as Grimes, capture a sense of the people and the place.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Wyatt. A clever girl, a ghost pony, a bloody family history, a rich American, and a stormy Scottish landscape--the elements are all present for an exciting adventure. But in the rush to reach the action-packed climax, necessary background information is only sketchily mentioned. The engaging, detailed descriptions of the horses and riding scenes stand in sharp contrast. Attractive drawings illustrate the book.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Ouimet. A bullied boy exacts revenge on his tormentors after his death; a group of friends visit a haunted house; a girl stays out past her curfew--with catastrophic results. Illustrated with atmospheric art, these eerie tales are individually effective, but there's a sameness to the conclusions (most end with the protagonist dead or about to be killed) that makes the volume seem repetitive.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Paul Brewer. Third-grader Robert Dorfman turns his attention to endangered species; then Grandma Judy comes to town in her (gasp!) fur coat. Next, Robert jumps into politics, serving as campaign manager for a friend's run for class president. These two stories are independent of each other; the abrupt shift creates a transitional awkwardness not present in previous volumes.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2004

(3) 4-6 In this bittersweet novel set in 1919, fifteen-year-old Hank meets Chief Sunrise, a Seminole Indian who dreams of pitching for the major leagues. After a series of misadventures, Chief is signed by the New York Giants (with Hank serving as mascot and batboy) until it's discovered he's an African American hiding his race in order to play ball.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Jokes, riddles, knock-knocks, and silly book titles ("Conquering Bad Breath by Hal E. Tosis") are featured in this amusing collection, which contains chapters devoted to, among other topics, computers, monsters, and doctors. The accompanying comic art adds to the fun. There are also tips for telling and making up jokes, including helpful advice about pacing, timing, and not hurting other people's feelings.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta