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4-6
Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average series.
Wren's reluctance to tell her classmates about her parents' divorce leads to lie after lie, and her deception complicates new and old friendships. Nine-year-old Wren's juvenile understanding and frequent questions, along with her parents' realistic and palatably mild imperfections, make this quiet, often funny story an accessible look at divorce for early-middle-grade readers. Simple black-and-white spot art introduces each chapter.
(4)
4-6
Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average series.
The latest installments find "unfortunately average" sixth grader Vicka joining the softball team, despite a lack of talent (Curveball), and helping organize a Wild West–themed school dance, adding an element of prospective romance to the story arc (Dance). The series is run-of-the-mill, but, as ever, Vicka makes up in creativity and warmth what she perceives she lacks in brilliance or distinction. Activities appended. Glos. Review covers these Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average titles: Curveball and Dance Fever.
(4)
4-6
You Choose Stories: Field Trip Mysteries series.
Illustrated by
Marcos Calo.
Readers get to co-construct each story and help solve thin mysteries in this interactive spinoff of Brezenoff's Field Trip Mysteries. Sixth-grade detectives Sam, Egg, Gum, and Cat investigate a missing rare fruit from a botanical garden (Fruit) and stolen electronic tickets from a carnival (Caper). Each case offers twelve possible endings for readers to pursue. Full-bleed color illustrations bring important scenes to life. Glos. Review covers these You Choose Stories: Field Trip Mysteries titles: The Carnival Caper and The Disappearing Fruit.
(4)
4-6
You Choose Stories: Field Trip Mysteries series.
Illustrated by
Marcos Calo.
Readers get to co-construct each story and help solve thin mysteries in this interactive spinoff of Brezenoff's Field Trip Mysteries. Sixth-grade detectives Sam, Egg, Gum, and Cat investigate a missing rare fruit from a botanical garden (Fruit) and stolen electronic tickets from a carnival (Caper). Each case offers twelve possible endings for readers to pursue. Full-bleed color illustrations bring important scenes to life. Glos. Review covers these You Choose Stories: Field Trip Mysteries titles: The Carnival Caper and The Disappearing Fruit.
(4)
1-3
Superman Tales of the Fortress of Solitude series.
Illustrated by
Luciano Vecchio
&
Tim Levins.
This new early-chapter-book series explains how Superman acquired specific souvenirs housed in his Fortress of Solitude. These books capitalize on superhero fandom, highlighting Superman's lonely exceptionalism and tragic past. Despite an unappealing format, with particularly strange spacing and small font, the series targets struggling readers using limited texts and serviceable digital illustrations. Each book includes discussion questions and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these Superman Tales of the Fortress of Solitude titles: A Buried Starship and The Last City of Krypton.
(4)
1-3
Superman Tales of the Fortress of Solitude series.
Illustrated by
Luciano Vecchio
&
Tim Levins.
This new early-chapter-book series explains how Superman acquired specific souvenirs housed in his Fortress of Solitude. These books capitalize on superhero fandom, highlighting Superman's lonely exceptionalism and tragic past. Despite an unappealing format, with particularly strange spacing and small font, the series targets struggling readers using limited texts and serviceable digital illustrations. Each book includes discussion questions and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these Superman Tales of the Fortress of Solitude titles: A Buried Starship and The Last City of Krypton.
(4)
4-6
Dark Waters series.
African American girl India Finch is just an ordinary preteen until, on a visit to her grandfather's in coastal Maine, she learns she's half-mermaid and can heal creatures of the sea. Each by-the-numbers but engaging hi-lo novel involves India helping save the mer while Gilbert spells out themes of friendship, working together, and accepting differences. Slick illustrations appear occasionally; discussion questions and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Dark Waters titles: Fire and Ice and The Sighting.
(4)
4-6
Dark Waters series.
Illustrated by
Kirbi Fagan.
African American girl India Finch is just an ordinary preteen until, on a visit to her grandfather's in coastal Maine, she learns she's half-mermaid and can heal creatures of the sea. Each by-the-numbers but engaging hi-lo novel involves India helping save the mer while Gilbert spells out themes of friendship, working together, and accepting differences. Slick illustrations appear occasionally; discussion questions and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Dark Waters titles: Fire and Ice and The Sighting.
(4)
K-3
Sports Illustrated Kids: Starting Line Readers series.
Illustrated by
Ed Shems.
These cheery sports-themed easy readers star girl soccer player Mia and boy baseball player Jackson, two smiley kids on not-very-competitive sports teams. Cartoony illustrations and bland story lines may not stand up to repeat readings, but the volumes' few words (eighty-one in Score, eighty-three in Buzz) and simple vocabulary encourage success. Glos. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Starting Line Readers titles: Baseball Buzz and Soccer Score.
(4)
K-3
Sports Illustrated Kids: Starting Line Readers series.
Illustrated by
Àlex López.
These cheery sports-themed easy readers star girl soccer player Mia and boy baseball player Jackson, two smiley kids on not-very-competitive sports teams. Cartoony illustrations and bland story lines may not stand up to repeat readings, but the volumes' few words (eighty-one in Score, eighty-three in Buzz) and simple vocabulary encourage success. Glos. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Starting Line Readers titles: Baseball Buzz and Soccer Score.
(4)
4-6
Jake Maddox Graphic Novels series.
Illustrated by
Bere Muñiz.
In Catcher, Eddie quits baseball after a humiliating four strikeouts in the championship game. Switch finds Andre frustrated by his new soccer coach's unconventional methods. The texts are message-y ("if we want to make the championship...you need to trust me. Trust your team"), but the graphic novel format and sports action may draw reluctant readers. "Visual Questions" of varying interest are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Graphic Novels titles: Comeback Catcher and Soccer Switch.
(4)
4-6
Jake Maddox Graphic Novels series.
Illustrated by
Aburtov.
In Catcher, Eddie quits baseball after a humiliating four strikeouts in the championship game. Switch finds Andre frustrated by his new soccer coach's unconventional methods. The texts are message-y ("if we want to make the championship...you need to trust me. Trust your team"), but the graphic novel format and sports action may draw reluctant readers. "Visual Questions" of varying interest are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Graphic Novels titles: Comeback Catcher and Soccer Switch.
(4)
1-3
DC Super Hero Stories series.
Illustrated by
Ethen Beavers.
With brief, accessible texts, these early chapter books feature individual DC heroes who must apply childhood lessons to current dilemmas. Both characters must remember to trust their abilities--and their gadgets--when they face nemeses in the by-the-numbers adventures. Colorful illustrations of the action further the appeal to DC's fandom. Includes superhero and villain profiles, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these DC Super Hero Stories titles: Batman Tangles with Terror and Wonder Woman Wrestles Circe's Sorcery.
(4)
1-3
DC Super Hero Stories series.
Illustrated by
Ethen Beavers.
With brief, accessible texts, these early chapter books feature individual DC heroes who must apply childhood lessons to current dilemmas. Both characters must remember to trust their abilities--and their gadgets--when they face nemeses in the by-the-numbers adventures. Colorful illustrations of the action further the appeal to DC's fandom. Includes superhero and villain profiles, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these DC Super Hero Stories titles: Batman Tangles with Terror and Wonder Woman Wrestles Circe's Sorcery.
(4)
1-3
Animal All-Stars series.
Illustrated by
Josh Alves.
In these brief chapter books, Bobby Longbeak, a turkey who's the leading wide receiver for his football team, learns to tame his wild streak (Wild Receiver); and hedgehog Spikelle Jordan, the best "pointy" guard on her basketball team, learns to share the ball (Ball Hog). Pedestrian writing and obvious messaging mar the stories, but kids might enjoy the general goofiness and the ample cartoonlike illustrations. Review covers these Animal All-Stars titles: Ball Hog and Wild Receiver.
(4)
1-3
Animal All-Stars series.
Illustrated by
Josh Alves.
In these brief chapter books, Bobby Longbeak, a turkey who's the leading wide receiver for his football team, learns to tame his wild streak (Wild Receiver); and hedgehog Spikelle Jordan, the best "pointy" guard on her basketball team, learns to share the ball (Ball Hog). Pedestrian writing and obvious messaging mar the stories, but kids might enjoy the general goofiness and the ample cartoonlike illustrations. Review covers these Animal All-Stars titles: Ball Hog and Wild Receiver.
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4-6
Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series.
Illustrated by
Amit Tayal.
To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.
(4)
4-6
Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series.
Illustrated by
Amit Tayal.
To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.
(4)
4-6
Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series.
Illustrated by
Amit Tayal.
To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.
(4)
4-6
Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series.
Illustrated by
Amit Tayal.
To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.