(4) K-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Martha the dog gets into a humorous predicament when she and pal Skits try to bake a cake. "If only I had thumbs!" she comments as the two dogs mix batter on the rug with their paws. The layout is a little busy for new readers. Fans of the show will be the main audience for this brief adaptation of an episode from the PBS series.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Karen Barss. In this adaption of a TV teleplay, Martha learns to get over her prejudice against cats and becomes friends with a new feline from the shelter. As in Martha's other vocabulary-rich tales, the key words discriminate and prejudice are clearly defined; other big words are incorporated. The more-serious-than-humorous narrative is complemented by glossy illustrations and occasional speech-balloon text.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Talking dog Martha helps broker a compromise for the town's fireworks display; discovers who is making scary sounds while camping out; and finds missing Valentine card supplies. These three brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series, while somewhat diverting for more confident beginning readers, are as glossy (and ultimately forgettable) as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All, Martha Speaks: Martha Camps Out, and Martha Speaks: Thief of Hearts.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Talking dog Martha helps broker a compromise for the town's fireworks display; discovers who is making scary sounds while camping out; and finds missing Valentine card supplies. These three brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series, while somewhat diverting for more confident beginning readers, are as glossy (and ultimately forgettable) as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All, Martha Speaks: Martha Camps Out, and Martha Speaks: Thief of Hearts.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Talking dog Martha helps broker a compromise for the town's fireworks display; discovers who is making scary sounds while camping out; and finds missing Valentine card supplies. These three brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series, while somewhat diverting for more confident beginning readers, are as glossy (and ultimately forgettable) as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All, Martha Speaks: Martha Camps Out, and Martha Speaks: Thief of Hearts.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. In this adaptation of an episode of the Martha Speaks TV cartoon, Martha is mistakenly sent to deliver a flower basket to a house that has long been presumed haunted. As a result, she inadvertently spooks its new inhabitants. The light and silly tone matches the glossy illustrations, lending some fun even though the plot doesn't entirely make sense.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. In Farm, Martha visits a farm, where she proves better at saving the sheep from a coyote than herding them. In Play, she coaches her friend Truman on catching a baseball but forgets about throwing practice. These two brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series are as glossy as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Farm Dog Martha and Martha Speaks: Play Ball!

Reviewer: Susan Halperin