(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Erik Brooks. A baker's dozen of short stories showcase a variety of fearless, frenzied, and friendly felines. Each tale offers a cat's-eye look at his or her life and times as well as that of the animal's ancestors. Humorous black-and-white sketches illustrate the adventures, which include discovering treasure, stopping a crime, unwillingly taking a parachute ride, and "assisting" with holiday decorating.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Erik Brooks. Perky little girl Boo (Boo's Dinosaur) returns with claims of a new dinosaur friend, freshly hatched from an egg she found in the forest. "Dinny" loves to play games but isn't so fond of cameras. Eventually he flies off after teaching Boo his secret dinosaur whistle. Boo's energy and warmth are reflected in the lively illustrations.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Erik Brooks. Dogs from all over gather for the first annual meeting of the WOOF (Words of Our Friends) Society. Each of the book's thirteen short chapters offers a story of doggy derring-do, some purportedly from history ("Abu: The Dog Who Ruled Egypt," 2000 BCE) and others personal anecdotes from WOOF members. Black-and-white sketches illustrate the sometimes humorous, sometimes touching tales.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Herculeah Jones Mystery series. In this seventh book, Byars makes playful use of Gothic novel conventions by introducing a sinister tower, an innocent captive, and an evil impostor. All await Herculeah as she investigates the strange goings-on at the Hunt mansion. The brief chapters move along at a fast pace until Herculeah has an exciting encounter with the villain and (of course) solves the mystery.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Erik Brooks. "Mom, an animal followed me home. Can I keep it?" asks Boo in this beginning chapter book. Since the animal is a dinosaur that no one but Boo can see, Boo's parents and her brother, Sammy, agree. Brooks's whimsical black-and-white drawings, including wordless double-page spreads between the chapters, companionably illustrate this story of imaginary--or are they?--friends.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by David McPhail. When young readers left Little Horse (Little Horse), he was safe with a farm family but separated from his mother and the familiar surroundings of the Valley of Little Horses. This plot-driven sequel takes him on a treacherous journey and eventually to his mother. Spot art previews each chapter, while larger illustrations re-create important moments in the text.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Arthur Howard. Encouraged by their teacher, students write stories about moments of crisis they have faced. Some deal with serious issues (being abandoned as a baby), but several, such as Jerry's quandary after eating thirty-eight of the chocolate bars he was supposed to sell as a fundraiser, are more humorous in tone. The breezy illustrations are well suited to this fast-paced volume.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by David McPhail. This is a gentle fantasy for beginning chapter-book readers. Separated from his mother, Little Horse falls into a stream and is carried away. This little horse is not just alone and scared but an equine Lilliputian, fighting for survival among giants. Byars deftly combines crisp action with a lyrically evoked setting. Language is simple, but not simplistic; uncommon terms are clearly defined in the text and the soft black-and-white art.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2002

(1) 4-6 In carefully focused episodes, five turn-of-the-twentieth-century sisters reveal their characters, exemplify a well-to-do southern lifestyle, and encounter birth and death. Accessible language, open format, and twenty-six short chapters keyed to the alphabet rightly suggest this novel as appropriate for young children; yet it is so adroitly structured and rich in characters and ideas that it will reward older readers as well. This is Byars at her best.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2002

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Bill Cigliano. In this pleasant diversion for middle readers, Dorothy recognizes the role of a lifetime when she nabs the part of Tarzan in her class play. From the moment she auditions, Dorothy unleashes a wildness inside her, a primitive power that "made her feel she was not only in the jungle, she was master of it." Byars's laid-back narrative sets the tone in this slight, sitcom-ish novel that addresses small dilemmas rather than earth-shattering concerns.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2000

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Loren Long. Eight dogs, finalists in a contest, have their stories told by the people who nominated them for the My Hero medal. The stories are somewhat contrived, and most are too short to build much suspense, but the book will still hold appeal to young fans of dog stories. Illustrations with a 1950s look match the old-fashioned feeling of the stories.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(2) 4-6 Herculeah Jones Mystery series. The latest mystery in the series actually focuses more on Meat than on Herculeah herself. In a two-pronged plot line, Byars plays out both Meat's discovery of a body in a comedy club bathroom and Herculeah's efforts to locate Meat's long-missing father. At the usual zippy pace, interrupted only by the cliffhanging chapter endings, the story unfolds and is resolved to the satisfaction of all.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.