(3) K-3 Illustrated by John Shelley. In a story told in sometimes tongue-tripping but often funny limericks and other rhyming text, Georgie braves the elusive Miss Pustula Night's one-stop magic shop and helps a ghost find all the items on his gross-ery list, from spiderwebs to dragon drool. Muted tones in the pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, as well as creative design elements, heighten the crowded store's mysterious feel.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Katy Wu. Clickard's enthusiastic rhyming verse and Wu's inviting digital illustrations introduce Chinese American chef Joyce Chen, who helped popularize Northern Chinese cooking in the U.S. Beginning with her early life in China and 1949 emigration to Massachusetts, the book then describes how Chen's first restaurant led her to other successful enterprises, including a cookbook and TV show. A dumpling recipe is appended. Timeline. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Meyers. Victricia falls short in the pirate life to which she was born, gravitating toward dry land and books. The rhyming text is lengthy but makes each punch line feel earned. Plentiful daylight in the humorous illustrations tells readers these aren't sinister pirates. Close observers may enjoy some cleverly titled books in Victricia's collection, including Don't Let the Pigeon Steer the Ship.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax