(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Doug Salati. The burrow- and tree-dwellers are enjoying a new sense of peace and unity since the events chronicled in The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow (rev. 9/23), and our protagonist, rabbit Butternut, feels secure in her status as the community storyteller. Then a troupe of thespian turkeys rolls into the forest to stage a production, and everyone except Butternut is cast, which sends her into a crisis of confidence and a case of writer's block. Alongside this, Butternut's brother reveals her secret fledgling friendship with one of the humans in the nearby house to the rest of the creatures, and Butternut's status falls even further, leading her to make a false accusation and deceive her loved ones. This early chapter book continues the first installment's focus on the natural world and precise ("quartz peastone"), vivid ("pugnacious fighters") vocabulary that is challenging but digestible, thanks to strong foreshadowing, a tight plot, lovable characters, and Salati's enchanting illustrations. After Butternut's lies are exposed, she struggles to get her friends and family to listen to her when she discovers a mortal threat to them all. Learning how to both command and cede attention is a challenge to which many children can relate, and Dimopoulos's blend of anthropomorphism and respect for the natural world makes this a winning example to follow.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Doug Salati. "Bird affairs are not rabbit affairs," says Butternut's mother. But when the young rabbit meets Piper, an outgoing and adventurous fledgling robin, she starts connecting with other animals in Milkweed Meadow and finding the world less frightening. Butternut directly addresses readers, dropping carrots of wisdom about story structure and life. "Life-and-death stakes might enhance a story, but they were terrifying to live through." The animal characters are anthropomorphized, but they retain core species characteristics and behaviors; some readers may even recognize the dynamics of wildlife interactions around the bird feeder near Butternut's den. Salati's (Hot Dogp, rev. 11/22) textured black-and-white illustrations mirror this blend of realism and fantasy. The animals' faces are expressive, but they look like animals, especially in their body language. When Butternut has to decide whether or not to risk her safety to attempt the rescue she's been foreshadowing since the first sentence of chapter one, no one will be surprised. But how it happens is "a wood-gnawing climax," as Butternut's grandmother would say. This chapter book has a relatively rare and welcome level of depth, and the strong narrative voice, ecological awareness, and themes around the value of connection and community will call to many readers.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(3) YA Sixteen-year-old Marla works at a powerful fashion house, choosing the next big (ridiculous) trends. Ivy is a pop superstar whose label controls her life. When Marla is unceremoniously demoted, she enlists Ivy's help in challenging the status quo to create a radical "eco-chic" trend. This debut teaches readers about issues of consumer waste and labor relations in an approachable, entertaining way.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith