(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. 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) 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

(3) 4-6 Aspiring author Booker returns in another humorous slice-of-life story. As he works on a science fiction novel, "Space Cat: Alone in Space," Booker worries about his increasingly melancholy grandfather and grapples with jealousy when his best friend becomes the surprise star of the school writing club. The episodic plot covers a lot of territory but comes together for a satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(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) 1-3 Illustrated by Ellen Thompson. At Camp Bear, Cody befriends Arthur, a fellow TV-junkie who, like Cody, would take arts and crafts over horseback riding any day. But Cody soon finds courage to meet camp challenges. With little desire to be "manly men," Cody and Arthur bumble their way through the numerous humiliations of preadolescence just by being themselves.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1999

(2) 1-3 A green, fuzzy, chubby alien who does work in exchange for Twinkies? That's who third-graders Lexie and J. P. find in Lexie's lunchbox after Bork (the alien) rescues them from the fifth-grade bully by turning him into a baby. Readers caught up in the immediacy of Duffey's writing are not likely to question the loosely hinged premise and may even wish they could spend a few Twinkies for an alien of their own.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1999

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Ellen Thompson. Everyone has a "best thing"--everyone, it seems, except Cody. With only two weeks to prepare for the third-grade talent show, Cody's hopes of discovering what he is good at are repeatedly dashed. Duffey's subtle sense of humor, coupled with a deep empathy for the highs and lows of an ordinary third grader, warrant this fourth book about Cody its own humble place in the spotlight.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1998

(4) K-3 A Valentine from "a secret admirer" and a surprise from India--which Cody (incorrectly) thinks is a girl whom he's supposed to marry--have Cody pretty worried. While Duffy's prose maintains a light, effortless pace, the plot relies on a series of far-fetched coincidences that ultimately render Cody naive and gullible--unlike the quick-witted, sensible Cody of earlier books. Black-and-white illustrations accompany the text.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.