(4) 4-6 Gadgets and Gears series. Illustrated by James Hamilton. Walter and his faithful dog, Noodles (the narrator), enter London's underbelly to help new friends find the master criminal Tick Tock. Playful spot illustrations and interesting secondary characters (such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) draw readers in, but frequent definitions of terms, while educational, drag the pace of this third installment. Unexpected acts of kindness allow for a warm conclusion.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(3) PS Illustrated by Valeria Petrone. Blue Boat, "a rough, tough tugboat," is the only vessel tough enough to brave the rough seas to save a family stranded on a sailboat during a nor'easter. An energetic text consists of simple rhymes, sound effects, and occasional nautical terms. Retro digital illustrations in blues and grays capture the stormy scene. Refreshingly, our hero's captain is a woman.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 4-6 Gadgets and Gears series. Illustrated by James Hamilton. Seeking revenge after boy-genius Wally Kennewickett thwarted their previous plans (The Mesmer Menace), the evil Mesmers begin sabotaging the Kennewicketts' experiments. To put an end to the danger, the Kennewicketts, their staff of automatons, Nikola Tesla, and Noodles--the family dachshund and the book's narrator--board an airship for Europe to confront Iron Claw and Madini. A fast-paced steampunk adventure with humorous illustrations.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) PS Illustrated by Valeria Petrone. Children watch as their teacher is stuck at the top of a Ferris wheel at the fair. When cranes can't reach and planes fly right by, it's shiny new Yellow Copter to the rescue. Retro digital illustrations, with bold colors set against pale blue-gray skies, and minimal rhyming text peppered with helicopter sounds ("WHUP WHUP WHUP") will engage preschool audiences.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(3) 4-6 Gadgets and Gears series. Illustrated by James Hamilton. It's the early twentieth century, and Wally Kennewickett's genius parents are called away to stop the evil hypnotist Mesmers from controlling the minds of those in power. While they're away, the Mesmers infiltrate the Kennewickett inn/lab, and it's up to Wally, his dachshund Noodles, and the house automatons to stop them. Narrated by Noodles, the illustrated story is a lively steampunk escapade.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) YA Goblin Wars series. In this third book, Teagan and her friends deal with the evil creatures seeping out of Mag Mell and into the streets of Chicago. Teagan and Finn work together to fight the darkness while their love continues to grow, even though it's now forbidden. Fans of fast-paced adventures and Irish folklore will find the two components nicely intertwined.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) YA In her second book, high schooler Teagan (who found out in Tyger, Tyger that she's half-goblin) is back safely from Mag Mell. While she, her little brother Aiden, and love interest Finn Mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool from Irish folklore) regroup at home in Chicago, wicked forces track them. Well-incorporated folklore elements blend nicely with everyday concerns (e.g., Teagan's post-high-school plans; best friend/boyfriend rivalry).

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Previously unbeknownst to her, driven high-schooler Teagan’s family bridges the gap between humans and goblins. When Teagan's ostensible cousin, Finn Mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool from Irish folklore), comes to stay, she's dragged into a dangerous and twisted world. Threads of mental disabilities, death, and the deep-rooted bonds of family are effectively intertwined with the depiction of Teagan’s exploits.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) PS Illustrated by R. W. Alley. Dispatched by Sergeant Santole, Officer Mike fixes a traffic problem, Officer Jan reunites a mother and child, and Officer Carl thwarts a robbery. Their (annoying) motto: "When people need help / we rock and roll!" Bustling illustrations chock full of extra plot details bolster the repetitive text.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(2) PS Illustrated by Valeria Petrone. Rain falls, snow melts, mud spatters the road, and a school bus is stranded. Red Truck (who's "a work truck, not a show truck") pulls with all its might and tows the bus to safety. Chunky figures in bold colors stand out against the gray winter's day. The straightforward, action-packed text contains enough zooming and vrooming for young listeners to join in.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2008

(4) PS Illustrated by Rich Davis. A simple, breathless text has a group of firefighters responding to a bell, donning their gear, racing to put out a fire, and saving a little boy's dog from the blaze. The book would be mundane but for its painterly illustrations, which show the men to be human beings as well as heroes (e.g., one tickles a sleeping colleague).

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lorianne Siomades. The concept of the water cycle is introduced to a young audience in a picture book with richly colored, exuberant collage illustrations. The description of the scientific process, however, is obscured by the unnecessarily verbose rhymed text. A brief overview of the water cycle is provided on the last page.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin