(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Rob Shepperson. Hill effectively sets up the conflict between Ben and know-it-all new kid Elliot against the background of a hot, dry Fourth of July; the inevitable fireworks are both figurative and literal. This short novel is a bit formulaic, but the story and characters are well focused, the setting is evoked clearly but economically, and the resolution is realistic but satisfying.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Lesley Liu. Chang, the mute fisherman's son introduced in Bird Boy, expresses himself by communing with cormorants and playing his flute. When a flood nearly destroys his family's houseboat, Chang's flute-playing helps them recover. Accessible to early readers, this story of village life on China's Li River is accompanied by tender illustrations of a loving modern family following ancient ways.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Chang

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Lesley Liu. Young Chang, who can make sounds but cannot form words, lives on a houseboat on a river, where his father uses trained cormorants to fish. Chang learns about friendship and trust when he is given the chance to raise a cormorant chick. Both text and illustrations in this chapter book provide clear pictures of the characters and the setting in southern China.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander