(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Gustavo Mazali. This beginning-reader biography of Ben Franklin provides a friendly and inviting look at his life. Mazali's engaging cartoonlike illustrations accompany descriptions of Franklin's major accomplishments and inventions in text appropriately leveled "for developing readers." Back matter highlights primary sources, portraits, and inventions. Timeline.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Chin Ko. With an overall focus on JFK's challenges and his abilities to overcome them, Keenan's easy reader hits the highlights of the president's life in an engaging narrative that includes a few (unsourced) quotes. While the format is inviting, the slick, cartoonlike illustrations seem out of place. Additional facts and archival photographs are appended. Timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Nathan Fox. Color by Rico Renzi and Guy Major. In this wrenching graphic novel, three stories of dogs who were active participants in wars are presented. Slightly muddy illustrations highlight the chaos and grimness of war, and the text, though sometimes dense, is overall well balanced with the art. A powerful author's note, compelling stories, and the heroism of these dogs will likely inspire and move readers. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: April Spisak

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kevin Duggan. "Leave your lunch bag unattended? / We'll peck it open and upend it." Convinced that humans are too busy to notice them, some crows describe what they do every day. The rhymes have faultless tempo, and the art is beautifully composed and tender--perhaps too tender, as it seems at odds with the playfully menacing text.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Selina Alko. Each state is featured in a double-page spread, with a map and (overcrowded) illustrations of interesting characteristics on the left and a brief explanation of the state's name and nickname on the right. The text's conversational style and focus on historical oddities make it easy to read and accessible, but the documentation is uneven. Websites.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 On busy pages with bright borders, flashy graphics, and a multitude of photographs, this book explores the history of pet ownership. The major focus is on contemporary American pets, but the path to keeping pets is traced from the past through worldwide cultures. The text's narrative expository style is accessible, though a glossary would have been helpful. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ann Boyajian. Lighthearted pastel and colored-pencil images illustrate this spirited introduction to historical sites (Independence Hall, the White House), patriotic objects (the flag, the bald eagle), and written documents (the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution). The browsable volume dispels legends, offers intriguing trivia, and contains a list of patriotic holidays and a page devoted to remembering September 11. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Scholastic Reference series. Divided into fifteen chapters, each focusing on a different country or geographical region, this volume skims through world mythology. Each chapter consists of an overview of the region's mythology, followed by alphabetical entries of key mythological figures. The book is attractively illustrated with photos of paintings and artifacts inspired by myth. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Pamela McCuen