(3) K-3 Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri. A grandfather tells his grandson about the 1930 Salt March undertaken by Gandhi and thousands of Indians, including the old man (as a boy) and his brother, in the fight for India's independence. The glowing watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations reflect the text's idealism, but the story is a good introduction to the event and Gandhi's work. An afterword provides more context. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 In a mystery-adventure involving a derelict monastery in New York's Catskill Mountains, Jax is at odds with her overprotective mother, but her experiences with the monks facilitate a mother-daughter reconciliation. Touches of magical realism sit rather uneasily in the contemporary setting; though there are some lecture-like moments, the most valuable element of Kimmel's novel is her clear explanation of Buddhist philosophies.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 On a visit to the Alaskan wilderness, twelve-year-old Tee, her dog Henry, and new friend Quinn meet a ghostly presence and become involved in solving a fifty-year-old local mystery when, during a hike, they are trapped in a snowstorm. Vivid language tells an intriguing story balancing supernatural suspense with realistic portrayal.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ross Stewart. Twelve-year-old Norman's ability to communicate with the dead hasn't won him many friends among the living. When his town is terrorized by zombies (thanks to a three-centuries-old witch's curse), Norman must embrace his gift and accept help from unlikely sources. This illustrated novelization of the animated film will satisfy zombie fans not yet ready for hard-core horror. Infrequent shifts in point of view are disorienting, though.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Moxie Roosevelt Kipper doesn't feel as if she has lived up to her weighty moniker, but she is determined to change that as she begins a new chapter in boarding school. While trying a variety of personality types on for size, Moxie soon learns that being someone else is not all it's cracked up to be. Readers will enjoy Moxie's humorous misadventures as she attempts to find her true self.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) 4-6 On her French-class trip to Montreal, eighth-grader Kat Roberts sees dead people, which isn't uncommon for her these days. When her secret crush turns out to have supernatural powers as well, the two join forces to help the ghosts to the other side. In this satisfying fourth series entry, Kimmel's depiction of tentative (and innocent) first love is especially sweet.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 This biography also serves as a window into Tibetan culture and an eye-opening introduction to the region's ongoing conflict with China. The text is lyrical and informative (though readers may find the six-year-old Dalai Lama's musings unbelievable: "He imagined that as the shade began to creep over the schoolroom, it also crept over his heart"). Occasional black-and-white photographs help readers visualize Tibet. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(2) 4-6 This second series entry nicely balances normal thirteen-year-old angst with paranormal drama. Self-described "ghost whisperer" Kat finds herself embroiled in a spine-tingling supernatural mystery. Trying to reach the uncommunicative spirit of a boy, Kat comes face-to-face with some of the darker forces vying for her attention. Kat's honest, humorous first-person narration takes the edge off her more frightening otherworldly experiences.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2009

(4) K-3 Illustrated by H. B. Lewis. When Joe's penguin Osbert, who lives at the zoo, shows up at Joe's door with an invitation to the South Pole, Joe agrees to help his friend see the southern lights. After Osbert falls in love with a female penguin, Joe worries he'll never make it home. Rich pastel, watercolor, and digitally rendered illustrations add verve to the slow-paced story.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 4-6 Self-conscious worrywart Phoebe is nervous about starting middle school but excited to join the drama club. She feigns confidence but is starstruck by the older girls, anxious about playing opening-night spin the bottle, and infatuated with a cute boy. Though her best friend, Harper, sounds too mature to be believable, Phoebe's voice and her bumbling navigation of seventh grade are age-appropriate.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. Harriet the hamster, thinking a makeover is key to getting herself out of the pet store, reinvents herself with a flashy new hat and whisker extensions. The transformation is ridiculous, and her sensible sister convinces Harriet to just be herself. The story's moral, though unoriginal, is easy to take as delivered by funny, cuddly, fashion-conscious hamsters.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(2) 4-6 Kat longs to fit in. With a mom who's a medium and Kat's own emerging "spirit sight," this proves difficult. Fellow misfit Jac, a gifted cellist, is new to Kat's school, and with Jac's unwavering support, Kat comes to terms with her supernatural gift. Kat is a smart and witty narrator with a wry sense of humor and keen observations.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2008

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Robert Neubecker. On Career Day, Kimmel's narrator is practically laughed out of class when she says her dad changes light bulbs--until she explains that he changed a bulb atop the Empire State Building. The particulars of his job (which is a real one) are fascinating, and Neubecker captures the beauty of Manhattan's iconic buildings with illustrations comprised of lines, dashes, and dots.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Fourteen-year-old Lily B. thinks a class trip to Paris will be the inspiration for her "Great Parisian Novel." Instead, she finds herself staying in a nondescript youth hostel, eating hot dogs and cold cereal, and getting lost on the Metro. Kimmel gently pokes fun at her protagonist's pretentiousness, revealing Lily's reluctant enjoyment of her experiences as a "simple tourist." Glos.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Landmark Books series. This book tells the intriguing--and ugly--true story of two paleontologists who virtually created the field of study. Cope and Marsh were so intent on outdoing each other they would do anything, even destroy specimens, to prevent the other's success. In this somewhat moralistic volume, readers learn not just about dinosaurs but also about the seamier side of scientific pursuit.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(2) K-3 Illustrated by H. B. Lewis. This Christmas (there have been "a few misunderstandings" in the past), young Joe isn't leaving anything open to interpretation in his letter to Santa: "I would like to have my own pet penguin...a real one." Remarkably, Joe gets his wish. The illustrations effectively convey the frigid winter landscape and the warm friendship in this satisfying tale of pure Christmas magic.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2004

(4) PS Illustrated by Joung Un Kim. "Tell me, of what do you dream?" is the question posed in turn to a series of animate and inanimate objects in this picture book whose circular structure celebrates the interconnectedness of the natural world. While the girl is stiffly rendered, there's a peacefulness to the simple, repetitive text that's mirrored in the impressionistic landscapes.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Basing her account on the few known facts, Kimmel tells how Eriksson grew up in Iceland, went with his parents to Greenland after his father Erik the Red discovered it, and then, following the route reported by an old trader, found and settled Vinland, or Newfoundland. Captioned black-and-white photos and maps illustrate the story, which begins somewhat haltingly but flows into its own. Reading list. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Simple prose explains the goals of the Lewis and Clark expedition, identifies the participants, and describes what occurred along the westward route. The book admirably refuses to speculate on certain topics, such as Clark's servant York's role on the journey (many other books on the subject play up his participation). Maps and historical reproductions add interest. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Lily Blennerhassett, convinced she will be a famous writer one day, keeps a notebook for the benefit of her "future biographers," in which she relates the events of her thirteenth summer. With her best friend away at camp, Lily falls under the spell of some fascinating relatives who turn out to be con artists. Lily's relentless perkiness becomes a bit wearing, but the writing is undeniably lively, and the action nonstop.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano