(1) K-3 Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. As Astrid's dog Eli ages, Astrid creates a bucket list for them; in the end, the best friends come to understand that it is the togetherness that really matters. A tender tension between the ebullient text and the touching acrylic paintings suggests the inevitability of loss. This poignant picture book captures the special child-dog relationship and the precious value of caring for loved ones.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(3) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Seymour and his (ghost) "mom" Olive go to Scotland to claim his inheritance: a castle from Grumply's uncle Ian. Grumply never liked his uncle's incessant jokes, which only continue to plague him when Ian's ghost pays a visit. This seventh book continues the series' clever narrative format of letters, drawings, newspaper articles, and more; fans will enjoy this pun-filled trip across the Atlantic.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Young Seymour and his caretakers, Grumply (alive) and Olive (a ghost), start a greeting card company but are soon distracted by Grumply's ex-girlfriend, Nadia. Meanwhile, two escaped convicts sneak into town and our mystery-solving family deals with Nadia's threats to publish Grumply's love letters. This funny mock-gothic tale (book six) is told through playful narrative devices: letters, newspaper clippings, and comical black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Three-Ring Rascals series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Sir Sidney's goodhearted cast of performing animals and people take to the Atlantic at the request of a cruise ship captain's lonely young daughter. Series fans will recognize the winning formula: slapstick antics, punny asides, and lessons in kindness (and numerous other subjects) culminate in the circus saving the day. Generous spot art on every page seamlessly sets each scene.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 Three-Ring Rascals series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. The performers in Sir Sidney's Circus are thrown off their game when a newspaper proposes a contest to determine the best performer. Pun- and gag-filled narration, gentle messages about teamwork and kindness, and frequent expressive spot art enrich the quirky, accessible story. Characters' struggles to live up to Sir Sidney's expectations are understatedly complex and will resonate with readers.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. In their fifth book, young Seymour and his collaborators/caretakers Grumply (alive) and Olive (a ghost) land a movie deal for their bestselling on-going serial ghost story, 43 Old Cemetery Road. But Tinseltown isn't all glitter--producer Moe Block Busters changes the script, and fame changes the writers. This mild mock-gothic tale is told through playful narrative devices: letters, newspaper extracts, and black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(2) 4-6 Three-Ring Rascals series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Sir Sidney prides his circus on its solicitous treatment of animals. Who will take over after he retires? Barnabas Brambles wins a one-week trial, but his obsession with turning a profit lands the circus in dire straits. The Klises maintain a light touch with the messaging, and they give the book a comforting unity around kindness. Black-and-white spot art brings the gawky-limbed characters to life.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013

(2) PS Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Larry Lamb finds his grandma's loud singing and secret handshakes "embarrassing." When a community catastrophe extends one of her visits, Grammy Lamby and Larry slowly develop a bond. That Grammy is at first overbearing toward Larry (seen in one illustration counting the days until she leaves) is never in doubt. And, in a final spread, neither is his true affection for her.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Benny's mother leaves because his father collects all manner of so-called treasures. But collector is a euphemism; Benny's dad is a paranoid hoarder, constantly fearing someone will steal his stuff. A too-quick resolution is outweighed by Klise's strong portrayal of a child coping with adult issues beyond his control. Klise effectively tempers Benny's disgust with his father with his love for the man.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(3) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. This fourth book in the series finds the letter-writing family facing the demise of their local post office due to the new "VEXT-mail" technology; meanwhile, Seymour is stuck in the hospital with the Phantom Flu. The Klises' intriguing narrative tactics continue as the story unfolds through letters, newspaper extracts, black-and-white illustrations, and instant message–like VEXT-mail conversations.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. In this third installment about young Seymour and his caretakers (one who's alive, the other a ghost), a mystery and family dilemma are sparked by the discovery of a stray dog and by the reading of a multimillionaire's will. Previous visitors to Old Cemetery Road will continue to enjoy the Klises' clever narrative devices--letters, newspaper extracts, font changes, and well-placed black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(2) YA After Daralynn's father and siblings die, her angry-widow mother, a stylist for a funeral home, lets her daughter out of the house only to assist at work. When Clem's Crematorium threatens Mom's livelihood, Daralynn decides to investigate the owner. This improbably lighthearted mystery, told from Daralynn's entertainingly candid perspective, deals with death and its aftermath in a straightforward style.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2010

(3) K-3 Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Kate Klise assumes the voice of real-life giantess Ella Kate Ewing (b. 1872), who, at eight feet, four inches tall, achieved financial independence as a traveling-circus attraction. The story's particulars are startling, but the book's message, best expressed by its title, applies to readers of all sizes. M. Sarah Klise's capable art shows an outsize woman with heart, grit, and grace.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. After Mother Rabbit forbids him to go to the circus until he cleans his playroom, Little Rabbit sneaks off and informs the ringmaster of his act involving the "Mysterious Marvel of a Maternal Monstrosity." It's more than just a great setup: what follows is wholly satisfying--and surprising. Delicate acrylic illustrations evidence an unerring eye for the detritus of a child's play space.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Olive C. Spence, the ghost of a never-published children's writer, encounters Ignatius B. Grumply, a (live) children's author experiencing writer's block. Together they write a ghost story, illustrated by eleven-year-old Seymour Hope. The fun here is in the narrative equipment--letters, e-mails, newspaper extracts, cast list--and embedded jokes. Mock-gothic fans will be eager to revisit 43 Old Cemetery Road in the anticipated sequels.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2009

(3) 4-6 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. This sequel to Dying to Meet You begins with eleven-year-old Seymour Hope living happily with Ignatius B. Grumply (alive) and Olive C. Spence (a ghost). Their satisfactory arrangement changes abruptly when meddling Dick Tater butts in. As with the first book, the story's fun is in its narrative devices: letters, newspaper excerpts, legal transcripts, etc., all accompanied by unfussy black-and-white spot illustrations.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. Anxiety over a school report gives Little Rabbit a visit from the formidable "night mare." When Little Rabbit inadvertently confronts the mare (a tousled blanket and pillow resembling a horse), he finds it's not so scary. The textured acrylics have fun with color, giving more than enough details to make readers want to linger on each page and explore a little longer.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(2) PS Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. In this third Little Rabbit book, readers meet his best (but imaginary) friend, Harry. Things inevitably change when Little Rabbit begins school. Sarah Klise's fanciful acrylics include sherbet-colored backgrounds and the Rabbit home's warmly lit interiors. The final wistful image sums up this quiet, comfortably familiar story: Little Rabbit may have moved on, but he hasn't forgotten his first best friend.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2007

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. The seventh graders at Geyser Creek Middle School pass the state mandated tests not by preparing for them but by studying the history and science of beekeeping. This fifth book in the series is, like the others, written as letters, memos, newspaper articles, and ephemera. The plot is slight, but the story and illustrations are accessible and entertaining.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise. The fourth book about the intrepid students of Geyser Creek Middle School focuses on a summer bathroom remodel. As she does in Regarding the Fountain, Kate Klise tells the story through a series of letters, articles, memos, and transcripts. The clever if far-fetched mystery has a satisfying ending and lots of bathroom humor--a winning combination.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth