(3) 4-6 Made by Hand series. To show the history of the steel drum (also called a pan), Lakin navigates histories of colonialism and slavery in Trinidad, not avoiding darker realities despite the book's focus on the instrument. Readers then "meet" a contemporary drum craftsman and entrepreneur and are walked through his process. The subject is made accessible through clear text, large photographs, and stylish design elements. Includes instrument-making projects. Reading list, timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Made by Hand series. These books celebrate two entrepreneurial craftsmen who operate successful businesses constructing handmade sports products: Aaron Dykstra, designer and builder of bicycles; and Jake Eshelman, an avid skateboarder as a youth and now the creator of quality boards for others. The books illustrate the step-by-step process each man follows to construct one of his products. Appended suggestions encourage readers' creativity. Timeline, websites. Glos. Review covers these Made by Hand titles: Bicycles and Skateboards.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Made by Hand series. These books celebrate two entrepreneurial craftsmen who operate successful businesses constructing handmade sports products: Aaron Dykstra, designer and builder of bicycles; and Jake Eshelman, an avid skateboarder as a youth and now the creator of quality boards for others. The books illustrate the step-by-step process each man follows to construct one of his products. Appended suggestions encourage readers' creativity. Timeline, websites. Glos. Review covers these Made by Hand titles: Bicycles and Skateboards.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Secrets of American History series. Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti. Spy tactics and tricks of the founding fathers and their companions are revealed in this entertaining beginning-reader look at Revolutionary War history. Full-color cartoonlike illustrations accompany brief level-appropriate chapters providing a general overview of the war in addition to the more kid-friendly topics of secret messages, invisible ink, and codes. Activities and a quiz are appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Secrets of American History series. Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti. This beginning reader introduces unconventional, heroic spies of the Civil War. Lakin's engaging, accessible prose and Fabbretti's cartoonlike illustrations tell the stories of several African American former slaves who played important roles, including Harriet Tubman, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, and Robert Smalls. Brief biographies of female soldiers, an overview of the American flag, information about ciphers, and a quiz are appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Penguin Young Readers series. Illustrated by Cale Atkinson. A car named Bud enters a race with some other cars, all cheerfully illustrated. Bud gets distracted playing in a mud puddle. He refocuses, finishes the race, loses, and displays good sportsmanship: "I vroomed. / I zoomed. / I went fast. / And someone had / to come in last." The rhyming text occasionally sputters, but Bud is a winning character.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Real-Life Story series. These well-researched biographies (accompanied by black-and-white photo inserts) detail the subjects' lives, starting with early childhood and moving thoughtfully through career highs and lows. Engaging, accessible descriptions of complicated issues in Bush and Obama balance the mostly complementary tone and provide a compelling introduction to the political process. Jobs respectfully traces the evolution of a sometimes challenging but visionary personality. Timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Real-Life Story titles: Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Steve Jobs.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kirstie Edmunds. In two silly stories, chipmunk Lulu and squirrel Bruno, imaginative friends who live on a playground, trick the mean playground cats out of their cupcakes and pretend to swing, slide, etc. while actually in time-out. The plot lines wander, but simple speech-bubble text makes this lengthy easy reader suited for shared reading; sunny digital art adds to the jovial tone.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) 4-6 This well-written biography introduces computer genius and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. From the mischievous boy and free-spirited college dropout to the outspoken, often emotional businessman and entrepreneur, Lakin's narrative relies heavily on Jobs's own words, business and news articles, and the recent Walter Isaacson adult biography. The absence of supplemental photographs and back matter weakens an otherwise thorough portrayal. Source notes.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Scott Nash. Four energetic crocodile friends go camping, armed with plenty of supplies and enthusiasm. Once night falls, though, the intrepid adventurers scare themselves, and they return home to camp in the backyard. Supported by bright, colorful illustrations, the text's simple vocabulary, word repetition, rhyme, and large font make the silly story accessible.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS Illustrated by Scott Nash. Despite the rain, crocodiles Sam, Pam, Will, and Jill go outside to play. But when mini-golf and baseball prove challenging, a friendly dog takes them to the perfect place for a rainy day: the library. The bright, bold illustrations and black type combine for a clean design. The text, with its fractured rhythm, is as much a celebration of words as it is a cohesive story.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Brian Floca. Classroom pet hamsters Max and Mo watch the students make paper snowflakes then rush outside to play in the snow. It's too cold out for Max and Mo, so they build their own snowman with supplies they find around the room. Though the text is stilted, the vocabulary is easy to read. Delicate line illustrations add appeal. A craft project is appended.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Brian Floca. In School, hamster friends Max and Mo move to the art room (though it's unclear why), sneak out of their cage, and make nametags for themselves. In Apple, they snack on some homemade applesauce (recipe included). Though the plots are confusing, the vocabulary is easy to read; clean, delicate-line illustrations add appeal. A craft project is appended to each story. Review covers these Ready-to-Read titles: Max & Mo Go Apple Picking and Max & Mo's First Day at School.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Brian Floca. In School, hamster friends Max and Mo move to the art room (though it's unclear why), sneak out of their cage, and make nametags for themselves. In Apple, they snack on some homemade applesauce (recipe included). Though the plots are confusing, the vocabulary is easy to read; clean, delicate-line illustrations add appeal. A craft project is appended to each story. Review covers these Ready-to-Read titles: Max & Mo Go Apple Picking and Max & Mo's First Day at School.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Stories of Famous Americans series. Illustrated by Bob Dacey & Debra Bandelin. Abigail Adams's strong will and devotion to family, in addition to her independent intellectual life, come through in this simple, easy-to-read biography. Some of the ideas presented are quite sophisticated for early readers; quotes from Adams are woven into the story. The colorful watercolor-washed pages and pictures adequately illustrate the scenes but are somewhat bland and static. Timeline.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) PS Illustrated by Scott Nash. On a hot, sunny day, four crocodiles decide to cool down at the beach. But they get sidetracked when they discover a park playground, get lost, stop for a picnic lunch, then take naps. They finally reach the beach at nighttime for a moonlight swim. Lakin's fast-paced and spare text is enlivened by Nash's gleefully expressive illustrations.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Stories of Famous Americans series. Illustrated by Simon Sullivan. Barton's childhood, her early life helping soldiers during the Civil War, and her founding of the American Red Cross are briefly detailed in this biography for emergent readers. The information is sound, but the illustrations are awkward, and at times Barton looks grotesque, as if Sullivan is ramming home the reference to her homeliness made in the text. Timeline.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Childhood of Famous Americans series. Illustrated by Alan Daniel & Lea Daniel. Each of the books in this series intended for emerging readers fictionalizes a childhood episode from the life of a notable historical figure. Earhart, which is divided into chapters and intended for proficient readers, is longer and more detailed (and includes more exclamation points) than the other titles. Illustrated with cartoony color art, the books provide adequate introductions. Timeline. [Review covers these Ready-to-Read titles: Mark Twain at Work!, Thomas Edison to the Rescue!, Sacagawea and the Bravest Deed, and Amelia Earhart.]

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Diana Magnuson. Each of the early readers in this series takes an anecdote, true or not, from its subject's youth and presents it as a reflection of the notable figure he or she grew up to become. Although the realistic illustrations are rather stiff, the books do give fairly entertaining glimpses into the three individuals' lives and personalities. A timeline of the subject's life follows each story. [Review covers these titles: Betsy Ross and the Silver Thimble, Abe Lincoln and the Muddy Pig, Helen Keller and the Big Storm.]

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) PS Illustrated by Scott Nash. Upon awakening to snowfall, four crocodiles prepare to spend the day sledding--until one remarks that they've all forgotten the matter of school. All four return to their homes, phone the "CROC-O NEWS," and--in an exquisite twist that truly surprises--identify themselves as "Principal Sam," "Principal Pam," etc., and declare a snow day. Nash's candy-colored illustrations perfectly capture the giddy mood.

Reviewer: Nell Beram