(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cathy Morrison. "Nature is all around us, even in the city." This illuminating book invites readers to explore an urban environment with dog Scooter, who encounters bats under a bridge, starlings by a dumpster, etc. A rather awkward narrative gimmick prompts readers to spot what Scooter misses in the slick digital art (e.g., "He doesn't see the tracks... What he does see...). Extensive supplemental information appended.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Trina L. Hunner. This story, accompanied by detailed illustrations, introduces numerous creatures that live near a coral reef. It follows Kiki the green sea turtle as she hatches, avoids predators, grows, and returns to her home beach to lay eggs. The informational text is paired on each spread with a superfluous two-line rhyming stanza. Useful additional facts, activities, and a map are appended.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Trina L. Hunner. When a stray cat appears at a community farm, she is welcomed by the farmers and makes herself at home among the plants. Molly the cat's presence steers the text's discussion of organic farming, with back matter adding more details about topics such as crop rotation, companion planting, and compost. The child-friendly illustrations, including photos of the real-life Molly, complement the approachable story.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Louise Schroeder. Armed with a twelve-item checklist, a team of five cartoon bluebirds flies worldwide to view avian extremes such as "fastest-moving" and "pinkest." Useful sidebars include "Field Guide" compare-and-contrast details about the record-setting creatures; serious birders will likely want to skip the forced story and focus their attention on the facts. Illustrations differentiate between the cartoon animals and their quarry.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Louise Schroeder. In this follow-up to The Blues Go Birding Across America, a bird family travels along the American coastline, meeting a plethora of feathered friends along the way. It's less compelling as a story than as a birding guide; interested readers might want to skip the pun-laden text and go straight to the informative sidebars with accurate illustrations of the various birds.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Louise Schroeder. A bluebird band travels across the U.S. in search of a new song, seeking inspiration from birds in different regions (an albatross in Hawaii, a mallard in Massachusetts, etc.). Page spreads are rather busy (with text, speech bubbles, birding tips, notebook entries, and field guide excerpts), but the volume is a clever intro to birding. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister