(3) PS Illustrated by Samantha Cotterill. In this tongue-in-cheek story perfect for reading aloud, Jinx and her little brother, "the Doom," spend their days pretending to be superheroes who fight crime. Humorous cut-paper illustrations photographed to appear three-dimensional juxtapose their fantasy adventures with real-life events--for example, the art reveals that a difficult assignment from "headquarters" is actually a request from Mom to wash the dog.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hyewon Yum. A goldfish-size narwhal languishes in the confines of a fishbowl. To cheer her up, her owner and three other children with their own unusual pets--giraffe, penguin, and bat--take her on a walk into town. Yum's cheery colored-pencil and gouache illustrations mitigate any sense of tragic captivity; the story culminates with a clever means of bringing broader glimpses of the world inside for the narwhal to enjoy.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez. Lizzie feels rejected by her older sister Jane, who's busy all week with friends, homework, and after-school activities. Lizzie uses her imagination to create a scrapbook story in time for Saturday, Jane's only free day; come "Sister Day," Jane surprises Lizzie (and readers) right back with a homemade glitter-glue T-shirt. Lively digital illustrations with warm, homey details enhance this sweet celebration of sisters.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. A boy and his tiny pet elephant attempt to attend a Pet Club meeting, but a "No Elephants" sign thwarts their plans. They form their own all-inclusive club, along with a girl and her skunk ("He doesn't stink"), and welcome everyone. The story's heavy-handed message about what constitutes true friendship is made more palatable by Yoo's block print illustrations, which add emotional depth.

Reviewer: Julia Jacques

(4) YA Readers will either glory in the book's stylistic creativity or throw their hands up in confusion as love triangle, comic romp, and fantastical adventure collide in the continuing theatrical and magical escapades of Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Mantchev's preference for description and characterization over exposition and world building may frustrate readers unfamiliar with the first two volumes (Eyes like Stars, Perchance to Dream).

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) YA In this imaginative, romance-filled sequel to Eyes like Stars, seventeen-year-old Bertie Shakespeare Smith leaves her home, the enchanted Théâtre Illuminata, to rescue Nate, her kidnapped pirate boyfriend. Bertie's words hold magic: everything she writes happens, but outside of the Théâtre, things go awry. The plot sometimes wanders; however, the fantasy's inventiveness and contingent of acerbic Shakespearean fairies will especially please theater buffs.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) YA All the world is literally a stage for Bertie, who lives in a magical theater filled with wandering characters and quarrelsome department managers. To avoid exile into the real world, Bertie must prove her worth by directing a production. The story, stuffed full of Shakespeare characters and wisecracking fairies (sometimes at the expense of pacing and plot), features a richly imagined setting.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac