(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Iain McIntosh. In this latest story about the School Ship Tobermory, students and teachers head to Australia, where they plan to take place in a sailing race. Adventures ensue, including running out of water three days from land, encountering deadly crocodiles, and rescuing a stranded boy. Smith's tone is engaging throughout, and the interplay among the characters feels authentic. McIntosh's expressive pen-and-ink illustrations heighten the drama.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Iain McIntosh. The sequel to School Ship Tobermory follows the diverse international boarding-school ship as it sails from Scotland to the Caribbean. The children befriend and help a local boy and all work together to thwart modern-day pirates. Bullies and bad guys exist at sea and on land in the rollicking sailing adventure reminiscent of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Iain McIntosh. After being homeschooled on their parents' research submarine, twelve-year-old twins Fee and Ben MacTavish choose to attend a nautical boarding school aboard the ship Tobermory. Surrounded by diverse new friends and new ways of life, they quickly get swept up in a mystery at sea. Equal parts classic sea adventure and boarding school story, the lively series-opener includes crosshatched illustrations. Glos.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 1-3 This early chapter book features a young Precious Ramotswe, star of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series for adults. The mystery Precious solves--who is behind the thefts on the school playground?--is audience-appropriate; the prose style is welcoming; the Botswana village setting is evoked clearly. The page design is generous and inviting, with wide margins and plentiful spot illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Akimbo and his cousin help a baboon by removing wire tangled around its leg. Later, when the boys get lost, the same baboon appears to save them. Is this just a coincidence or a humanlike connection? Akimbo is an appealing character, and the African bush, shown in expressive black-and-white illustrations, makes a dramatic setting. Further information about baboons is appended.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Laura Rankin. In "The Perfect Hamburger," Joe helps save a local institution when he discovers the key ingredient for exceptional hamburgers. Nicky and John help their vegetable-loving aunt find happiness in "The Spaghetti Tangle." In "The Doughnut Ring," Jim starts an e-mail chain resulting in millions of doughnuts. McCall Smith's over-the-top humor is tempered by Rankin's relatively restrained black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. After Professor Sardine ruins their parents' detective agency, Max and Maddy take over to foil the evildoer. In Balloons, they join a hot-air balloon race to stop him from sabotaging the balloons. In Chocolate, they travel to Switzerland and solve a series of bank robberies. Arch black-and-white illustrations accompany the humorously far-fetched stories, told with breezy charm. Review covers these titles: Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery and Max & Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. After Professor Sardine ruins their parents' detective agency, Max and Maddy take over to foil the evildoer. In Balloons, they join a hot-air balloon race to stop him from sabotaging the balloons. In Chocolate, they travel to Switzerland and solve a series of bank robberies. Arch black-and-white illustrations accompany the humorously far-fetched stories, told with breezy charm. Review covers these titles: Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery and Max & Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Laura Rankin. When Harriet's five detective aunts invite her to accompany them to the American Wild West, she learns that she has yet another aunt who runs a cattle ranch. Unfortunately, rustlers are roaming the plains. Will Harriet and her aunts be able to save Aunt Formica's cattle? This tongue-in-cheek mystery is fast-paced but assumes a certain naiveté on the part of the reader.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Plucky Akimbo visits his uncle who runs a snake park. They go out together to catch a deadly green mamba, but on the trip home the snake gets out of the bag. Pham's illustrations add interest, but both plot and characterization are markedly thinner than in previous Akimbo books. The last section includes additional information about snakes.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke