(3) 4-6 A thorough account of the causes, harsh realities, and legacy of the "war to end all wars," this book focuses on U.S. involvement in WWI. Osborne explores the role of African Americans and women, how the war affected lives back home, and its impact on international and domestic politics. Photographs, maps, and primary sources help tell the story. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by AG Ford. Jack and Annie learn more than the basics of baseball from master player Jackie Robinson when they travel back to 1947 Brooklyn, where they work as batboys in Robinson's historic first Dodgers game. Sports history and the effects of racism are woven into this latest fast-paced and accessible installment in the popular series; black-and-white illustrations are included throughout.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) YA Covering the full sweep of American immigration, from the English settlers who first came to Jamestown, Virginia, to the immigrants and refugees of today, this excellent history highlights the complex issues and conflicting opinions that the U.S. has always faced. Strong archival and contemporary images; a handsome, clear layout; and extensive quotes throughout the text add value. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Jack and Annie travel via the magic tree house to 1925 Nome, Alaska, where a diphtheria epidemic threatens the residents. The siblings assist dogsled driver Gunnar Kaasen and his team--including famed husky Balto--in completing the last leg of the historic Great Race of Mercy to deliver much-needed medicine. Fast-paced chapters, plentiful black-and-white illustrations, and the series' signature format make this a successful installment.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Illustrated by S. M. Saelig. In a dream fantasy, a white winged horse carries a young girl on a journey through the night sky. Facts about stars and constellations are woven into the narrative, though the copious information slows the pace of the story. The soft-focus illustrations bring the fantastic text to life.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. This time it's Guinevere, not Merlin, who summons Jack and Annie to Camelot. They must solve a riddle, trick a band of robbers, and find a missing dragon, all to save the gravely wounded King Arthur. Another magical adventure in the popular series, this highly readable and exciting narrative is ably accompanied by numerous black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) K-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Magic Tree House series stars, Jack and Annie, have collected a ton of amazing, weird, and gross facts on their numerous trips, organized here into thirteen categories (e.g., "Birds," "Spectacular Space," "Famous Landmarks") for young readers to explore. The kids appear with their signature notebooks and guiding comments throughout. Short sentences and a jazzy layout with vivid photographs help focus and maintain interest. Ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, fifteen-year-old Tygo (under duress) loots abandoned Dutch homes for the Germans. On the job, he discovers a girl in hiding who provides another perspective on his desperate plight. Osborne's somewhat loose approach to historical events embraces "what if" scenarios; in this case, a last-ditch attempt by Hitler to attack New York. A cinematic read with plenty of action and adventure. Historical note appended.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Time-traveling siblings Annie and Jack are given a surprise mission: go on vacation. They pick Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula, hoping for a peaceful tropical holiday. Instead, they find themselves fending off shark attacks and being groomed to inherit a Mayan kingdom. The series' trademark fast-paced action and cliffhanger chapter endings propel the plot. Murdocca's black-and-white illustrations provide welcome resting places.

Reviewer: Breanna J. MCDaniel

(4) 4-6 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Jack and Annie travel back to 1944 to rescue their friend Kathleen in the French countryside. The siblings find their courage and quick wits are critical when magic isn't available. The text, which is geared toward middle graders, borders on lecture toward the end, but like the chapter books for younger kids, this is a creative mending of magic and history. Detailed back matter provides more information.

Reviewer: Breanna J. MCDaniel

(3) K-3 Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series. Illustrated by Carlo Molinari. This companion to Viking Ships at Sunrise introduces independent readers to more detailed information about Vikings. Exploration, warriors, religion, daily life, burial customs, and farming are discussed in the accessible and engaging text. Black-and-white illustrations and photographs enhance the presentation and help break up the text. A list of museums with Viking exhibits is included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Siblings Jack and Annie are off on two more time-traveling adventures for Merlin the Magician. They journey to mid-nineteenth-century Egypt in search of Florence Nightingale in High Time and to Coney Island at the turn of the last century in Houdini. The series' formula, which blends magic, adventure, sibling dynamics, and history, is successful in these fiftieth and fifty-first installments. Review covers these Magic Tree House titles: High Time for Heroes and Hurry Up, Houdini!

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Jack and Annie offer tips for surviving the wilderness, disasters, and menacing encounters. Some advice is practical (stay hydrated in extreme heat); some is tongue-in-cheek (if a T. rex visits, "Call the police!"). The variety of design elements (color photos, different colored backgrounds, numbered lists, paper-clipped note cards, illustrations) is lively and engaging. A working compass is embedded in the cover.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Chatty text describes the popularity, history, rules, and star players of the sport. World Cup information is outdated, but this is more than made up for by the compelling final chapter, "Soccer Changes Lives" (for example, in Sudan, rehab for former child soldiers includes learning the sport). Cartoony illustrations and black-and-white photos are included, as is research guidance. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Merlin charges Jack and Annie to find four qualities that define greatness in a person. For the first, the subject of this book, they use the magic tree house to visit twelve-year-old Alexander the Great in ancient Macedonia. When arrogant Alexander wants an untamable horse, the children teach him humility. Though formulaic, this breezy chapter book imparts interesting historical information.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Siblings Jack and Annie are off on two more time-traveling adventures for Merlin the Magician. They journey to mid-nineteenth-century Egypt in search of Florence Nightingale in High Time and to Coney Island at the turn of the last century in Houdini. The series' formula, which blends magic, adventure, sibling dynamics, and history, is successful in these fiftieth and fifty-first installments. Review covers these Magic Tree House titles: High Time for Heroes and Hurry Up, Houdini!

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. This full-color edition of the second book in the popular series includes ten pages reprinted from the companion reference book, Knights and Castles. Color gives the story a fresh, inviting look, and the slight fantasy--in which two siblings time travel to a medieval castle--is accessible if insubstantial fare for newly independent readers.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Magic Tree House series. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. This companion to Hurry Up, Houdini! gives step-by-step instructions for thirty-five basic magic tricks, including "The Disappearing Paper Clip," "The Missing Coin," and "The Balancing Egg." An introduction provides advice for aspiring magicians such as the importance of practice, the art of misdirection, and use of props. Tips and facts in the margins enrich the presentation; black-and-white illustrations clarify some directions. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Two teenaged German refugees in WWII England are recruited for a secret mission: remove nine-year-old Angelika (Hitler's possible daughter) from a convent in Bavaria and bring her to Switzerland. Cinematically crafted scenes provide non-stop action and an explosive ending. Over-the-top characterizations of heroic adolescents flying planes, shooting machine guns, and dodging ammunition result in a historical adventure that is less than realistic.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 This companion to Traveling the Freedom Road offers an in-depth history of the Jim Crow years, from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) through Brown v. Board of Education (1954). The well-written, readable volume is at its best in demonstrating the precursors ushered in during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Photographs are well chosen and superb.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider