(3) 1-3 Color by Jose Garibaldi. In Pilkey's latest cartoon-style graphic novel for young and reluctant readers, George and Harold turn to William Golding's Lord of the Flies in a frenetic existential exploration of goodness. Delving into his past, Petey (Dog Man's feline nemesis) reveals the root of his evil: childhood betrayal; meanwhile, clone Li'l Petey balances the nonstop action with innocent wisdom, probing questions (the constant why?), and silly-terrible knock-knock jokes.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Translated by Nuria Molinero. Color by Jose Garibaldi. In this thoughtful and eminently readable Spanish translation of the third installment (Tale of Two Kitties) in Pilkey's Dog Man graphic-novel series, translator Molinero has clearly taken care to provide an understandable Spanish-language text for beginning readers of Spanish, regardless of their national origin. The thoughtfulness extends to Pilkey's child-emulating cartoon-style illustrations, where all the signs, storefronts, and advertising are here in Spanish.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers/Colección luz verde series. Translated by Carlos E. Calvo. These easy-reader Spanish translations of two classic Big Dog and Little Dog books (originally published as board books) perfectly match Pilkey's characteristically droll, understated tone. The bilingual text is accompanied by hilarious illustrations that make the stories accessible to readers in any language. These books are excellent choices for librarians looking for bilingual easy readers. Related activities are appended. Review covers these Green Light Readers books: Perrazo y Perrito se equivocan / Big Dog and Little Dog Making a Mistake and Perrazo y Perrito se meten en problemas / Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) 1-3 Color by Jose Garibaldi. In this fourth Dog Man graphic novel, fifth graders George and Harold spoof Steinbeck's East of Eden to humorously explore themes of paternal rejection, inherited depravity, and free will; the canine superhero, an action-movie set, and a mechanized hot-dog army all factor in. With Pilkey's customary light touch and child-emulating cartooning style, this hilarious parody is pure genius. "Flip-o-ramas" and drawing instructions included.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers/Colección luz verde series. Translated by Carlos E. Calvo. These easy-reader Spanish translations of two classic Big Dog and Little Dog books (originally published as board books) perfectly match Pilkey's characteristically droll, understated tone. The bilingual text is accompanied by hilarious illustrations that make the stories accessible to readers in any language. These books are excellent choices for librarians looking for bilingual easy readers. Related activities are appended. Review covers these Green Light Readers books: Perrazo y Perrito se equivocan / Big Dog and Little Dog Making a Mistake and Perrazo y Perrito se meten en problemas / Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) K-3 Translated by Nuria Molinero. Color by Jose Garibaldi. This is a Spanish edition of the bestselling graphic novel about the crime-fighting canine-human-hybrid (Dog Man). Molinero has done a terrific job of translating Pilkey's text into a popular idiom that young Spanish-speakers will readily understand; the publisher has deftly recreated the lettering and design elements in Spanish. This is a definite go-to for librarians looking for high-interest Spanish titles.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) 1-3 Color by Jose Garibaldi. Hoping to double his villainy, cat Petey (Dog Man's nemesis) clones himself but accidentally creates a sweet young clone; Li'l Petey wins everyone over, including his creator. Peppered with Dickensian allusions and "flip-o-ramas," this third series entry highlights the redemptive power of love and friendship. Pilkey's child-emulating cartoon style never condescends, and the graphic novel brims with cleverness, humor, and action.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 1-3 Captain Underpants series. Color by Jose Garibaldi. The fourth book in the wildly popular series is "now in full color." Provoked by class cut-ups George and Harold, Professor Poopypants goes mad, inhabits the shell of a giant robot, and shrinks down the school. While this installment's humor seems a little desperate, the hues selected for this colorized edition are admirably restrained. Fun facts are appended.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(2) K-3 This Caldecott Honor book is "newly remastered." A lyrical combination of text and pictures describes the predawn routine of a paperboy and his dog as they force themselves from bed, make their rounds, and return at daybreak for a well-deserved nap and a chance to dream. Rich and inviting in palette, the art emphasizes balance and geometric form. A meditative evocation of the extraordinary aspects of ordinary living.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1996

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. President Penguin of Pluto, enraged that Squeakyville's scientists have dropped Pluto from its planet status, rockets to Earth to avenge Pluto's demotion. Ricky and his Mighty Robot step up, but it's Ricky's precocious cousin, Lucy, who ultimately saves the day. The fast-paced, full-color mash-up of chapter book, comics, and "flip-o-rama" pages should pull reluctant readers into another silly and slight Ricky Ricotta story.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 1-3 Color by Jose Garibaldi. George and Harold (of Captain Underpants fame) return to create a new comic book, with childlike illustrations, handwriting, and humor, as well as "flip-o-ramas" and angry teacher intrusions. After a bombing gone awry, an operation--a canine head sewn onto a cop's body--renders the ultimate crime-fighter. This unlikely premise provides excellent fodder, and the book operates smoothly within its own logic.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 1-3 Color by Jose Garibaldi. With his endearing (if frustratingly dog-like) behavior, the canine-human-hybrid hero (Dog Man) returns to help his police colleagues protect their city from unlikely villains. Pilkey's humor and child-emulating cartoon style, which will be familiar to his Captain Underpants fans, does not disappoint readers of this second installment, and abundant "flip-o-ramas" and other extra features add excitement.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Originally published as board books, these endearing stories about dog buddies are now available in easy-reader editions--an effective new format for the well-loved books. The texts are simple enough for new readers to master, and the visual jokes in the brightly colored illustrations enhance the deadpan narratives. Six pages of related activities are appended to each book. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble, Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk, and Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. In this installment of the newly illustrated series, Ricky wishes for a size-appropriate friend for his giant robot; the wish comes true, but the Ladybot is key to an alien's plan to take over Earth. The slight plot is accompanied by full-color digital art. With several "flip-o-rama" animation pages and embedded comic-book sequences, this chapter book will appeal to reluctant readers.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Originally published as a board book, this endearing story about dog buddies is now available in an easy-reader format. The text is simple enough for new readers to master, and the visual jokes enhance the deadpan narrative. The brightly colored illustrations enliven the amusing story.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 This latest adventure is as wacky, high-energy, and heavily illustrated as its predecessors. The boys travel twenty years into the future to meet their grown-up selves (a graphic novelist and graphic novel artist!); the foursome return to the present to thwart the evil plans of their gym teacher, a.k.a. Sir Stinks-A-Lot. Refreshingly, future Harold's same-sex marriage is a non-issue.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dan Santat. Ricky Ricotta has a whole new look in these repackaged editions. The intrepid mouse still vanquishes neighborhood bullies, but now the slight plots are accompanied by original full-color digital art by Santat. With several "flip-o-rama" animation pages and comic-book sequences embedded in the stories, reluctant readers will appreciate chapter books that are easy to get through. Review covers these titles: Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter and Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Originally published as board books, these endearing stories about dog buddies are now available in easy-reader editions--an effective new format for the well-loved books. The texts are simple enough for new readers to master, and the visual jokes in the brightly colored illustrations enhance the deadpan narratives. Six pages of related activities are appended to each book. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble, Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk, and Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Originally published as board books, these endearing stories about dog buddies are now available in easy-reader editions--an effective new format for the well-loved books. The texts are simple enough for new readers to master, and the visual jokes in the brightly colored illustrations enhance the deadpan narratives. Six pages of related activities are appended to each book. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble, Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk, and Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Color by Jose Garibaldi. In this installment in the popular series--"now in full color"--space aliens plot to take over the world. They begin by getting jobs as lunchroom ladies at Horwitz Elementary. Enter Captain Underpants (Principal Krupp), who, assisted by young cut-ups George and Harold, saves the day. This colorized version is admirably visually restrained (though hardly an inch of blank space remains).

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.