(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. The four gumshoes try to uncover what Brian and Bradley's new neighbors are building in their backyard (Night); they find a lost puppy and follow clues to locate its owner (Dog); and the kids hope to catch two suspicious people they think are planning a big neighborhood heist (Thieves). New chapter-book readers will enjoy the latest slight holiday-themed mysteries with generous black-and-white illustrations. Review covers these Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries titles: December Dog, New Year's Even Thieves, and November Night.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. The four gumshoes try to uncover what Brian and Bradley's new neighbors are building in their backyard (Night); they find a lost puppy and follow clues to locate its owner (Dog); and the kids hope to catch two suspicious people they think are planning a big neighborhood heist (Thieves). New chapter-book readers will enjoy the latest slight holiday-themed mysteries with generous black-and-white illustrations. Review covers these Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries titles: December Dog, New Year's Even Thieves, and November Night.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. The four gumshoes try to uncover what Brian and Bradley's new neighbors are building in their backyard (Night); they find a lost puppy and follow clues to locate its owner (Dog); and the kids hope to catch two suspicious people they think are planning a big neighborhood heist (Thieves). New chapter-book readers will enjoy the latest slight holiday-themed mysteries with generous black-and-white illustrations. Review covers these Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries titles: December Dog, New Year's Even Thieves, and November Night.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. In July, Brian, Bradley, Nate, and Lucy search for pony Polly and Pal the dog, both of whom disappear before the mayor's pet costume contest. In August, the sleuthing quartet uncovers the identity of a mysterious masked acrobat while helping a traveling circus. Both books' text and black-and-white illustrations have kid appeal, but dialogue and characters are flat. Review covers these Calendar Mysteries titles: July Jitters and August Acrobat.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. In July, Brian, Bradley, Nate, and Lucy search for pony Polly and Pal the dog, both of whom disappear before the mayor's pet costume contest. In August, the sleuthing quartet uncovers the identity of a mysterious masked acrobat while helping a traveling circus. Both books' text and black-and-white illustrations have kid appeal, but dialogue and characters are flat. Review covers these Calendar Mysteries titles: July Jitters and August Acrobat.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. In February, the first grade receives a mysterious rabbit for Valentine's Day; twins Brian and Bradley and friends Nate and Lucy figure out where it came from. March finds them cracking the case of disappearing leprechaun statues. In April, they search for the person--or thing--that stole their Easter eggs. The mysteries are enjoyable but lack depth and character development. Review covers these Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries titles: April Adventures, February Friend, and March Mischief.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. In February, the first grade receives a mysterious rabbit for Valentine's Day; twins Brian and Bradley and friends Nate and Lucy figure out where it came from. March finds them cracking the case of disappearing leprechaun statues. In April, they search for the person--or thing--that stole their Easter eggs. The mysteries are enjoyable but lack depth and character development. Review covers these Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries titles: April Adventures, February Friend, and March Mischief.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. In February, the first grade receives a mysterious rabbit for Valentine's Day; twins Brian and Bradley and friends Nate and Lucy figure out where it came from. March finds them cracking the case of disappearing leprechaun statues. In April, they search for the person--or thing--that stole their Easter eggs. The mysteries are enjoyable but lack depth and character development. Review covers these Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries titles: April Adventures, February Friend, and March Mischief.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Calendar Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. Twins Bradley and Brian and their friends Nate and Lucy see bright lights and strange tracks in the snow. Then their older siblings, who are supposed to be babysitting, go missing. Have aliens abducted them? In a series of comical episodes, the four first graders unravel the mystery. Though the characters are cardboard, the story is entertaining.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Capital Mysteries series. Illustrated by Timothy Bush. KC, the U.S. president's stepdaughter, finds Thomas Jefferson's long-lost horse miniatures. She, her mother, and friend Marshall take the collectibles to Monticello. No sooner are the knickknacks locked up safely when someone steals them; KC and Marshall start sleuthing, determined to find the thief. The mystery suffers from a serious oversimplification of history but does provide basic information about Jefferson's historic home.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. While visiting Washington, D.C., around Christmastime, Ruth Rose, Dink, and Josh meet KC and Marshall (from the Capital Mysteries series) playing with the president's dog, Natasha, on the White House lawn. KC invites them in, and after exploring the White House, the children and Natasha are kidnapped. The not-very-realistic story is nevertheless mildly entertaining. The black-and-white illustrations include a hidden message.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Capital Mysteries series. Illustrated by Timothy Bush. To raise money for endangered tigers, the Chinese government lends the National Zoo a valuable jewel. At the presentation ceremony, the lights go out and the jewel disappears. It's up to K.C. (stepdaughter of the president) and her friend to find the thief. Though the characters remain two-dimensional, the plot is slightly more engaging and less far-fetched than others in this series.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose explore Plymouth, Massachusetts. They learn about a necklace that was stolen from a pilgrim, and the sleuthing pals set out to try to solve the mystery of its current whereabouts, encountering adventure, minor danger, and some American history along the way. Illustrated with black-and-white drawings, this entry follows the series's formula: fast-paced plot, little character development.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. The last four books in this popular series continue the adventures of amateur detectives--and best friends--Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. There is no great character development or plotting but enough suspense to keep children reading. The books are illustrated with black-and-white drawings. Review covers these A to Z Mysteries titles: The White Wolf, The X'ed-Out X-ray, The Yellow Yacht, and The Zombie Zone.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. The last four books in this popular series continue the adventures of amateur detectives--and best friends--Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. There is no great character development or plotting but enough suspense to keep children reading. The books are illustrated with black-and-white drawings. Review covers these A to Z Mysteries titles: The White Wolf, The X'ed-Out X-ray, The Yellow Yacht, and The Zombie Zone.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. The last four books in this popular series continue the adventures of amateur detectives--and best friends--Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. There is no great character development or plotting but enough suspense to keep children reading. The books are illustrated with black-and-white drawings. Review covers these A to Z Mysteries titles: The White Wolf, The X'ed-Out X-ray, The Yellow Yacht, and The Zombie Zone.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. The last four books in this popular series continue the adventures of amateur detectives--and best friends--Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. There is no great character development or plotting but enough suspense to keep children reading. The books are illustrated with black-and-white drawings. Review covers these A to Z Mysteries titles: The White Wolf, The X'ed-Out X-ray, The Yellow Yacht, and The Zombie Zone.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 1-3 Capital Mysteries series. Illustrated by Timothy Bush. KC and her friend Marshall investigate a man who claims that he's the rightful heir to the fortune that endowed the Smithsonian Institution. The premise is silly, but early readers will have a good time piecing together the clues in this fast-paced story. Serviceable black-and-white images appear throughout.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. When the school skeleton model vanishes from the nurse's office, sleuth friends Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose follow clues (a footprint, a key) to track it down. Although tamer than the usual A to Z fare (the culprit is the principal, having an April Fools' Day joke), the formulaic series will still appeal to fans. Benign black-and-white illustrations break up the short, quick chapters.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 1-3 A to Z Mysteries series. Illustrated by John Steven Gurney. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose help figure out what has become of money stolen out of an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex. The detective trio wind up stuck inside the dinosaur but use their intelligence to get back out. It's formulaic, but the formula still works and will help encourage new readers to keep turning the pages until the mystery is solved.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke