(3) K-3 With humor and clarity, Sheneman traces the evolution of birds, from meat-eating theropods to the fine-feathered friends we know today. The colorful, cartoonlike illustrations help convey information; the dinosaurs and their bird relations have their say in goofy speech bubbles. Many readers may be familiar with the bird/dinosaur connection, but Sheneman takes a closer look at how birds' prehistoric ancestors avoided extinction. An illustrated "Highlights of Avian History" is appended. Pair with Dennis Nolan's Dinosaur Feathers.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Young scout Gertie encounters a hungry brown bear in the woods and sees an opportunity: "If I help you, I'll earn my Wildlife Buddy Merit Badge, so let's find you some lunch." The bear is the perfect straight man for Gertie, who would win a bossiness competition against Lucy van Pelt. The comics-style art captures their humorous exchanges and eventual mutual appreciation.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 A mother bird thinks her baby is ready to fly from the nest; baby keeps saying "Nope!" Since this book is basically wordless but for the titular cry and occasional sound effect ("Boop"), Sheneman's art does the storytelling, and it does so vividly, especially the illustrations revealing what the little bird thinks it sees when it (gulp) looks down.

Reviewer: Nell Beram