(3) 4-6 Translated by Chantal Wright. Rico's mom calls him a "child proddity": "I think an awful lot, but I need a lot of time to figure things out." Nevertheless, he manages to save his new friend from the mysterious kidnapper Mr. 2000. Rico's likable and compelling voice combined with the contemporary Berlin setting make this selection stand out from other middle-grade mysteries.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(2) 1-3 Translated by Alissa Jaffa. Illustrated by Kerstin Meyer. Mr. Moose crash-lands on Billy Wagner's house while taking Father Christmas's sleigh for a trial run. Droll line and watercolor illustrations capture both this German import's holiday magic and its amusingly dry humor. Readers wanting a holiday tale that will have them laughing all the way will find, like Billy and Mr. Moose, their "deepest felt wishes" come true.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006

(2) YA Translated by Alisa Jaffa. Phil relates events of his seventeenth year, including his first relationship with a boy and solutions to family mysteries: the reason for his twin sister's increasing emotional distance and the identity of their father. These outrageous, sometimes tragic stories bring to mind the early works of John Irving. Teens with literary leanings will find much of themselves in this German import.

Reviewer: Timothy Capehart | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2005