(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christiane Engel. In this companion to What's on Your Plate?, readers learn basic information about fourteen different holidays from around the world, including Carnaval (Brazil), Fastelavn (Denmark), and Dangpai Losar (Bhutan). Each spread includes a short list of holiday-specific traditions, historical or religious context, and a cooking or craft activity. Cheerful, color-filled illustrations and a magazine-style layout make this an approachable introduction to cultural understanding. Timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Christiane Engel. In this basic introduction to international foods, readers can travel to fourteen countries located in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Each double-page spread includes a brief general synopsis of the country's cuisine; a stylized map featuring major food products; three small, full-color snapshot photos of popular foods plus pronunciations and descriptions; and a simple recipe (many requiring no cooking). Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Stacy Peterson. This self-help book offers a "toolbox of mindfulness practices" with directions for meditation exercises, visualization techniques, and other strategies for handling emotions, stress, and negative thinking. Stewart's persistent "MINDFUL ME" branding is distracting, and her tone can be preachy. That said, her descriptions ("Meditation is like a personal pause button") and the black-and-white illustrations are both kid-friendly, and the topics (technology, social media) are timely.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sally Rippin. Stewart describes nine mindfulness meditations to help children deal with emotions and stress, increase focus, make decisions, and more. Astute yet kid-friendly language lends approachability to the concepts ("You'll learn to watch your feelings pop up and disappear like soap bubbles"), while soft cartoon illustrations starring a chilled-out elephant and monkey underscore the friendly vibe. Six FAQ are addressed at book's end.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gerald Guerlais. This adaptation of the popular tale is set in Louisiana. The animated cartoon-style illustrations are in keeping with the over-the-top tone of the text. Fisherman Jacques's wife, Jolie, demands more and more from the wish-granting catfish, including making her a paddle wheel–boat entertainer and queen of Mardi Gras. Of course, she gets her comeuppance. A seafood gumbo recipe is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) YA Lerner Biographies series. Illustrated with clear black-and-white photos, these two biographies begin with short chapters describing a memorable event--seventeen-year-old Fitzgerald winning an amateur music contest at the Apollo Theater and Deng impressing American audiences on a 1979 visit. The two books then chronologically and matter-of-factly trace these eventful lives from birth to death. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jack Forman