(3) 4-6 During summer near Whistler Mountain in British Columbia, twelve-year-old Seattle native Kestrel comes up with a unique idea to save her grandmother's failing ski lodge from a property developer. A likable character, Kestrel faces mild drama outwardly in her family, and also inwardly as she successfully works to overcome her fears (such as of heights, by taking an unexpectedly exciting gondola ride).

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Holiday Crafts series. Illustrated by Mernie Gallagher-Cole. Each book offers five or six simple craft projects that can be completed with ordinary materials by children of many ages (with adult help). The steps, which involve mostly easy cutting, gluing, and painting, are illustrated with drawings, some more clearly than others. Notes on the titular holidays are included. There are four other fall 2016 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Holiday Crafts books: Thanksgiving Crafts, Valentine's Day Crafts, Christmas Crafts, and Birthday Crafts.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Sammi, thirteen, is mortified when her eleven-year-old sister skips two grades and joins her in eighth grade. Worse still, Jorgianna is immediately embraced by the popular clique Sammi has been longing to join. While getting to know the queen bee, the sisters see that their friendship with each other, though sometimes frustrating, is more important. A breezy story of a nuanced sisterly bond.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(4) K-3 Wild Bears series. Two-page chapters introduce new readers to a handful of facts about different bear species. The choppy texts touch on physical features and adaptations, habitat, diet and hunting methods, cub-rearing habits, and endangered status. The chapters are logically organized and include a bright, relevant full-page photo on each spread. "Fun Fact" boxes are interspersed throughout. There are three other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Wild Bears titles: Sloth Bears, Sun Bears, Grizzly Bears, and Polar Bears.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Wild Bears series. Two-page chapters introduce new readers to a handful of facts about different bear species. The choppy texts touch on physical features and adaptations, habitat, diet and hunting methods, cub-rearing habits, and endangered status. The chapters are logically organized and include a bright, relevant full-page photo on each spread. "Fun Fact" boxes are interspersed throughout. There are three other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Wild Bears titles: Sloth Bears, Sun Bears, Grizzly Bears, and Polar Bears.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 Name That Text Type! series. Four short chapters introduce everyday encounters with poetry, poetry as a means of expressing ideas, craft techniques (i.e., alliteration, simile and metaphor, rhythm and rhyme), and poetic forms (i.e., concrete, haiku, free verse). Sample poetry, set against full-bleed stock photos consistent with each poem's content, meaningfully illustrates each paragraph on technique. A poetry-writing activity is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) 4-6 Secrets of a Lab Rat series. Illustrated by Jim Paillot. Scab McNally decides to challenge teacher's pet Missy Malone in class elections. He earns votes by performing one of his trademark stunts: eating unusual foods as the Human Vacuum. While there is an abundance of gross-out jokes, there's also substance and realistic school drama. Frequent text boxes add humor by including additional perspectives and ideas.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) 4-6 Secrets of a Lab Rat series. Illustrated by Jim Paillot. As if dealing with his genius twin sister weren't enough, summer brings new challenges for kid inventor Scab McNally. These include avoiding swim lessons and trying to capture the mysterious creature in Beeson's Lake. Scab's humorous first-person voice combines with quirky illustrations and entertaining sidebar boxes (e.g., "Scab's Trick Toe") to make an entertaining boy-geared read.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) 4-6 Secrets of a Lab Rat series. Illustrated by Jim Paillot. Fourth grader Scab McNally invents an "Isabelle's Smell Sister-Be-Gone Spray" (named for his genius twin sister), which he sells to his friends. This leads to trouble, but an apology helps straighten out Scab's problems. Scab's first-person voice, combined with exaggerated cartoon illustrations, creates an entertaining tale of sibling rivalry that will resonate with put-upon brothers and fans of gross-out humor.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 This is the third book in a series about Julep--a sympathetically average sixth-grader who faces the ordinary tribulations of a normal eleven-year-old. In order to bring up her English grade, Julep gets involved in her school's production of The Princess and the Pea and discovers she has a flair for directing. Though the plot is fairly pedestrian, Julep's personal victory will resonate with her fans.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin