(1) 4-6 When it becomes clear that unathletic Yevgeny is not going to follow in the footsteps of his figure-skating-whiz older brother Victor, their mother hopes--against all evidence--that he might make it in the world of the Soviet Union's other big artistic export, ballet, where she ­herself works and even has the acquaintance of the rising star Mikhail ­Baryshnikov. But Yevgeny's genius lies elsewhere, literally under the family's noses, if they only thought to look beneath the dining table where Yevgeny sleeps (and draws) each night. (It's a one-room apartment in 1960s Leningrad, housing Yevgeny, his brother and parents, and his grandmother, who gets some of the best lines in this book.) We now know Yevgeny as Newbery Honor–winning author and illustrator Eugene Yelchin (Breaking Stalin's Nose, rev. 9/11), and this memoir of his adolescence is a forthright, darkly humorous, and indelible portrait of an artist emerging. Family crowding and dynamics aside, the obstacles in Yevgeny's life are large (Soviet authoritarianism and antisemitism chief among them), but always grounded in the particulars of this kid's story: "Don't cry, boy," says a neighbor to an upset Yevgeny. "Have a cookie. You yids like sweets." As you can see from the excerpt on pages 21–28 of this issue, Yelchin, wonderfully, allows his text and pictures to interrupt each other with glee, reminding us how life begets art. It certainly does here.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) PS Just-hatched chick Pip encounters perils--he's chased by a puppy, then almost stepped on by cows. Then there's a thunderstorm, and Pip sees that the puppy is afraid. He tries to protect (much larger) Pup, offering one half of his eggshell as shelter. Yelchin's visual humor is spot on for preschoolers; his wordless storytelling is flawless; and his spring-colors palette brings life and energy to the page.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(2) PS Yelchin's whimsical wordless tale begins with a red-haired girl and a curious rabbit enjoying a trampoline. One big bounce sends them into the sky. A series of progressively fanciful scenes unfolds in the air before they eventually land back on the trampoline. Panoramic spreads, along with a range of textures and a vibrant color palette, result in an immersive and buoyant bounce of an adventure.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(2) 4-6 In late-nineteenth-century imperial Russia, Prince Lev Lvov arrives at Falcon House to assume his noble duties. In his late grandfather's study, Lev is befuddled by episodes during which his hand seems to be taken over by a spirit, creating curious drawings. Short chapters, an eerie setting, and a surprising twist make this faux memoir a compelling read for historical-fiction and ghost-story fans alike.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(2) 4-6 Arcady's parents were declared enemies of the state, resulting in his assignment to prisonlike orphanages. Now twelve, Arcady is a gifted soccer player. When former schoolteacher Ivan Ivanych wants to adopt Arcady, the boy is sure his soccer skill is the only reason. Although writing in the first person from Arcady's point of view, Yelchin has created two complex and evolving characters.

Reviewer: Viki Ash | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014

(4) K-3 Though Emma feels unwelcome in her new neighborhood, her fantasy life gives her confidence: "If I could make friends with someone like Mr. Bear, I guess I could make friends with some neighborhood kids." The problem is resolved too easily, but the essential point about imagination being a source of strength is a keeper. The art's flower-garden hues nicely counterpoint the urban gray.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(1) 4-6 Ten-year-old Sasha Zaichik loves Stalin and the Communist party. He's especially proud of his father, a member of the secret police. Sasha's worldview shifts after his father is arrested. Although the story takes place over just two days, it is well paced, peeling off the layers of Sasha's naiveté. Appropriately menacing illustrations add a sinister tone.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2011

(4) K-3 After building a snowman, Owen wonders how to keep it from melting. That night, the boy finds himself sucked up into a snowman-shaped space ship and taken to a factory that repurposes snowmen. The story, though convoluted, is imaginative, as are the illustrations of the tale's strange, snowy world.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty