(4) 1-3 Animal All-Stars series. Illustrated by Josh Alves. In these brief chapter books, Bobby Longbeak, a turkey who's the leading wide receiver for his football team, learns to tame his wild streak (Wild Receiver); and hedgehog Spikelle Jordan, the best "pointy" guard on her basketball team, learns to share the ball (Ball Hog). Pedestrian writing and obvious messaging mar the stories, but kids might enjoy the general goofiness and the ample cartoonlike illustrations. Review covers these Animal All-Stars titles: Ball Hog and Wild Receiver.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 1-3 Animal All-Stars series. Illustrated by Josh Alves. In these brief chapter books, Bobby Longbeak, a turkey who's the leading wide receiver for his football team, learns to tame his wild streak (Wild Receiver); and hedgehog Spikelle Jordan, the best "pointy" guard on her basketball team, learns to share the ball (Ball Hog). Pedestrian writing and obvious messaging mar the stories, but kids might enjoy the general goofiness and the ample cartoonlike illustrations. Review covers these Animal All-Stars titles: Ball Hog and Wild Receiver.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Zeke Meeks series. Illustrated by Josh Alves. Third grader Zeke Meeks is back in two new installments. In Sing-Along, Zeke does a good deed to cheer up his little sister but is mortified when his classmates find out. In Class Play, Zeke is psyched about the class play until he's cast as a Grouchy Dwarf. Cartoon drawings and Zeke's lively narration fuel these by-the-numbers episodes. Glos. Review covers these Zeke Meeks titles: Zeke Meeks vs. the Annoying Princess Sing-Along and Zeke Meeks vs. the Crummy Class Play.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman

(4) 4-6 Zeke Meeks series. Illustrated by Josh Alves. Third grader Zeke Meeks is back in two new installments. In Sing-Along, Zeke does a good deed to cheer up his little sister but is mortified when his classmates find out. In Class Play, Zeke is psyched about the class play until he's cast as a Grouchy Dwarf. Cartoon drawings and Zeke's lively narration fuel these by-the-numbers episodes. Glos. Review covers these Zeke Meeks titles: Zeke Meeks vs. the Annoying Princess Sing-Along and Zeke Meeks vs. the Crummy Class Play.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman

(4) 1-3 Zeke Meeks series. Illustrated by josh Alves. This series follows Zeke Meeks as he navigates the trials and tribulations of third grade. Whether playing with his best friend, Hector, or defying his arch-nemesis, Grace Chang, Zeke takes it all in stride. Witty first-person narration and comic illustrations document Zeke finding his rhythm, but overt messages about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle detract from the stories. Review covers these Zeke Meeks titles: Zeke Meeks vs the Horrifying TV-Turnoff Week and Zeke Meeks vs the Putrid Puppet Pals.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman

(4) 1-3 Zeke Meeks series. Illustrated by Josh Alves. This series follows Zeke Meeks as he navigates the trials and tribulations of third grade. Whether playing with his best friend, Hector, or defying his arch-nemesis, Grace Chang, Zeke takes it all in stride. Witty first-person narration and comic illustrations document Zeke finding his rhythm, but overt messages about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle detract from the stories. Review covers these Zeke Meeks titles: Zeke Meeks vs the Horrifying TV-Turnoff Week and Zeke Meeks vs the Putrid Puppet Pals.

Reviewer: Meredith M. Sittman