(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Young Amelia Bedelia cares for the class hamster, Harry, during school break when he disappears from his habitat. Friends Clay and Dawn help her search, and eventually they find six little surprise additions with "Harriet." Amelia Bedelia's usually humorous literalness is unfortunately lackluster here; still, the sweet twist ending and the dynamic gouache illustrations should engage new readers.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Amelia Bedelia is bummed to be spending the summer at camp instead of lazing at home. But she befriends her cabin-mates, learns how to build a fire, stargazes, and surprises herself by having fun. Her literal (mis)interpretations of words often feel forced, though graduates of the easy readers should find this latest chapter-book entry appealing. Lively black-and-white illustrations break up the accessible text.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Young Amelia Bedelia and her parents are looking for a new house in this satisfying easy reader. At an open house, they tour a "ranch" home...but Amelia Bedelia can't find any horses there. As usual, literal-minded Amelia Bedelia misunderstands words to humorous effect ("there wasn't any mud in the mudroom--just places to store coats and boots"), and lively illustrations highlight Amelia Bedelia's imaginative thoughts.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Amelia panics during career week: she doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up (Job). Amelia is excited to be flower girl in Aunt Mary's upcoming nuptials--but will the wedding be called off (Knot)? As usual, Amelia's amusing literal-minded shtick takes precedent over plotting, but graduates of the easy readers will appreciate this accessible illustrated chapter-book series. Review covers these Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books titles: Amelia Bedelia on the Job and Amelia Bedelia Ties the Knot.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. "You can't sell our garage..." Her parents' garage sale causes all sorts of confusion for young Amelia in Yard. In Cake, Amelia saves the day when everyone shows up with brownies for the class bake sale. Literal-minded Amelia's signature mistakes play out in the easy-reader text and lively illustrations; kids will appreciate Amelia's solutions to her age-appropriate dilemmas. Review covers these I Can Read titles: Amelia Bedelia by the Yard and Amelia Bedelia Takes the Cake.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Amelia panics during career week: she doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up (Job). Amelia is excited to be flower girl in Aunt Mary's upcoming nuptials--but will the wedding be called off (Knot)? As usual, Amelia's amusing literal-minded shtick takes precedent over plotting, but graduates of the easy readers will appreciate this accessible illustrated chapter-book series. Review covers these Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books titles: Amelia Bedelia on the Job and Amelia Bedelia Ties the Knot.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. "You can't sell our garage..." Her parents' garage sale causes all sorts of confusion for young Amelia in Yard. In Cake, Amelia saves the day when everyone shows up with brownies for the class bake sale. Literal-minded Amelia's signature mistakes play out in the easy-reader text and lively illustrations; kids will appreciate Amelia's solutions to her age-appropriate dilemmas. Review covers these I Can Read titles: Amelia Bedelia by the Yard and Amelia Bedelia Takes the Cake.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Despite her penchant for being too literal, Amelia makes friends wherever she goes: whether taking dance classes, exploring the neighborhood, or going on vacation. Fans of the easy readers who are ready for more challenging fare will enjoy these sixth, seventh, and eighth installments. The plots are flimsy but diverting; lively black-and-white drawings capture the series' lighthearted tone. Review covers these Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books titles: Amelia Bedelia Cleans Up, Amelia Bedelia Dances Off, and Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Despite her penchant for being too literal, Amelia makes friends wherever she goes: whether taking dance classes, exploring the neighborhood, or going on vacation. Fans of the easy readers who are ready for more challenging fare will enjoy these sixth, seventh, and eighth installments. The plots are flimsy but diverting; lively black-and-white drawings capture the series' lighthearted tone. Review covers these Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books titles: Amelia Bedelia Cleans Up, Amelia Bedelia Dances Off, and Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. In Birds, Amelia Bedelia is first irritated then fascinated by a nest two robins build at the top of her slide. In Chalk, while her mother indulges in some retail therapy because she's feeling blue, literal-minded Amelia Bedelia "chalks up another gray day." These satisfying stories are accompanied by friendly illustrations. Review covers these two I Can Read Book titles: Amelia Bedelia Is for the Birds and Amelia Bedelia Chalks One Up.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Despite her penchant for being too literal, Amelia makes friends wherever she goes: whether taking dance classes, exploring the neighborhood, or going on vacation. Fans of the easy readers who are ready for more challenging fare will enjoy these sixth, seventh, and eighth installments. The plots are flimsy but diverting; lively black-and-white drawings capture the series' lighthearted tone. Review covers these Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books titles: Amelia Bedelia Cleans Up, Amelia Bedelia Dances Off, and Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. In Club, young Amelia is "torn between two choices" when her classmates divide into different clubs: should she join the Puddle Jumpers or the Puddle Stompers? In Luck, Amelia breaks a mirror on Friday the thirteenth and learns about superstitions. Literal-minded Amelia's signature mistakes play out in the easy-reader text and lively illustrations; kids will appreciate Amelia's solutions to her age-appropriate dilemmas. Review covers these I Can Read titles: Amelia Bedelia Joins the Club and Amelia Bedelia Tries Her Luck.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Avril. This cheerfully illustrated collection includes two picture books (Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School; Amelia Bedelia's First Field Trip) and three easy readers (Amelia Bedelia Makes a Friend; Amelia Bedelia Sleeps Over; Amelia Bedelia Hits the Trail). Young Amelia Bedelia is as literal as ever, although her mistakes take more of a back seat than in the original books. Games and activities appear throughout.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Amelia turns her attention to sports as she prepares for the school Greek Games in this fifth chapter book about the young Amelia Bedelia. Parish uses every opportunity to play with language, so plot and character development are slight, but the silly wordplay and Amelia's literal interpretations will be familiar to fans of the picture books and easy readers. Lively black-and-white illustrations break up the text. An inexpensive paper-over-board edition is also available.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 1-3 Amelia Bedelia Chapter Books series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Amelia Bedelia misses the class field trip to the zoo, so she organizes a backyard zoo with her classmates' pets. In this fourth installment about the young Amelia Bedelia, literal interpretation of idioms and wordplay take second place to the plot, making it more successful as a chapter book than previous entries but less closely related to the original picture books.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. In Birds, Amelia Bedelia is first irritated then fascinated by a nest two robins build at the top of her slide. In Chalk, while her mother indulges in some retail therapy because she's feeling blue, literal-minded Amelia Bedelia "chalks up another gray day." These satisfying stories are accompanied by friendly illustrations. Review covers these two I Can Read Book titles: Amelia Bedelia Is for the Birds and Amelia Bedelia Chalks One Up.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Avril. To Sadie a family camping trip requires the basic supplies: patent leather shoes, sparkly suitcase, ruffled pants, tutu, satin cape, etc. All that finery doesn't stop her from climbing, exploring, swimming, hunting for Big Foot, and having a great time. The feisty rhyming text and spirited mixed-media illustrations feature a girly-girl who's not afraid to get her white gloves dirty.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Lily McBloom wants to show off her favorite frilly underpants, but her stick-in-the-mud big sister Marigold insists there are rules about such things. Though Lily sees exceptions everywhere (the neighbor's laundry line, for instance), Marigold won't budge, so Lily finds another way, donning her underpants over her clothes. Zapf's text feels a bit overwritten, but Avril's buoyant, bubblegum art livens things up considerably.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Can Nellie Sue's cowgirl spunk, captured in the peppy illustrations, save her when the new school year dishes out some challenges, including new-girl Maya, who threatens Nellie Sue's best friendship with Anna? Like the Fancy Nancy series, the Every Cowgirl books feature reliably engaging scenarios starring an unsinkable girl who is a suburban everykid, despite her insistence otherwise ("How-dee, Pardner!").

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lynne Avril. On a class trip to the library, young Amelia Bedelia learns library rules and procedures. The librarian awards everyone a library card and the chance to check out a book. Later, Amelia leaves her book out in the rain and learns about proper care of library books. Amelia's literal-mindedness isn't very funny here, but the sprightly illustrations add charm to the lengthy text.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn