(4) 1-3 DC Super Hero Stories series. Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. With brief, accessible texts, these early chapter books feature individual DC heroes who must apply childhood lessons to current dilemmas. Both characters must remember to trust their abilities--and their gadgets--when they face nemeses in the by-the-numbers adventures. Colorful illustrations of the action further the appeal to DC's fandom. Includes superhero and villain profiles, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these DC Super Hero Stories titles: Batman Tangles with Terror and Wonder Woman Wrestles Circe's Sorcery.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 1-3 DC Super Hero Stories series. Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. With brief, accessible texts, these early chapter books feature individual DC heroes who must apply childhood lessons to current dilemmas. Both characters must remember to trust their abilities--and their gadgets--when they face nemeses in the by-the-numbers adventures. Colorful illustrations of the action further the appeal to DC's fandom. Includes superhero and villain profiles, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these DC Super Hero Stories titles: Batman Tangles with Terror and Wonder Woman Wrestles Circe's Sorcery.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) PS Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. A young boy imagines his bedtime routine as Batman's nightly crime-fighting adventure. Comic panels and speech bubbles contrast real scenes with imaginary ones, such as toys in the toy box becoming locked-up supervillains. With humorous juxtaposition of imagination and reality throughout, the youngest superhero fans will enjoy this clever celebration of bedtime rituals and creative play. Bedtime routine checklist included.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 You Choose: Batman series. Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. In these brightly illustrated plot-your-own stories, readers guide the Dark Knight through Gotham City, chasing down villains on crime sprees via decisions made at crucial junctions. Batman triumphs in some way almost every time, which makes the You Choose series model feel superfluous. Still, Batman's fans will probably enjoy the ride-along experience. Glos. Review covers these You Choose: Batman titles: Clayface Returns and The Lazarus Plan.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 You Choose: Batman series. Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. In these brightly illustrated plot-your-own stories, readers guide the Dark Knight through Gotham City, chasing down villains on crime sprees via decisions made at crucial junctions. Batman triumphs in some way almost every time, which makes the You Choose series model feel superfluous. Still, Batman's fans will probably enjoy the ride-along experience. Glos. Review covers these You Choose: Batman titles: Clayface Returns and The Lazarus Plan.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 You Choose: Batman series. Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. In these brightly illustrated plot-your-own stories, readers guide the Dark Knight through Gotham City, chasing down villains on crime sprees via decisions made at crucial junctions. All lead to infallible Batman saving the day, which makes the You Choose series model feel like just a gimmick. Still, Batman's fans will probably enjoy the ride-along experience. Glos. Review covers the following You Choose: Batman titles: Super-Villain Smackdown and Terrible Trio.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 You Choose: Batman series. Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. In these brightly illustrated plot-your-own stories, readers guide the Dark Knight through Gotham City, chasing down villains on crime sprees via decisions made at crucial junctions. All lead to infallible Batman saving the day, which makes the You Choose series model feel like just a gimmick. Still, Batman's fans will probably enjoy the ride-along experience. Glos. Review covers the following You Choose: Batman titles: Super-Villain Smackdown and Terrible Trio.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 You Choose series. Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. In this interactive tale, the Joker turns unwitting Gotham City citizens into criminal accomplices. Readers are called on to select weapons and make decisions for Batman as he chases down "the fiendish felon." Unlike many "choose-your-own" books, here readers aren't the main characters, nor are there any negative outcomes: Batman wins in all twelve endings. Insatiable Batman fans won't mind.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. When the president's daughter is kidnapped by the villainous Miss Information, the NERDS--tweenage secret agents whose nerdy weaknesses have been transformed into superpowers--take the case, leading to time-travel one-upmanship. The winkingly cheesy jokes, escalating action, and comics-style illustrations make for a rollicking read, but this installment's humor sometimes crosses the line from self-deprecating to mean-spirited, a tonal misstep.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. Hyperactive Julio must take over leadership of the titular band of losers-turned-superheroes when he alone proves immune to a rapidly spreading supervillain virus. The book's madcap energy and slapstick humor are a perfect fit for this entry's comic antagonist, and series fans will be equally taken with Julio's development as a hero and the wealth of nerdtastic details.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. Criminal mastermind Simon has recruited a new villain to join his team. Her name is Gerdie (code name: Mathlete), and she's invented a machine she can use to steal her way through alternate realities. It's up to Matilda (a.k.a. Wheezer) and company to save the day in this over-the-top spy story that's sure to appeal to series fans.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. The second adventure of the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society focuses on superspy Duncan "Gluestick" Dewey. When rogue NERD Simon, armed with a technology-controlling ray gun, neutralizes Gluestick's powers, he must dig deep to find the hero he can be without superpowers. This outlandishly humorous undertaking is enhanced by black-and-white illustrations and secret codes for readers to break.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. When football player Jackson's popularity is torpedoed by his new braces, he goes into Harriet-the-Spy mode and first uncovers, then joins, a team of super-nerdy fifth-grade secret agents. The action is high-wire, gleeful, and full of gadgetry and nerd-power moments, but the main character's bullying past and dismissive attitude toward his teammates make him difficult to root for.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross