(3) 4-6 How Money Works series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. These volumes make a good base for financial literacy, covering personal finances and moving to ever-widening economic systems. Small, easily digested blocks of text and numerous silly cartoons dot each page. More than an assembly of facts, the series also espouses fair trade options, charitable contributions, conflict resolution, and more. Thoughtful discussion questions are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Money Works titles: World Money, Your Money, Country Money, and Family Money.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 How Money Works series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. These volumes make a good base for financial literacy, covering personal finances and moving to ever-widening economic systems. Small, easily digested blocks of text and numerous silly cartoons dot each page. More than an assembly of facts, the series also espouses fair trade options, charitable contributions, conflict resolution, and more. Thoughtful discussion questions are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Money Works titles: World Money, Your Money, Country Money, and Family Money.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Beech. This collection of fantastical short stories, previously published serially in the 1960s, offers an uneven glimpse at Pratchett's literary evolution. Notable for their cleverness and whimsy but containing less heart and substance than Pratchett's beloved later work, these bite-size tales, accompanied by Quentin Blake–esque spot illustrations, are read-aloud ready. Dated caricatures among the cast may limit the overall appeal to Pratchett enthusiasts.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 How Money Works series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. These volumes make a good base for financial literacy, covering personal finances and moving to ever-widening economic systems. Small, easily digested blocks of text and numerous silly cartoons dot each page. More than an assembly of facts, the series also espouses fair trade options, charitable contributions, conflict resolution, and more. Thoughtful discussion questions are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Money Works titles: World Money, Your Money, Country Money, and Family Money.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 How Money Works series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. These volumes make a good base for financial literacy, covering personal finances and moving to ever-widening economic systems. Small, easily digested blocks of text and numerous silly cartoons dot each page. More than an assembly of facts, the series also espouses fair trade options, charitable contributions, conflict resolution, and more. Thoughtful discussion questions are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these How Money Works titles: World Money, Your Money, Country Money, and Family Money.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Beech. Forty-one short poems explore all the purposes of a school bathroom, including solitude, fish funerals, and...the obvious (non-graphically). The humorous poems tell basically the same joke, and the occasional serious ones feel out of place. Some of the pieces' rhymes and meter are forced. Frequent playful spot art finds variety in the single-scene setting.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Beech. Twenty poems describe a boy's weekend activities, including chores, haircuts, and road trips to Grandma's house. The collection meanders from the central theme, and rhyme and rhythm aren't always consistent. Still, young readers will likely relate to the narrator's antics. Lighthearted illustrations in watercolor and pen-and-ink depict the situations reflected in the verse.

Reviewer: Aishah Abdul-Musawwir

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Beech. The Troll family is back in their second adventure, this time featuring young Ulrik seeking a place on a soccer team and his father looking for his first job. Once again, the premise is clever, but the story line leaves holes in its logic. Quentin Blake–style drawings (some of which fail to capture the text's descriptions) illustrate the story.

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(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mark Beech. When the Troll family moves from the mountains of Norway to small-town Biddlesden, their new next-door neighbors, the Priddles, are not pleased; among other horrors, the Priddles suspect that the Trolls eat children. The story has a clever premise, but its underlying message (don't prejudge) is too obvious. Illustrations resembling those of Quentin Blake accompany the story.

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(4) K-3 Civismo series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. In each book, Mayer uses specific examples to demonstrate how children learn good citizenship and character values. The brief texts are easy to read, but the advice can be vague. The Spanish translations are adequate. An appended activity is intended to reinforce the concept being discussed. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake add gentle humor. Glos., ind. Review covers these Civismo titles: Hacer amigos, Seguir las reglas, Ser honesto, Ser justo, Ser responsable, Ser servicial, and Ser un líder.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Civismo series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. In each book, Mayer uses specific examples to demonstrate how children learn good citizenship and character values. The brief texts are easy to read, but the advice can be vague. The Spanish translations are adequate. An appended activity is intended to reinforce the concept being discussed. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake add gentle humor. Glos., ind. Review covers these Civismo titles: Hacer amigos, Seguir las reglas, Ser honesto, Ser justo, Ser responsable, Ser servicial, and Ser un líder.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Civismo series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. In each book, Mayer uses specific examples to demonstrate how children learn good citizenship and character values. The brief texts are easy to read, but the advice can be vague. The Spanish translations are adequate. An appended activity is intended to reinforce the concept being discussed. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake add gentle humor. Glos., ind. Review covers these Civismo titles: Hacer amigos, Seguir las reglas, Ser honesto, Ser justo, Ser responsable, Ser servicial, and Ser un líder.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Civismo series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. In each book, Mayer uses specific examples to demonstrate how children learn good citizenship and character values. The brief texts are easy to read, but the advice can be vague. The Spanish translations are adequate. An appended activity is intended to reinforce the concept being discussed. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake add gentle humor. Glos., ind. Review covers these Civismo titles: Hacer amigos, Seguir las reglas, Ser honesto, Ser justo, Ser responsable, Ser servicial, and Ser un líder.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Civismo series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. In each book, Mayer uses specific examples to demonstrate how children learn good citizenship and character values. The brief texts are easy to read, but the advice can be vague. The Spanish translations are adequate. An appended activity is intended to reinforce the concept being discussed. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake add gentle humor. Glos., ind. Review covers these Civismo titles: Hacer amigos, Seguir las reglas, Ser honesto, Ser justo, Ser responsable, Ser servicial, and Ser un líder.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Civismo series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. In each book, Mayer uses specific examples to demonstrate how children learn good citizenship and character values. The brief texts are easy to read, but the advice can be vague. The Spanish translations are adequate. An appended activity is intended to reinforce the concept being discussed. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake add gentle humor. Glos., ind. Review covers these Civismo titles: Hacer amigos, Seguir las reglas, Ser honesto, Ser justo, Ser responsable, Ser servicial, and Ser un líder.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone

(4) K-3 Civismo series. Illustrated by Mark Beech. In each book, Mayer uses specific examples to demonstrate how children learn good citizenship and character values. The brief texts are easy to read, but the advice can be vague. The Spanish translations are adequate. An appended activity is intended to reinforce the concept being discussed. Illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake add gentle humor. Glos., ind. Review covers these Civismo titles: Hacer amigos, Seguir las reglas, Ser honesto, Ser justo, Ser responsable, Ser servicial, and Ser un líder.

Reviewer: Alissa C. Salamone