(3) 1-3 Butterfly Wishes series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Sisters Addie and Clara discover Wishing Wings, butterflies that talk and grant wishes, in their new yard in the country. Vibrant descriptions of the Wishing Wings' grove provide a colorful backdrop as the sisters learn to help the magical butterflies--and each other. Grayscale illustrations portray the sisters' emotions and the magic of this backyard world. An approachable first fantasy series for newly independent readers. Review covers these Butterfly Wishes titles: Tiger Streak's Tale and The Wishing Wings.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) 1-3 Butterfly Wishes series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Sisters Addie and Clara discover Wishing Wings, butterflies that talk and grant wishes, in their new yard in the country. Vibrant descriptions of the Wishing Wings' grove provide a colorful backdrop as the sisters learn to help the magical butterflies--and each other. Grayscale illustrations portray the sisters' emotions and the magic of this backyard world. An approachable first fantasy series for newly independent readers. Review covers these Butterfly Wishes titles: Tiger Streak's Tale and The Wishing Wings.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Little girl Pipsie eagerly uses her detective skills to determine which creature stung her talking-turtle sidekick Alfred during their earlier park visit. A mosquito? A spider? A bee? It's a contrived mystery with touches of humor, but as the two retrace their morning walk, the lighthearted text and large, pastel-colored illustrations offer relevant wildlife details. Additional facts about insects are appended.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. When house lights go out unexpectedly, neighborhood children enjoy impromptu winter fun under a luminescent "snowball moon"--sledding, building forts, and throwing snowballs. Rhymed couplets convey the action, rhythm, and mood of the cozy winter tale: "Snowy night... / firelight. / Cozy flames, / friendly games. / Lights go out-- / a scream! A shout!" Cool-colored illustrations embrace the spontaneous winter adventure.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Family Snaps series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. A young boy is uncomfortable around his elderly great-grandfather, but his mother cleverly explains how each of Poppy's quirks, such as failing memory and wrinkly hands, can be explained by a lifetime of love. With expressive illustrations providing some humor to keep the saccharine analogies from growing tiresome, the purposeful book could quell some young kids' fears of the elderly.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. During a school trip to the woods, Pipsie and her turtle go on a scavenger hunt (easily duplicated by readers at home). Seeking items such as "animal tracks" and "something crawling," they also investigate a lunchnapping. The mystery is slight, adding little to the collection of nature facts, but well-designed illustrations communicate both habitat details and the young naturalist's eagerness to explore.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 1-3 Critter Club series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. When Marion announces she signed the Critter Club up for the Quiz Bowl, timid Amy is nervous. But the girls practice hard for the competition--while also taking care of some rescued chickens--and readers will rejoice as Amy overcomes her stage fright to lead the team to victory. A satisfying entry in the sweet illustrated series ideal for animal-loving young readers.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. A little girl tries and gives up on biking, ballet, and karate. After sage advice from Mom, she has a change of heart: "and with my newly-opened mind, / decided that I'm never... / ...going to be the quitting kind." Though the message-y story isn't particularly exciting, humorous illustrated scenes and (so-so) rhymes with words such as potty and heinie provide amusing moments.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot