(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. These transitional chapter books recast well-known fairy tales with the principal, students, and staff of PS 88. Previously published as a picture book, Underwear follows snazzy dresser Principal Bundy as he's hoodwinked by two shifty tailors. Spell finds PS 88 overrun by enchanted brooms. Comical black-and-white illustrations support the lighthearted texts. Includes lists of characters, vocabulary words, and comprehension questions. Review covers these titles: Our Principal Breaks a Spell! and Our Principal's in His Underwear!

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. These transitional chapter books recast well-known fairy tales with the principal, students, and staff of PS 88. Previously published as a picture book, Underwear follows snazzy dresser Principal Bundy as he's hoodwinked by two shifty tailors. Spell finds PS 88 overrun by enchanted brooms. Comical black-and-white illustrations support the lighthearted texts. Includes lists of characters, vocabulary words, and comprehension questions. Review covers these titles: Our Principal Breaks a Spell! and Our Principal's in His Underwear!

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Designed to assist readers transitioning to longer, more complex texts, this reformatted chapter-book edition (previously published as picture book The Frog Principal) includes character and word lists, table of contents, story questions, and abundant black-and-white cartoons by new illustrator Blecha. Based on "The Frog Prince," the story about a beloved principal who is accidentally transformed into a frog but continues his job is silly and well paced.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(4) 1-3 Shark School series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Harry the hammerhead shark cries "wolf" (actually "great white shark") one too many times, which leads to ridicule, then real danger, and, finally, heroism. Breezy writing, lots of puns ("jellyfishion," "Drownton Abbey"), and some real shark facts get along swimmingly with the anthropomorphized marine characters. This illustrated chapter book (written by a collective of authors) is an enjoyable if formulaic read.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(4) 1-3 Shark School series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Boy shark Harry Hammer thinks that by befriending a tiger shark at Sea-cub Camp, he can become a supreme sharklete like his idol, Turbo Tex, an Underwater Olimpet gold medal–winning tiger shark. Per this series' predictable formula, a swimming pace, sound effects, (tons of) sea puns, and cartoony black-and-white illustrations make for good fun. Character profiles and shark facts are appended.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Shark School series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Young hammerhead Harry gets trapped inside a shipwreck with the school bullies (Disaster); Harry finds out how exhausting fame can be (Lights!); and after running away from home in search of bluer waters, he finds himself in the clutches of a hungry squid (Squid-Napped!). These illustrated chapter books tell familiar school stories, complete with tidy lessons and (too many) nautical puns. Review covers these Shark School titles: Deep-Sea Disaster, Lights! Camera! Hammerhead!, and Squid-napped!.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 1-3 Shark School series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Young hammerhead Harry gets trapped inside a shipwreck with the school bullies (Disaster); Harry finds out how exhausting fame can be (Lights!); and after running away from home in search of bluer waters, he finds himself in the clutches of a hungry squid (Squid-Napped!). These illustrated chapter books tell familiar school stories, complete with tidy lessons and (too many) nautical puns. Review covers these Shark School titles: Deep-Sea Disaster, Lights! Camera! Hammerhead!, and Squid-napped!.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 1-3 Shark School series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Young hammerhead Harry gets trapped inside a shipwreck with the school bullies (Disaster); Harry finds out how exhausting fame can be (Lights!); and after running away from home in search of bluer waters, he finds himself in the clutches of a hungry squid (Squid-Napped!). These illustrated chapter books tell familiar school stories, complete with tidy lessons and (too many) nautical puns. Review covers these Shark School titles: Deep-Sea Disaster, Lights! Camera! Hammerhead!, and Squid-napped!.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 It's Just an Expression series. Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. Each volume introduces idioms in a particular subject (food, school, sports, etc.) before the text uses the phrase in context and explains its definition and origin. A mix of cartoons and stock photos makes for a random layout, but the casual tone and subject matter are kid-friendly; readers will especially enjoy Pooped Out's gross expressions (e.g., "farting around"). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these It's Just an Expression titles: Get Your Nose Out of Joint, Put on Your Thinking Cap, Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb, Keep Your Eye on the Ball, Until the Cows Come Home, At the Eleventh Hour, Cool as a Cucumber, and All Pooped Out.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Aaron Blecha. From the creator of Sir Fartsalot comes this goofy tale of a teddy/bunny/zombie-doll come to life. Stanley first buys the thing at a creepy yard sale, then he must save his classmates from the rampaging dolly. Relying heavily on the current popularity of all-things-zombie, Bolger creates an unsurprising but entertaining story that will amuse readers looking for something only slightly scary.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray