(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. This sophisticated graphic memoir is an important and accessible testimony by Chikwanine, who at age five was kidnapped by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced to be a child solider. The panels ably contrast Michel's happy early years, his horrific captivity, his escape, and the future time when his family members become political refugees. Excellent back matter includes action ideas. Websites.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. A bathroom portal at ComicFest launches two kids, Wylder Wallace and Addy Crowe, into the pages of a comic book. Suspense builds as the kids' presence affects the story, their adventures shown (in interspersed comic panels) in Dávila's clear, humorous illustrations. It's a clever concept that's well executed by Jocelyn and Scrimger.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. Children can develop basic understanding of physical science through this collection of well-designed experiments on materials, structures, matter, and motion. The concepts carefully build across the activities and are appropriately targeted to the intended audience. Cartoonlike children in the illustrations model the experiments or demonstrate the ideas. Tips for adults to help deepen learning are appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. Beginning with the biological appeal of sweets, this book moves into subdivided sections on "primal sweets," "sugar candy," chocolate, and "candy magic." The lively prose presents solid facts, and cartoon illustrations further enliven the text. A running timeline gives noteworthy international candy-related events and discoveries from 6000 BCE to 2006 CE. Although references are missing, an authors' note describes Love and Drake's research.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Primary Physical Science series. Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. Lively illustrations and conversational tex, along with entertaining hands-on experiments, make these slim volumes about the changeable states of matter and the properties of structures both appealing and informative. Speech bubbles help explain the concepts (e.g., "On a windy day, the air moves very fast"). Adults will also find these volumes useful for introducing the concepts; teaching suggestions are included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Primary Physical Science titles: Build It! and Change It!

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(3) K-3 Primary Physical Science series. Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. Lively illustrations and conversational tex, along with entertaining hands-on experiments, make these slim volumes about the changeable states of matter and the properties of structures both appealing and informative. Speech bubbles help explain the concepts (e.g., "On a windy day, the air moves very fast"). Adults will also find these volumes useful for introducing the concepts; teaching suggestions are included. Glos., ind. Review covers these Primary Physical Science titles: Build It! and Change It!

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver