(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jensine Eckwall. While investigating his mysterious heritage with the help of a tricky goblin, a nameless boy fleeing slavery becomes an unlikely hero. He rescues two dragon-imprisoned girls named Alice--one a clever peasant, the other a socially minded princess. The first few chapters of this quirky tale feel disconnected, but once the story lines converge, the result is a witty fairy-tale satire.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jensine Eckwall. "Let's make some soup 'cause the weather is turning cold. / Let's stir it together til we're both gray and old." Eckwall's cozy illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and ink show a boy and his grandmother making soup at her house one snowy night before their friends arrive. The text comes from lyrics to a song by Workman, and its repetitions make for clumsy reading.

Reviewer: Nell Beram