(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Thumb and his friend Susan try sleuthing in their isolated Canadian village. Old Kirk McKenna is acting fishy, and a new teacher arrives wearing thick makeup and an obvious wig. As we know from Thumb's previous books (The Thumb in the Box, Thumb on a Diamond), he and author Roberts alike are adept at creating adventure from the slimmest of means.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2009

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Leanne Franson. When Aunt Janet comes to stay while Andy's mom is in the hospital having a baby, Andy worries that he will have to get rid of his many pets as part of baby-prep housecleaning. The story follows a predictable pattern in which Andy jumps to conclusions and slowly develops new understanding, but Andy's point of view is less well-developed than in earlier stories.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Andy and his friend Tamika are sure intruders have broken into the neighbors' empty house. In a funny, recognizable story, they solve the small mystery in a satisfying and believable manner, and the characters each learn unintrusive lessons from the escapade. Adler shows respect for both his readers and his characters. Lighthearted black-and-white illustrations accompany the text.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(1) 1-3 Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Here's the story of how an island community turns some unwanted gifts from the government into just the things that the islanders have wanted and needed. The funny and fresh David vs. Goliath tale is narrated with personality-plus by eleven-year-old Leon. Breezy, direct narration makes this early chapter book, set on the coast of British Columbia, accessible and involving.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2001

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Twins Rebecca and Jane imagine how an earthquake separated them, two princesses, from their royal family and shook them through time into the trailer park where they live. They dream of returning, until an old woman helps them see that beauty, like royalty, is where you choose to see it. The childlike telling and expressive acrylic and pencil illustrations capture the innocent wishfulness of the sisters.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Leanne Franson. Sara is often distracted by her thoughts of "what if...," but when her family needs her, she can handle problems with aplomb. After helping to resolve a dilemma with a customer of her tailor father, who has difficulty with English, Sara ably takes care of an expanding domestic crisis--an overflowing bowl of bread dough in the kitchen. Watercolor pictures portray Sara's immigrant family and the early-twentieth-century setting.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute