(2) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Holub and Keller (I Am the Shark!, rev. 7/21) are back with another apex-predator smackdown. Brown Bear boldly asserts that it's "the only bear in this book," a statement quickly challenged by Polar Bear. While Polar Bear has "paws and claws. Fur too," the fact that it lives in a snowy climate seems suspect to temperate-climate-dwelling Brown Bear. How can they both be bears? After they compare physical adaptations, diet, and behaviors, Brown Bear lets Polar Bear stay. "We are the only two bears in this book!" Not so fast! They're joined by six more bears, each one providing a species-specific description of its attributes. American Black Bear is "a great tree-climber, thanks to my strong, short, curved claws." Sloth Bear's claws are "good for ripping into trees and mounds to find insects." Keller's collage illustrations (traditional and digital) match the energy of Holub's good-natured text and make the goofy-looking bears easily distinguishable. When a suspicious eight-armed, tentacled "bear" tries to join the group, the bears unite and draw up a definitive list of "Eight Things That Make a Bear a Bear." A final double-page spread provides more information about each bear (and one octopus...and one not-a-bear koala); a list of related books and websites is appended. Will readers like this book? "Duh. Does a bear poop in the woods?"

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. In this colorful undersea tale, Keller's digitally rendered collages introduce a comical protagonist playing against type: a cheerful, smiling Great White Shark. Not satisfied with just being Great, our hero aims for bragging rights as the greatest shark in the book. But each time it tries to claim superiority, another shark steals its glory and contradicts these assumptions. For example, the Whale Shark announces it is the greatest because it is the biggest. So our Great White thinks perhaps it is the smallest, but, alas, that title goes to the Dwarf Lantern Shark. Maybe the smartest? Oops, that's the Hammerhead Shark. The fastest? Nope, the Mako wins by a nose in an amusing race. As the roll call continues, each new superlative shark reveals relevant facts about itself, such as the Whale Shark's declaration that it is the size of a school bus. Still seeking fame, the Great White studies an informative diagram of its anatomy to discover its greatest asset: those pearly whites, giving it the greatest smile. Young shark enthusiasts diving into Holub's fact-filled and humorous book can expand their knowledge with the suggested readings and websites appended; the book also includes a double-page compilation of "fintastic" shark facts.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Rex and Keller dramatize Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet status in this smart and playful offering of informational comedy. Rex's wry and engaging text is told completely through dialogue among Pluto, the planets, and other celestial bodies; Keller's kinetic mixed-media illustrations include "a bunch of sideline planetary commentary." After receiving "the call" from Earth scientists, a dejected Pluto reluctantly acquiesces to giving a tour of the solar system, since readers "were probably hoping to hang out with a real planet." The remaining eight planets, each with a unique personality and (randomly chosen) gender, are introduced to readers through interesting facts ("If you tried to stand on Jupiter, you'd just fall right through him") and funnily informative jokes ("Neptune is pretty icy. And gassy. I'm not being mean, he just is"). The visually jam-packed pages range from complex panel layouts set against solid white backgrounds to luminous double-page spreads of the immense, maternal Sun. A genuinely moving testimonial by the benevolent Sun extolling the value of Pluto's new role ("You're the planet who doesn't get to be a planet anymore. And people love you for it") beautifully wraps up this expertly crafted ode to Pluto, science, and underdogs everywhere. Back matter consists of solar-system facts and an author's note.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Aspiring poet and amateur detective Marty Frye belts out couplets as he tracks down a classmate's missing diary, a lost box of action figures, and his sister's bag of flour. While poetry and detective fiction are an interesting mix, Marty's unimaginative rhymes become tiresome fairly quickly. Hip black-and-white drawings add humor.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. A theft of nurse's-office tongue depressors, the disappearance of jawbreakers from a candy store, and a missing poodle found binge-watching TV: three slight, predictable mysteries are unlikely to stump anyone but will appeal to kids' sense of the ridiculous. As seven-year-old "poet detective" Marty persistently talks in simple rhymes and the pages are profusely illustrated, the stories should be easy for new readers to decipher.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Siblings trek across land and water--encountering animals wearing costumes and having adventures--while searching for the perfect pet. Lively acrylic-paint and digital collage illustrations show the kids' progress (along with an inset photo of the author, in animal disguise, on each double-page spread). Lyrics and guitar chords to the song "Animal Friends" are included; readers unfamiliar with Covert's tunes may be mystified.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Parcheesi, bicycles, and Mr. Potato Head are among the playthings highlighted in this overview. The accessible prose shows how various toys have been invented (the Slinky was developed by a military engineer), became popular (the Tonight show was responsible for the initial success of Twister), and affected popular culture (the Super Bowl's name was inspired by the Super Ball). Keller's loopy illustrations add to the fun. Bib.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 1-3 Redfeather Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Aspiring poet and amateur detective Marty Frye belts out couplets as he tracks down a classmate's missing diary, a lost box of action figures, and his sister's bag of flour. While poetry and detective fiction are an interesting mix, Marty's unimaginative rhymes become tiresome fairly quickly. Hip black-and-white drawings add humor.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger