(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. With David Blistein and Cauley Powell. After an introduction, in which Burns suggests that understanding our political past encourages patriotism and compassion, the documentarian brings presidential history to life for middle graders. Each double-page-spread profile includes down-to-earth prose describing events during the president's term; a quick facts chart; sidebars with unique tidbits of information; the official portrait; and a large, loosely rendered illustration. An appealing and useful survey. Glos.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. Jacob Tibbs is born the runt of the litter in 1847 on a ship bound for America. Jacob's first-person (first-cat?) account of terrifying ocean squalls, mutiny, and survival on a deserted island has an old-fashioned sensibility, as do the occasional black-and-white facing-page illustrations. This suspenseful, tear-jerking tale will please fans of underdogs, animal stories, and high-seas adventure.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Retold by Adam McKeown. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. The picture book adaptation of Dickens's classic Christmas tale will satisfy those who want to introduce young children to the plot, but it leaves out the clever language and biting social satire that Dickens is famous for. McKeown's storytelling is satisfactory and Kelley's full-bleed paintings are appropriately spooky, but the whole is a pale shadow of the original.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. Springing from the true story of how London street performer James Bowen found, healed, and bonded with street cat Bob, this book presents one possible backstory for the orange kitty. Handsome cat's-eye-view paintings follow Bob from bewildered, hungry, and frightened to happy and in safe company, proudly wearing his now-signature scarves. A photo collage of the real Bob and James is included.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. Dragons, hippogriffs, ogres--each letter highlights a legendary or mythical monster in this alphabetic tribute. Each monster is described in a silly rhyme, while a sidebar of denser text provides information about its characteristics and origins. Kelley's engaging illustrations vary in style from creature to creature: the skin-walker is loosely rendered in muted browns, while the phoenix is a riot of fiery color.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. Recounting legend, the story begins with the monstrous Jersey Devil's birth on an ominous stormy evening in 1735 in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. After numerous strange occurrences in town, people attempt to capture the fabled creature, but all in vain. The illustrations, heavily shadowed with creepy exaggerations, successfully create an eerie mood, but the storytelling falls flat.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) 4-6 Ye Yucky Middle Ages series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. This series puts a comedic focus on the smellier, nastier aspects of life in medieval Europe. Each chapter covers a different topic and is balanced between the sensational and the informative. Humorous illustrations keep things lighthearted and fit well with the overall theme. Some of the information is repeated across volumes, with Castle being particularly redundant. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ye Yucky Middle Ages titles: Don't Let the Barber Pull Your Teeth!, Sweaty Suits of Armor, There's a Rat in my Soup, and Ye Castle Stinketh.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Ye Yucky Middle Ages series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. This series puts a comedic focus on the smellier, nastier aspects of life in medieval Europe. Each chapter covers a different topic and is balanced between the sensational and the informative. Humorous illustrations keep things lighthearted and fit well with the overall theme. Some of the information is repeated across volumes, with Castle being particularly redundant. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ye Yucky Middle Ages titles: Don't Let the Barber Pull Your Teeth!, Sweaty Suits of Armor, There's a Rat in my Soup, and Ye Castle Stinketh.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Ye Yucky Middle Ages series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. This series puts a comedic focus on the smellier, nastier aspects of life in medieval Europe. Each chapter covers a different topic and is balanced between the sensational and the informative. Humorous illustrations keep things lighthearted and fit well with the overall theme. Some of the information is repeated across volumes, with Castle being particularly redundant. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Ye Yucky Middle Ages titles: Don't Let the Barber Pull Your Teeth!, Sweaty Suits of Armor, There's a Rat in my Soup, and Ye Castle Stinketh.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Yucky Science series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. A "What's Yucky?" introduction asks: "What makes an animal seem yucky to you?" Each chapter then focuses on a different category of animals (e.g., "Sloppy Eaters," "Creepy Crawlies") from around the world. The text, while occasionally reductive, is both informative (who knew that a cockroach could live without a head for weeks?) and humorous. Illustrations and photographs underscore the grossness. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Yucky Science series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. A "What's Yucky?" introduction asks: "How do you decide something is disgusting?" Each chapter then focuses on a different category of food (e.g., "Crunchy Crawlies," "Wiggly Snacks") from around the world. The text, while occasionally reductive, is both informative ("Many insects have a lot more protein than beef, and they have much less fat") and humorous. Illustrations and photographs underscore the grossness. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Yucky Science series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. After a "That's Yucky!" introduction, each chapter focuses on a different category of pollution ("Dirty Air," "Icky Water," "Our Gassy World," etc.). The text, while occasionally reductive, is both informative and humorous: "Would you believe that cow farts are actually adding to the warming of our planet?" Illustrations and photographs underscore the grossness. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Yucky Science series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. A "What's Yucky?" introduction asks: "Would you take a job where you had to...wade through rivers of poop?" Each chapter then focuses on a different category of work ("Stinky Jobs," "Bloody Jobs"). The text, while occasionally reductive, is both informative and humorous ("Pig poop smells much worse than poop from horses or cattle"). Illustrations and photographs underscore the grossness. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Yucky Science series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. After a "What's Yucky?" introduction, each volume's chapters focus on a different category of disease ("Old-Time Diseases," "Scary New Diseases") or bodily function ("What's That Smell?" "What's That Gunk?"). The texts, while occasionally reductive, are both informative and humorous. Illustrations and photographs underscore the grossness. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Yucky Science titles: Snot, Poop, Vomit, and More, and Tapeworms, Foot Fungus, Lice, and More.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Yucky Science series. Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. After a "What's Yucky?" introduction, each volume's chapters focus on a different category of disease ("Old-Time Diseases," "Scary New Diseases") or bodily function ("What's That Smell?" "What's That Gunk?"). The texts, while occasionally reductive, are both informative and humorous. Illustrations and photographs underscore the grossness. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Yucky Science titles: Snot, Poop, Vomit, and More, and Tapeworms, Foot Fungus, Lice, and More.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo