(4) K-3 Illustrated by Diane Kidd. The history of Pluto, from discovery to inclusion as a planet to eventual reclassification as a dwarf planet (the titular secret), is described in a back-and-forth between scientists and an anthropomorphized Pluto. The fanciful premise, cartoonlike illustrations, and goofy dialogue, though amusing, may distract from the sound information; extensive back matter reinforces the science. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Devon Johnson

(3) YA Books of Wonder series. Illustrated by Tom Kidd. Fantasy illustrator Tom Kidd has produced fourteen color illustrations for this new edition of the classic novel.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Diane Kidd. Sam's uncle buys a cafe in rural Nevada, hoping for some peace and quiet. Instead, the cafe is visited by a series of unusual customers, including Santa Claus, Elvis, and Bigfoot, with a frustrated news crew pursuing each guest into the restaurant. Sam's deadpan narration and the comic illustrations are amusing, but with every chapter following the same format, the one-joke premise wears a little thin.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Books of Wonder series. Translated by Lowell Bair. Illustrated by Tom Kidd. This handsome gift edition of the swashbuckling classic is illustrated with color plates. The artwork strives for an old-fashioned allure but looks more like paperback romance covers. The book, which includes an afterword profiling the life of Dumas, will mainly be of interest to adults.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Monsieur Thermidor, a royal-blue, bulging-eyed lobster, presides over a chic underwater cafe until he is swept up in a fisherman's net. A kindhearted chef spares Monsieur Thermidor's life; in return, the grateful lobster revives the chef's failing restaurant by sharing the recipe for his famous seaweed soup. The predictable story is not as interesting as the lively and comical salt-dough figures of the illustrations.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.