(2) 1-3 Mac B., Kid Spy series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. "When I was a kid, I was a spy... The story you are about to read is true," begins Barnett; he then spins an absurd yarn culminating in young Mac's face-off against a KGB agent. The story blurs fact and fiction, integrating actual history alongside goofy characterizations of real-world leaders and silly action scenes. Quirky situational humor, heartfelt sentiment, and frequent cartoony spot illustrations create a balanced (while still outrageous) early-chapter-book caper.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(2) 1-3 Mac B., Kid Spy series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Child spy Mac (Mac Undercover) quickly finds himself in the middle of a "howdunit" when the Queen of England's Crown Jewels are stolen from right under his nose. Barnett's signature dry wit and snappy back-and-forths keep this second offbeat installment steadily moving forward; Lowery's cartoony spot art in black, green, and orange provides additional historical and cultural information and frequently supports the narrative.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. "Soccer was a ball-kicking, leg-pumping, heart-thumping good time" until a boy's father joins his team. Dad--pictured in the childlike digital illustrations in a belly-button-revealing jersey--whines about his assigned position, acts silly on the sidelines, etc. This latest parent/child switcheroo, from the team behind The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten, is quite humorous, though readers will quickly get the drawn-out didactic point.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. The Gingerbread Man (The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School etc.) may have met his match in a "magical, mischievous leprechaun pest" who's wreaking havoc at school: "Fo-Fiddley-Fee! / You can't catch me! / For I'm as clever as clever can be." Murray's rhymes are creative and amusing, and Lowery's pencil, screen-printed, and digitally colored panel illustrations are vibrant--with added pops of shamrock-green.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Asked by her teacher what she wants to be when she grows up, young black girl Sal replies she wants to become a Tyrannosaurus rex--and she does. Being a T. rex is as awesome as Sal thought it would be, but she learns that her T. rex ways are not always welcomed by her human loved ones. Amusing, comics-style illustrations are sure to spur the imaginations of young aspiring dinos.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Recipes for everything from soup to veggies to snacks encourage kids and adults to work together and to try new foods. Several "matrixes" suggest inventive combinations for pizza, pasta, and salad dressings. The emphasis is on Italian foods, but other countries' cuisines (e.g., crepes, quesadillas) are featured here and there. Engaging close-up photos, illustrations, facts, and presentation tips included. Ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. This picture book introduces modern public transit through five intersecting journeys in Zoom, a fictional city served by subway, light rail, buses, ferries, a bike share, and an airport. While the text explains characters' travel options and plans, the illustrations and thought- and speech-bubbles flesh out the story lines and add humor. Lowery's comic illustrations create a bustling atmosphere perfect for multiple perusals.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Prince and Pirate, both fish, are forced to share a fish tank, but their oversize personalities clash. When a new fish arrives, the former enemies band together to welcome him. The adversaries' back-and-forth banter is full of royal and swashbuckling exclamations, perfect for reading aloud. The colorful and amiable illustrations--with an inside-the-tank perspective--buoy the humor and drama.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 4-6 Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder series. Translated by Tara Chace. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. There's a new edict in Norway: you have to buy 10,000 crowns worth of merchandise from department-store mogul Mr. Thrane in order to participate in Christmas. So Doctor Proctor, Nilly, and Lisa are off to find Santa and save Christmas for everyone aided by a nuclear-powered sleigh with a vampire giraffe cuckoo mechanism. Occasional chunky line drawings complement the zany, absurdist humor.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. A boy wants to write a story like his older sister but laments, "I don't know many words." She says, "Write what you know," and helps him get started. This well-meaning story meanders somewhat on its path to empowerment. The dapper art, in unconventional, muted colors, shows the brown-skinned boy author being encouraged at home and at school.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. In the fourth Gingerbread Man book, he rises to the challenge of a zoo-animal scavenger hunt. But things go awry when a giraffe mistakes him for food (well, he is food) and the class moves on. Undaunted, the gingerbread man follows the clues and finds his classmates. Murray and Lowery's consistently winning recipe includes bouncy, ear-pleasing rhymes and spry, varied illustrations.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Various poetic forms take readers on a funny and quirky tour of human anatomy, starting with the stomach and ending with complaints from some often-ignored organs such as the gallbladder. Sidebars contain more straightforward scientific information; humorous cartoons and some color micrographs are included. Appended "Poetry Notes" explain connections to Shakespeare's works and many of the poetic forms. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Beginning with DNA and cellular structure, lighthearted text explains quirky aspects of the human body including the brain, skeleton, amputation, digestion, and more. Cartoon illustrations echo the narrative's goofy tone. Coded messages, "extra credit" boxes, charts, activities, and an "official junior genius certification exam" are included. Accessibility is limited by the generic chapter titles ("First Period"; "Art Class") and no index.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. In this installment, former Jeopardy! champ Jennings concentrates on the ancient Egyptians. The breezy collection of facts is organized by themes and further divided into subcategories, though lack of an index and uninformative chapter titles ("Third Period"; "Recess") makes navigation difficult. Cartoony black-and-white illustrations on each page add levity to the subject matter. "Official Junior Genius Certification Exam" included.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Lowery. This jolly book, another entertaining Gingerbread Man escapade (The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School; The Gingerbread Man Loose on the Fire Truck), serves as a sort of pre-origin story for our hero. He may have been baked in the oven by schoolchildren, but where'd they get the recipe? Lowery's festive illustrations are a treat, while Murray's rhymes are continually surprising and satisfying.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(3) K-3 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Beginning with real-life examples, this book illustrates and explains the lever, wheel-and-axle, pulley, ramp, wedge, and screw. Both the order and the language are clear, but what sets this book apart is the artwork: bright, spare cartoons and line drawings have just enough detail and humor to simultaneously clarify and engage readers. A single experiment is included. Glos.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) PS Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister hop a train to a surprise (for readers, until the end) destination. The train goes through prairies, mountains, a ghost town, and the city. Jaunty rhyming text, complete with sound effects ("chug, chug, chug"; "squeak...screeeeeeeech!"), describes what the family sees. Everyone--train included--is smiling in Lowery's blocky mixed-media illustrations, and listeners will likely do the same.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Former Jeopardy! champ Jennings offers random facts (more so than other volumes in the series) and anecdotes on the topic. The lively presentation and humorous tone will appeal to a broad audience, but lack of an index or informative chapter titles ("Second Period"; "Lunch") makes navigation difficult. Cartoony black-and-white drawings add to the lightheartedness (and busyness); sidebars provide supplemental information.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Former Jeopardy! champ Jennings offers a collection of random facts and anecdotes on the title topic. The lively presentation and humorous tone will appeal to a broad audience, but lack of an index or informative chapter titles ("Third Period"; "Recess") makes navigation difficult. Cartoony black-and-white drawings add to the lightheartedness (and busyness); sidebars provide supplemental information.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. In this rambling, goofy narrative, readers are exposed to a host of facts about our solar system; stars and phenomena throughout the universe; and space travel. Cartoonlike sketches, quizzes with coded answers, and additional factual asides fill the pages. An appended final exam allows "junior geniuses" to test their learning. Lack of an index or informative chapter titles ("Third Period"; "Recess") makes navigation difficult.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford