(3) 4-6 Planet Girl series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. Kids who have some sewing experience will enjoy completing the sixteen projects (four each of handbags, travel accessories, wallets and cases, and school bags) presented in this well-illustrated spiral-bound manual. Because the detailed written directions are fairly complex, photographs of the final products are invaluable. The jaunty prose strikes a "cool" attitude meant to appeal to the target audience.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 MathStart series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. In Mighty, a little girl compares the weights of her toys as she tidies. In Tally, siblings play a competitive counting game to kill time on a long drive. In Treasure, a map leads the Elm Street Kids' Club to a time capsule. The appeal of this popular series lies in its blend of unforced humor, real-kid scenarios, and the cheerful picture book format. Review covers these MathStart titles: Mighty Maddie, Tally O'Malley, and Treasure Map.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 MathStart series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. Three funny, well-written stories--about coyotes estimating the number of desert animals around them, a penguin saving up for an ice scooter, and kids sorting buttons for their firefighter costumes--explore and clearly explain, in an age-appropriate manner, the mathematical concepts of rounding, negative numbers, and patterns and sets. Each book features lively illustrations and closes with suggested activities. [Review covers these MathStart titles: Coyotes All Around, Less than Zero, and Three Little Firefighters.]

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) PS Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. A young girl explains her pet hamster's habits and needs in this basic, appealing introduction to hamster care. Facts about such topics as different types of hamsters and cage cleaning are clearly presented in the simple text. The smiling narrator and her pet are the focus of the black-outlined illustrations with plenty of white space. The appended "Find Out More" activities expand the content.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Pippin and Mabel series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. After Pippin the dog befriends a lost kitten, she's dismayed when the kitten's owner comes to pick him up. For a week, Pippin remains so downhearted that her owner, Mabel, finally decides to adopt the kitten. The ending for this third book about Pippin and Mabel is a bit long, but the expressive cartoon-style art makes it easy to root for Pippin and her new friend.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bernice Lum. While trying to bury her bone, Pippin the dog uncovers an entire mastodon skeleton, which the museum people are happy to acquire--but they take Pippin's bone too, by mistake. Though she's acclaimed for her find, Pippin is dejected until the museum finally returns her bone. Lum's simple cartoon-style drawings give Pippin an amusing personality, and the story's exaggerations will provide some smiles as well.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Pippin and Mabel series. Illustrated by Bernice Lum. When Mabel sees her dog Pippin covered with mud, she wants to give her a bath, but Pippin loves mud and hates baths. It isn't until Pippin meets a skunk that she's willing to be bathed. The conflict between these two determined personalities will amuse readers, but the cheerful line drawings with flat colors sometimes seem crowded by the long text set in a simulated handwritten font.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley