(4) 1-3 Makers Make It Work series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In each of these early-reader stories, the main character employs a makerspace skill--chemistry, rocketry, beekeeping, and sewing--to solve a problem. If the child's first effort fails, he or she persists to achieve success. The various illustrations (by different artists) are serviceable and the stories are fairly engaging, but kids will likely be more interested in the instructions for hands-on activities. Useful for early-elementary classrooms and makerspaces. Review covers these Makers Make It Work titles: Slime King, Rocket Rivals, The Broken Bees' Nest, and The Lost and Found Weekend.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 1-3 Makers Make It Work series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In each of these early-reader stories, the main character learns a makerspace skill--woodworking, robotics, 3D printing, and baking--to solve a problem. If the child's first effort fails, he or she persists to achieve success. The various illustrations (by different artists) are serviceable and the stories are fairly engaging, but kids will likely be more interested in the included hands-on activities. Useful for early-elementary classrooms and makerspaces. Review covers these Makers Make It Work titles: Double or Nothing, The Color Day Coach, Robot to the Rescue, and The Runaway Chicken.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. The early chapter book series starring first grader Pedro (classmate of Manushkin's Katie Woo character) is now available in Spanish. Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Pedro titles: El club de los misterios de Pedro and El Golazo de Pedro.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. The early chapter book series starring first grader Pedro (classmate of Manushkin's Katie Woo character) is now available in Spanish. Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Pedro titles: El club de los misterios de Pedro and El Golazo de Pedro.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Katie Woo's Joke Books series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Characters from Fran Manushkin's Katie Woo early chapter books appear in these volumes of mostly wordplay-based jokes. They include plenty of old groaners that will likely still be new to primary-aged budding comedians; it is also well suited to emerging readers, with copious (sometimes boldly colored) background space amid the cheery illustrations. "How to Tell a Joke" tips are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Katie Woo's Joke Books series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Characters from Fran Manushkin's Katie Woo early chapter books appear in these volumes of mostly wordplay-based jokes. They include plenty of old groaners that will likely still be new to primary-aged budding comedians; it is also well suited to emerging readers, with copious (sometimes boldly colored) background space amid the cheery illustrations. "How to Tell a Joke" tips are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. After learning about the concept of tikkun olam (doing good deeds to repair the world), Rosie sets out to accomplish a list of "Save-the-World" tasks. But while aiding others, she ignores numerous help requests from her family. Rosie eventually learns that good deeds start at home. Rosie's enthusiasm comes across in cheerful, colorful illustrations that enhance a slightly drawn-out story.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Pedro gets lost at the aquarium but finds his way back with help from some fishy friends (Shark). On Pirate Day at school, Pedro and friends learn that they must take turns being captain (Pirate). Pedro's spunky personality will bring new readers back again and again to this accessible early-chapter-book series. Jokes, writing prompts, and discussion questions are appended. Glos. Review covers these Pedro titles: Pedro and the Shark and Pirate Pedro.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Pedro gets lost at the aquarium but finds his way back with help from some fishy friends (Shark). On Pirate Day at school, Pedro and friends learn that they must take turns being captain (Pirate). Pedro's spunky personality will bring new readers back again and again to this accessible early-chapter-book series. Jokes, writing prompts, and discussion questions are appended. Glos. Review covers these Pedro titles: Pedro and the Shark and Pirate Pedro.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In two standalone early chapter books, Pedro and friends Katie and JoJo take karate lessons (Ninja); and, using paper cups, their class experiments with construction (Tower). Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Jokes, writing prompts, and discussion questions are appended. Also available in Spanish. Glos. Review covers these Pedro titles: Pedro the Ninja and Pedro's Tricky Tower.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In two standalone early chapter books, Pedro and friends Katie and JoJo take karate lessons (Ninja); and, using paper cups, their class experiments with construction (Tower). Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Jokes, writing prompts, and discussion questions are appended. Also available in Spanish. Glos. Review covers these Pedro titles: Pedro the Ninja and Pedro's Tricky Tower.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Katie Woo series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Best Club, a classmate's club turns everything into a competition; in Sleepover, Katie hosts a slumber party that involves some jitters. Both early chapter books provide practice with reading dialogue, which is forced at times but sometimes succeeds at depicting early-elementary-school dynamics. As usual, the illustrations depict a diverse cast of young characters. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a recipe are included. Glos. Review covers the following Katie Woo titles: The Best Club and Katie's Spooky Sleepover.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Katie Woo series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Best Club, a classmate's club turns everything into a competition; in Sleepover, Katie hosts a slumber party that involves some jitters. Both early chapter books provide practice with reading dialogue, which is forced at times but sometimes succeeds at depicting early-elementary-school dynamics. As usual, the illustrations depict a diverse cast of young characters. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a recipe are included. Glos. Review covers the following Katie Woo titles: The Best Club and Katie's Spooky Sleepover.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Best Club, a classmate's club turns everything into a competition; in Sleepover, Katie hosts a slumber party that involves some jitters. Both early chapter books provide practice with reading dialogue, which is forced at times but sometimes succeeds at depicting early-elementary-school dynamics. As usual, the illustrations depict a diverse cast of young characters. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a recipe are included. Glos. Review covers the following Katie Woo titles: The Best Club and Katie's Spooky Sleepover.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Best Club, a classmate's club turns everything into a competition; in Sleepover, Katie hosts a slumber party that involves some jitters. Both early chapter books provide practice with reading dialogue, which is forced at times but sometimes succeeds at depicting early-elementary-school dynamics. As usual, the illustrations depict a diverse cast of young characters. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a recipe are included. Glos. Review covers the following Katie Woo titles: The Best Club and Katie's Spooky Sleepover.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. First grader Pedro (classmate of Manushkin's Katie Woo character) stars in four short standalone stories: Pedro becomes a soccer goalie, learns about bugs, runs for class president, and starts a mystery club with friends. Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Jokes, writing prompts, and discussion questions are appended. Glos. Review covers the following Pedro titles: Pedro's Big Goal, Pedro for President, Pedro Goes Buggy, and Pedro's Mystery Club.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Best Club, a classmate's club turns everything into a competition; in Sleepover, Katie hosts a slumber party that involves some jitters. Both early chapter books provide practice with reading dialogue, which is forced at times but sometimes succeeds at depicting early-elementary-school dynamics. As usual, the illustrations depict a diverse cast of young characters. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a recipe are included. Glos. Review covers the following Katie Woo titles: The Best Club and Katie's Spooky Sleepover.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Katie Woo series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Scout, Katie resents a scouting partner who out-treasure-hunts her. In Mother's Day, Katie scrambles to find a gift for her mom. Each transitional chapter book provides practice in reading words and sentences that are a step beyond the basics, followed by discussion questions, writing prompts, and an activity. As usual for this series, the illustrations depict welcome diversity among the characters. Glos. Review covers these Katie Woo titles: Katie's Happy Mother's Day and Katie Woo, Super Scout.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Katie Woo series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Scout, Katie resents a scouting partner who out-treasure-hunts her. In Mother's Day, Katie scrambles to find a gift for her mom. Each transitional chapter book provides practice in reading words and sentences that are a step beyond the basics, followed by discussion questions, writing prompts, and an activity. As usual for this series, the illustrations depict welcome diversity among the characters. Glos. Review covers these Katie Woo titles: Katie's Happy Mother's Day and Katie Woo, Super Scout.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Katie Woo series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Katie resents--and nearly sabotages--a rival dancer in Keep Dancing and tries to earn her substitute teacher's favor in Fancy Substitute. Both cheerfully illustrated stories offer short chapters that allow young readers to practice a variety of sentence structures. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and a kid-friendly art project conclude each book. Glos. Review covers these Katie Woo titles: Katie and the Fancy Substitute and Keep Dancing, Katie.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax