(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Sam Nielson. The animals at his father's exotic Guiana zoo are the only creatures Marlin can speak to without stuttering. When an encounter with a mysterious black jaguar leaves him able to not only talk to the animals but also understand them, Marlin develops new empathy for the captive creatures. Both human and animal relationships are thoughtfully portrayed in this well-written historical fantasy set in the late eighteenth century.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Sam Nielson. Ambitious Lockley Puffin yearns to soar gracefully--a radical idea for a puffin. Lockley's adventurous spirit pits him, along with his sidekicks--a pontificating walrus and an (improbably) Arctic-tolerant hummingbird--against an absurdly tyrannical owl king and leads to a quest for his colony's freedom. Whimsical characters and daring exploits balance the political drama. Pompous dialogue and factual errors disrupt the narrative.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem