(3) 1-3 Tales of Sasha series. Illustrated by Paco Sordo. This new series introduces Sasha, a spirited young horse who discovers a secret that explains why she's so different from her herd. Fidgety readers will identify with Sasha, who "stink[s] at staying still," and everyone will be pleasantly surprised at the revelation of Sasha's unique talent. Frequent black-and-white illustrations feature horses with big eyes and flowing manes that My Little Pony fans will appreciate.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) K-3 Flintstones Explain Simple Machines series. Illustrated by Paco Sordo. Fred Flintstone describes the basic workings and everyday uses of simple machines in these cartoon books. Small inset photos of modern real-world examples connect readers to sound factual material, but the text format--paragraph-long word bubbles of tin-eared dialogue ("something tells me today is going to be a great day for using pulleys") in small type--is cumbersome. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Flintstones Explain Simple Machines titles: Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Inclined Planes, Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Pulleys, and Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Wheels and Axles.

Reviewer: Russell Perry