(3) K-3 Illustrated by Turine Tran. Pando, a massive aspen grove in Utah, is "one of the biggest / living things in the world." The forty-seven thousand trees on 106 acres are linked through their root system, which surfaces and produces "clone" trees. The spare free-verse text introduces readers to this natural wonder, estimated to be twelve thousand years old. Fox effectively provides context for the massive numbers (e.g. Pando's size and age) to aid in comprehension. Particular attention is paid to how human behavior has changed Pando's environment and is threatening the organism's survival. Matching the text's reverence, Tran's delicately rendered illustrations glow with rich browns, golds, and greens. A glossary, "How You Can Help," and a bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(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 Curious Pearl, Science Girl 4D series. Illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin. On a weekend trip to the lake, Pearl and friends Sabina and Sal consider the ways in which light interacts with everyday materials. Readers can use the publisher's downloadable "4D app" to augment the information about sources of light, reflection, and color. Despite the frame story's awkward illustrations and dialogue, the kids' scientific-observation techniques are solid. A science activity is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Curious Pearl, Science Girl 4D series. Illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin. Pearl and friend Sal investigate earth science concepts related to the position of the sun and earth by making observations and modeling the geometry with a globe and light bulb. Despite the frame story's awkward illustrations and dialogue, the kids' scientific-observation techniques are solid. Readers can use the publisher's downloadable "4D app" to augment the information. A science activity is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Seeking Refuge series. Illustrated by Salvador Maldonado. Each book offers a first-person account of a refugee child's separation from family due to hardship or war: Ali leaves Afghanistan with his grandma as his parents stay behind, while Juliane endures a painful separation from her mother in Zimbabwe before they leave the country together. Despite the odd, sometimes disjointed digital images, simple storytelling makes these texts relatable to young readers. Review covers these Seeking Refuge titles: Ali's Story and Juliane's Story.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Seeking Refuge series. Illustrated by Karl Hammond. Each book offers a first-person account of a refugee child's separation from family due to hardship or war: Ali leaves Afghanistan with his grandma as his parents stay behind, while Juliane endures a painful separation from her mother in Zimbabwe before they leave the country together. Despite the odd, sometimes disjointed digital images, simple storytelling makes these texts relatable to young readers. Review covers these Seeking Refuge titles: Ali's Story and Juliane's Story.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Elina Ellis. There's "constant tattling, all day long" by bird Miles (and classmates), so giraffe teacher Mrs. Snitcher starts a weeklong "tattle battle" to cure the problem. When his sister gets hurt at home, Miles finally learns the difference between tattling and helping. It's a slightly preachy but effective lesson for children needing guidance, and inviting white space juxtaposed with bright illustrations adds appeal.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Molly Mac series. The spunky African American protagonist finds herself in awkward situations at elementary school. Molly is (perhaps overly) concerned new girl Tori is a snack- and friend-thief (Bandit); Molly loses her lucky pencil at the unluckiest time: before the school-wide art show (Lucky). Tidy spot illustrations show the dramas unfold in these run-of-the-mill school stories. Discussion questions and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Molly Mac titles: The Best Friend Bandit and Lucky Break.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Molly Mac series. The spunky African American protagonist finds herself in awkward situations at elementary school. Molly is (perhaps overly) concerned new girl Tori is a snack- and friend-thief (Bandit); Molly loses her lucky pencil at the unluckiest time: before the school-wide art show (Lucky). Tidy spot illustrations show the dramas unfold in these run-of-the-mill school stories. Discussion questions and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Molly Mac titles: The Best Friend Bandit and Lucky Break.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(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

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) PS Illustrated by Ethen Beavers. A young boy imagines his bedtime routine as Batman's nightly crime-fighting adventure. Comic panels and speech bubbles contrast real scenes with imaginary ones, such as toys in the toy box becoming locked-up supervillains. With humorous juxtaposition of imagination and reality throughout, the youngest superhero fans will enjoy this clever celebration of bedtime rituals and creative play. Bedtime routine checklist included.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) PS Me and My Pet series. Illustrated by Zoe Persico. These books combine easy-to-decode language with simple content about the fun and responsibilities of owning a pet while also highlighting differences between kids and animals. Bright cartoon-style illustrations show the pets and their toddler owners in a variety of situations, and each book features a family of a different ethnicity. A note at the end provides tips on caring for an animal. Review covers the following Me and My Pet titles: Me and My Cat and Me and My Dog.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) PS Me and My Pet series. Illustrated by Zoe Persico. These books combine easy-to-decode language with simple content about the fun and responsibilities of owning a pet while also highlighting differences between kids and animals. Bright cartoon-style illustrations show the pets and their toddler owners in a variety of situations, and each book features a family of a different ethnicity. A note at the end provides tips on caring for an animal. Review covers the following Me and My Pet titles: Me and My Cat and Me and My Dog.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) 1-3 Dorothy and Toto series. Illustrated by Monika Roe. In Picnic, a sneaky weasel gets Toto in trouble when picnic food goes missing; Dorothy and friends search for a runaway Toto in Lost. Despite the bland writing, there should be enough surprise and mischief in these brief Oz-set stories to hold new readers' interest. Flat color illustrations appear throughout. A brief synopsis of The Wizard of Oz and reader questions are appended. Glos. Review covers these Dorothy and Toto titles: The Disappearing Picnic and Little Dog Lost.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan