(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Anthony Owsley. Hokey narrative caricatures of Galileo, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein join fictional physicist Dr. Dazz in presenting twenty-five physics experiments (some requiring an "adult sidekick") in seven themed chapters (e.g., "Take That, Gravity!"). Accompanied by cartoony illustrations, the experiments use mostly everyday items, and a "Science Behind the Stunt" explanation follows each; additional asides address tangential physical science topics. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) 4-6 With the National Wildlife Federation and Ranger Rick Magazine, Cusick presents facts about various animal survival adaptations that will fascinate and gleefully gross-out kids. With a clever approach to the Ewww! and Look Out! factors, these books for early middle graders and reluctant readers include solid scientific reasoning and eye-catching layouts with lots of photographs, some too small to appreciate. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these titles: Animals That Make Me Say Ewww! and Animals That Make Me Say Look Out!.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 With the National Wildlife Federation and Ranger Rick Magazine, Cusick presents facts about various animal survival adaptations that will fascinate and gleefully gross-out kids. With a clever approach to the Ewww! and Look Out! factors, these books for early middle graders and reluctant readers include solid scientific reasoning and eye-catching layouts with lots of photographs, some too small to appreciate. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these titles: Animals That Make Me Say Ewww! and Animals That Make Me Say Look Out!.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jeff Albrecht. This lighthearted offering celebrates notable animals associated with a wide variety of historical figures and events, including Magellan and penguins and Dolly the sheep. Each two-page entry features a poem, brief biographical information with bulleted facts, and dynamic caricature illustrations. The accessible format allows for easy reference and comparison among entries, but the lack of depth limits the book's usefulness. Ind.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Well organized and featuring catchy subheads ("Salmon Street: Born to Run"), this introduction to migration by land, sea, and sky introduces the phenomenon and details the process for nine different animals. For each, there is a habitat map, statistics about participants and distances, activities, food sources, complications, and working solutions. Bright photos on color-coded pages illustrate the text. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Anthony Owsley. This amusing book surveys hundreds of dubious inventions, from a car whistle to signal low fuel to a wearable plastic tent to keep a dog dry during rainfall. It's loosely organized by function, with illustrations ranging from black-and-white patent diagrams to whimsical, colorful cartoons. Some well-known inventors' failures are included (e.g., Edison's concrete house). Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Addressing the ick factor first, Cusick helps readers take this initially offputting subject seriously. Her colloquial treatment, which covers subtopics such as defensive vomiting, regurgitative feeding, pellet expulsion, stomach ejection, and cud and courtship emesis (i.e., vomiting), is accessible and accurate. The numerous illustrations--mostly color photos--evince ingenious photography. Interviews with a veterinarian and a physician conclude the volume. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 These photograph-heavy collections of brief facts about animals lend themselves to browsing rather than research. Both books include "Defense" and "Foraging" sections; Ouch has an "Environmental" section, and Wow includes "Anatomy." Though the color photographs are generally clear and well reproduced, many are too small for their details to be appreciated. "Scavenger Hunt Challenge(s)" are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these titles: Animals That Make Me Say Ouch! and Animals That Make Me Say Wow!.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) K-3 These photograph-heavy collections of brief facts about animals lend themselves to browsing rather than research. Both books include "Defense" and "Foraging" sections; Ouch has an "Environmental" section, and Wow includes "Anatomy." Though the color photographs are generally clear and well reproduced, many are too small for their details to be appreciated. "Scavenger Hunt Challenge(s)" are appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these titles: Animals That Make Me Say Ouch! and Animals That Make Me Say Wow!.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Each section in this guide introduces an everyday "difference-maker" and offers strategies on how to meet one locally, questions to ask, and websites to visit; interviews and mini profiles conclude some chapters. The subjects (judge, crafter, "someone from a different religion") are a random assortment and the design is rather busy, but the energetic tone sets this title apart from other community-helper books. Ind.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Joshua S. Brunet. The titular song, popularized by Peter, Paul, and Mary (a CD is included), is ultimately not a love song but a spoof of racial prejudice ("The neighbors...think value on their property will go right down / If the family next door is blue"). This meaning may elude young readers, but they will be content studying the lavish illustrations of an amusingly lovey-dovey interspecies couple.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Wade Zahares. The familiar winter song is newly illustrated with showily stylized paintings. Zahares, best known for Window Music, adopts a palette of electric blue and brick red for the snowy scenes; long shadows fall across the blue snow, and the double-page spreads are distorted as if viewed through a fisheye lens. The accompanying CD, performed by Kenny Loggins, also includes two other child-friendly tunes.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Anthony Owsley. A short introduction leads to two larger sections: one explaining basic human anatomy and types of infections, the second covering common ailments and injuries (bruises, burns, fevers, etc.). The tone is breezy and reassuring, not overburdened with details. Frequent cartoon illustrations, close-up color photos, and diagrams add visual appeal. The type is quite small, and tinier-still captions are easy to miss. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) PS The lyrics to folk-music trio Peter, Paul, and Mary's title song (CD included), which features a blend of nursery-rhyme snippets and a hide-and-seek motif, serve as text. Davenier's ingenious illustrations show rain-detained kids playing the game in a house in which a grandfather ("the old man") is stuck in bed ("bumped his head"). Too bad the text doesn't quite work without musical accompaniment.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Illustrated by Lee Wildish. Steggy Stegosaurus and Tracey Triceratops are among the dinos competing à la TV's Dancing with the Stars (here it's "dancing with the 'saurs"). Clarke goes for easy, obvious rhymes ("Tango with our T. Rex, / do the Steggy twist and shout! / Disco with the Duckbills / and shake it all about") that Wildish almost rescues via his eye-snaring illustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 From synonyms for feces to explanations of coprophagia (eating feces) to dangers from and uses for poop, this volume is enthusiastic about the subject, as the overuse of exclamation marks attests. Cusick directly addresses the yuck factor first and then presents an accessible, colloquial coverage of the subject, often using Q-&-A formats and employing lots of captioned photos. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jay Shin. Primary sources and anecdotal sidebars combine with an engaging text to present a thorough discussion of what it's like to be a child or teenager living in the White House. The awkward pastel illustrations detract from the presentation, but plentiful photographs augment the scrapbooklike design. This is an inviting, fact-filled look at the pros and cons of being a member of the First Family. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 The well-known song from Disney's Pinocchio provides the text of this lavishly illustrated picture book. The art features fairies, rainbows, a smiling star, and a cast of children of different ethnicities. It's all very pretty (in an overblown sort of way), but it may not engage children. An accompanying CD of Judy Collins performing the song is included.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 4-6 Cusick introduces over two hundred fifty animals with unusual names; they're grouped according to nomenclature rather than species (for example, readers will find leopard frogs with leopard sharks and leopard moths). Clear photographs accompany brief descriptions of habitats, behavior, and/or unique characteristics. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the variety of familiar and unfamiliar animals and will return for multiple browsing experiences. Ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Amiko Hirao. This slight story stars Katie Casey, a cat who "was baseball mad. / She had the fever and she had it bad." When her team needs a boost, Katie begins the iconic song. Brightly colored illustrations of animal players and spectators fill the pages. A CD of three Carly Simon songs is included; an appended note tells about her family's connection to Jackie Robinson.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan