(3) YA A young Canadian woman with a large nose enters a long-distance relationship with a plastic surgeon, who loves her for who she is. Adapted from Dorfman's time-lapse film of the same name, this graphic memoir for older readers has mature themes yet a refreshing picture-book simplicity to the text. A creatively minimalist art style adds depth to this story of self-acceptance.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(3) 4-6 This bright, engaging book looks at eighty rare and magnificent maps from the British Library. Spanning hundreds of years and several different artistic styles and worldviews, this book should please young map lovers. Text boxes and -circles provide historical and geographical tidbits on each page and invite the reader to find locations or things included in the map. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by James Boast. Storytelling with a "once upon..." refrain follows the jungle food chain, from insects to predators to trees. Foldout back matter describes the pathway of natural energy, touching on producers, consumers, and decomposers. Bright, sharp-edged swaths of color, made all the more vivid against predominantly black backgrounds, create the flora and fauna. The crisp art works alongside simple prose to create a cursory ecology lesson.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(2) YA Illustrated by Jackie Roche. Color by Mike Freiheit. Protagonist Amina narrates this graphic novel set during the Syrian Civil War: in 2013, when an Aleppo City explosion displaced her family; and in 2017, when her family arrived as refugees in Canada. Using a full range of color and distinct lines to showcase facial expressions and body language, the artists humanize characters' struggles and resolve. The family's suffering is heartbreaking, but their resourcefulness and strength offers hope.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(3) K-3 Translated by Claudine Mersereau. A kindhearted lion king takes in a homeless little elephant. When the elephant grows big, the king becomes insecure: "You need to leave because I no longer feel like the king." Years later, the elephant spots the now-deposed king sleeping on the sidewalk and returns the lion's original kindness. This psychologically attuned story (first published in France) features painterly, feelings-first illustrations in crown-jewel colors.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Translated by Ivanka Hahnenburger. Illustrated by Elia Bonetti. Color by Digikore Studios. Dramatic comic panels show a pair of adult siblings who get swarmed by zombies while they visit their adoptive parents' tombs. First in a French-import trilogy retelling the classic and groundbreaking zombie movie, the graphic novel is at times grotesque and violent but skillfully executed; mature horror enthusiasts will be energized for the next installment.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) YA As Musgrave notes in her introduction, "Friends help us make it through the social meat grinder of our teenage years," and the seven autobiographical essays by women collected here grapple with everything from the slippery definition of friendship to the death of a crony. There's no straining for lyricism--just frank reminiscences whose specificity engenders a quality of universality.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 With effusive text and beautiful color photos, the author introduces readers to the behavior and characteristics of hummingbirds. The text is occasionally awkward and some of the more complex descriptions, such as that of the hummingbird's eye structure, could benefit from diagrams. The book concludes with a list of Internet sites. Ind.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Shakespeare Can Be Fun! series. This adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy, written in rhymed couplets ("I have a story, with an all-star cast, / Set in Sicily, in times long past"), loses the key component of the original work--the language--but may still serve as an accessible introduction for young readers. The accompanying color illustrations and brief, related letters and stories are provided by children and give the book a kid-friendly appeal.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) 4-6 Each of the labyrinthine mazes in this well-conceived volume has an alphabetical theme: an alligator rests in a swamp shaped like the letter A, a kayak sits in a K-shaped maze of ice, etc. The stylishly rendered illustrations are complex without being overwhelming. The mazes are difficult because no entrance or exit points are provided; thankfully, the solutions are.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA "CSI" fans will appreciate this overview of forensic techniques, which includes information on identifying a body, determining the cause of death, and using fingerprints, fibers, and DNA as criminal evidence. Occasional "crime files" explain how forensic science was used in the trials of, among others, Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, and O.J. Simpson. The accompanying color diagrams and photos are informative but add to a busy design. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Double-page spreads survey human-powered flight, beginning with hot air balloons and ending with the possibility of a future trip to Mars. The book explains how planes have been used in war, introduces key figures in aviation, including Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart, and touches on topics such as flight attendants, air mail, and space suits. Clear color photos and reproductions accompany the prosaic text. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Aimed at older readers, this somewhat challenging book gives complete directions for creating professional-looking temporary tattoos. Clear color photos show each step, and a section in the back has patterns for tracing, including zodiacal, international, nature, and holiday designs. Throughout, the book promotes temporary over permanent tattoos and emphasizes skin safety.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Boursin gives detailed instructions, accompanied by diagrams and color photos, for twenty-eight origami animals, many of them his own design. The projects themselves are usefully labeled according to the skill level required. The ubiquitous peace crane is absent, but others include fish, rabbits, hens and chicks, giraffes, and frogs.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 An astonishing variety of paper airplanes can be made with these instructions from Boursin, a paper-folding artist. Clear color photos and diagrams, together with brief, appropriate written descriptions, show the steps to create planes, helicopters, twirlers, and paper models. Most projects are accessible to beginners; a section at the back offers suggestions for decorative designs.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 This browsable treatment of the history of flight provides insight into myriad topics from the pioneering work of the Wright brothers and Amelia Earhart to the building of the International Space Station. Abundant photographs and drawings are used to enhance the informative and well-written text. The book also contains a chronology of flight from pre-1900 to the present. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Scot Ritchie. Each double-page spread contains a cheery color illustration, a question in large print ("Why is soap so slippery?" "Why is the sky blue?"), and a paragraph or so of text providing the answer. Some of the questions are mundane or a little too specific (in a grocery setting: "Why do some people bring their own bags?"), but the accessible volume makes for diverting browsing. Ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Co-authored by Olympian and world-class gymnast Elfi Schlegel, this comprehensive guide to getting started in gymnastics includes everything from nutrition to choosing classes to stories from famous gymnasts. The book's triple-column text format is dull, but numerous color photos accompany detailed instructions on basic moves for both girls and boys. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dianne Eastman. Ideal for browsing, this volume is loaded with a variety of diversions, including riddles ("How can you identify a dogwood tree?" "By its bark"), trivia, knock-knocks, logic problems, and optical illusions. The layout is visually appealing, although some of the dark illustrations resemble poorly reproduced photocopier art.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Meandering text describes the history and construction of these people-shaped stone markers of the Inuit, once meant to communicate messages such as safe travel routes or good hunting grounds. Chapters cover how to choose stones and use adhesives, and various construction techniques are explained. While several quotes from Inuit elders add authenticity, all the color photos show author-built rather than Inuit-built markers. Ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey