(2) K-3 Ready to Read: Monster Og series. Illustrated by Elio. Picture book author Dyckman (Wolfie the Bunny, rev. 3/15; How Dinosaurs Went Extinct, rev. 3/23) steps into the beginning reader market with this book for the earliest readers. Og is a turquoise monster with puffy hair, blunt horns, and one tooth -- not even a little frightening. The book uses simple words, short sentences, and a lot of repetition ("This is Og. Og is nice") to ease children just starting to sound out words into this story about the day some sort of creature appears stuck in a block of ice. Og is scared but also determined to get the creature out. Og tries bonking the ice with a log, and when that doesn't work, it's time for a new strategy: "Og can think and make a plan!" For its simplicity, the text has a gentle rhyme scheme and pleasing sense of rhythm that reward the work of decoding. Elio's cartoon-style illustrations are bright, cheerful, expressive, and clearly composed, creating a path for readers who may be struggling with early phonics skills to follow the story. Once Og finally releases the creature from the ice, a new friendship is formed, and readers get a setup for future adventures with this duo.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) K-3 Ready to Read: Monster Og series. Illustrated by Elio. In their entertaining second outing (Og Meets Mog!, rev. 3/24), Og (a gentle turquoise monster) and sidekick Mog (a large, round, catlike creature) are using a tool to "make something cool." Feeling left out, Dog snatches the last cog and drops it into a bog. "Og yells once. Og yells again." In some books, the repetition of sounds can become tedious, but Dyckman's agile deployment comes off as charming and allows children who are just beginning to decode print the opportunity to practice and build confidence in service of a cheerful, relatable story. The strong lines and bold, vaguely retro hues in Elio's images add to the appeal. Characters pop off pages that alternate between double-page spreads and spot illustrations, which controls the pace and gives this straightforward, low-stakes friendship story a feeling of movement and drama. The character design rides the line between cute and weird in a way that will encourage young readers to pick the book off the shelf. In the end, Og executes a plan to get the cog out of the bog, Dog makes amends, and then Og, Mog, and Dog create their "something cool" together. Three cheers for this unique and enjoyable story and friendship team.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Our Universe series. Illustrated by John Wallace. With one clear, informative sentence per page, Bauer gives young readers solid introductory information about our closest neighbor in the universe. Wallace's uncluttered illustrations are welcoming and help with reading comprehension. For example, "our moon lights up our night sky, but it has no light of its own," accompanies a simple, clear diagram of light from the sun bouncing off the moon toward earth. Specialized vocabulary words such as satellite and gravity appear in a glossary preceding the main text to prepare young readers for success. A page of "Interesting Facts" concludes this accessible title. The series also includes Earth and Mars.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: You Should Meet series. Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu. The Japanese artist, fashion designer, and writer Yayoi Kusama "never stopped following her dreams." Readers learn about Kusama's childhood and career, from Japan to New York City and back; the focus is on her creativity and determination in the face of obstacles (for example, plagiarism of her work by male peers, including Andy Warhol). The cleanly designed early reader features illustrations bursting with color, many pages featuring Kusama's signature polka dots. Some loosely related facts about Japan, art, and artists, along with a comprehension quiz, are included.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(2) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. In this darkly funny early reader in rhyme, the cheerful titular bug doesn't seem to be long for this world when a frog shows up in the bog; the simply drawn, expressive cartoon illustrations show the frog eyeing the bug hungrily and even donning a bib. A fog obscures a moment that seems to be the end of our insect friend, but that boldly lettered "CHOMP!" and "CHEW!" might not mean what readers assume at first. Simple rhymes, repeated words, and brief lines of text in large print make for an effective easy reader, and the decoding work pays off in a story with humor, suspense, and nearly singable meter ("See the bug in the bog. // See the bug on a log. / See the bug watch / the muddy bog bubble. // The bug sits. / The bug sings. / The bug thinks / happy things, // never dreaming / there could be some trouble"). It could also lend itself to a lesson plan about making predictions--if one doesn't mind having one's predictions upended in the silliest way possible. (Burp.)

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: The Adventures of Otto series. "See Otto feel sad. // No... Wait..." Twice, robot Otto gets his hopes up when he sees a friend approaching (offering a hug, then a pie). Twice, he's disappointed that he's not the intended recipient. Then Pip appears with a kite, and Otto prepares himself for rejection. Surprise! Pip wants to play with Otto! In this ninth entry in the series (Swing, Otto, Swing!, etc.), the spare, easy-to-decode text and cheery uncluttered illustrations satisfyingly convey Otto's emotional lows and eventual high.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Tails from History series. Illustrated by Rachel Sanson. The latest installments in this easy-reader series about famous animals in history present two new compelling protagonists: a Japanese Akita adopted by Helen Keller and a cat dubbed "mayor" of a small town in Alaska. Nakamura imposes mild drama on both "tails," while Sanson's straightforward and appealing cartoon illustrations give new readers lots of visual help with the narratives. Further facts are appended. Review covers these Ready-to-Read: Tails from History titles: The Cat Who Ruled the Town and A Puppy for Helen Keller.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Living in... series. Illustrated by Tom Woolley. A young girl in modern Russia walks us through a day in her life, sharing tidbits of Russian history, geography, and culture along the way. Friendly digital illustrations accompany an engaging beginning-reader text, which provides a level-appropriate amount of information on topics such as the Trans-Siberian Railway, Peter the Great, and the Bolshoi Ballet. Additional facts are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: You Should Meet series. Illustrated by Alyssa Petersen. Emerging readers meet Broadway phenomenon Lin-Manuel Miranda in this accessible level-three easy reader. Accompanied by straightforward cartoon illustrations, chapters explore the role of influences such as hip-hop and Latino culture in Miranda's work while also emphasizing the support of his friends and family and his own hard work. Back matter includes facts about Puerto Rico and Broadway and a screenwriting activity.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Secrets of American History series. Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti. The lively easy-reader series about American history continues to offer beginning readers entertaining and lesser-known facts surrounding popular topics. This edition covers monuments and landmarks, in particular the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, FDR's secret train station under the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and Mount Rushmore. Fabbretti's amusing illustrations add an extra level of kid-friendly interest. Facts and a quiz are appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Secrets of American History series. Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti. The lively easy-reader series about American history continues to offer beginning readers entertaining and lesser-known facts surrounding popular topics. This edition features stories about the Space Race; secret satellites; and early research about living in space and the effect of gravity on human bodies. Fabbretti's amusing cartoonlike illustrations add an extra level of kid-friendly interest. Facts and a quiz are appended.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. "What can a cat do?" This broad question sets the foundation for an easy reader exploring the abilities (running, drinking, climbing) and limitations (crowing, flying, reading) of felines. As the text focuses on simple word families, sight words, and animals that beginning readers will recognize, Carle's classic, uncluttered cut-paper illustration style also aids their understanding. Reading comprehension questions are appended.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Secrets of American History series. Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti. This engaging easy reader pairs accessible, level-appropriate prose with full-color kid-friendly illustrations to introduce exciting, lesser-known facts about World War I. Choctaw Indian code talkers, razzle dazzle painting on ships for camouflage, and the story of pilot Eugene Bullard are covered. Back matter includes further explanations, craft ideas, a section on animal heroes, and a quiz.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Science of Fun Stuff series. Illustrated by Scott Burroughs. Four brief chapters present some basic science principles behind basketball, including how the laws of motion and gravity affect the game, the physics behind some of the Globetrotters' tricks, and the material composition of a basketball. This is high-interest trivia for hoops fans and emerging or struggling readers. A mix of color photographs and cartoony illustrations add appeal. Back matter includes world records, basketball jobs, and a quiz.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Tails from History series. Illustrated by Rachel Sanson. This amusing easy reader tells the silly-but-true story of President Calvin Coolidge's misfit pet Rebecca, a raccoon who ate her meals at the table and even participated in the White House Easter Egg Roll. Sanson's playful, cheery illustrations prominently feature the Coolidges' menagerie of unusual pets (including a donkey and a wallaby) while highlighting Rebecca's personality and her struggle to fit in. Additional facts are appended.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Tails from History series. Illustrated by Rachel Sanson. This lively easy reader centers on painter and famous animal-lover Frida Kahlo's outgoing pet parrot, Bonito (who appeared in one of Kahlo's most beloved paintings, Self-Portrait with Bonito). Smiles (both human and animal) abound in Sanson's appealing illustrations, which humorously depict the joyous relationship Kahlo had with all her pets but particularly with the spirited Bonito.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(2) K-3 Ready-to-Read: The Adventures of Otto series. After watching bird Tweet fly, mouse Pip becomes inspired to try it. Several page-turns (and much fruitless flapping) later, robot friend Otto comes up with a clever remote-control drone solution that allows Pip's dreams to take flight. This latest series entry's extremely limited vocabulary provides effective new-reader support, the comic timing is spot-on in the repetition and pacing, and the clean illustrations are both understated and hilarious.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: The Adventures of Zip series. Space alien Zip zaps things out of his magic hat, hoping to impress (diaper-wearing) alien Bip. When Zip's zaps get out of control, Bip comes to the rescue. Front matter previews words found in the text, highlighting word families, sight words, and bonus words. Back matter asks comprehension questions. With one to two sentences per page and easily decipherable illustrations, this book is easy for beginning readers to tackle independently.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Tails from History series. Illustrated by Rachel Sanson. The latest installments in this easy-reader series about famous animals in history present two new compelling protagonists: a Japanese Akita adopted by Helen Keller and a cat dubbed "mayor" of a small town in Alaska. Nakamura imposes mild drama on both "tails," while Sanson's straightforward and appealing cartoon illustrations give new readers lots of visual help with the narratives. Further facts are appended. Review covers these Ready-to-Read: Tails from History titles: The Cat Who Ruled the Town and A Puppy for Helen Keller.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Tom Disbury. Spare, rhyming easy-reader sentences introduce a family of irresistible astronaut-cows in this story reminiscent of a Sandra Boynton book ("Some space cows are green. / Some space cows are blue. / Some of them quack... / ...but most of them moo"). Disbury's silly illustrations expand on the simple text and do much to aid beginning readers' comprehension.

Reviewer: Kari Allen