(4) 4-6 Text by Susan J. Morris. Purportedly the authoritative work of wizard and dragon enthusiast Sindri Suncatcher, this gimmicky Dungeons & Dragons tie-in exhaustively enumerates the varieties, magical skills, and personalities of the many dragons found in the role-playing game. The descriptions and illustrations are specific to the game and rely on readers' prior knowledge of--and interest in--that world.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Fourteen-year-old Max Cassidy is an accomplished escape artist--as was his father, presumed to have been murdered (by Max's mother?) two years before. Max's theatrical performances pale, however, in comparison to the danger of investigating Dad's disappearance. Max's skills in stealth and espionage, in addition to the story's intrigues and shadowy villains, set the stage for an action-packed sequel.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) PS Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. In this variation on "Over in the Meadow," a little dragon and its mother prepare a surprise for a medieval castle's inhabitants. The textured acrylic, oil, and gel illustrations include many humorous details. With its ready-to-count items--from one baby dragon to ten jesters--and lilting rhymes, the book is well suited to both group and individual read-alouds.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) YA Bryn, an orphaned fifteen-year-old human raised by werewolves, joins forces with a dangerous wolf-teen to fight her fears, her past, and her pack, and to defeat the "big bad wolf" that haunts her. Despite some inconsistencies and leaps in logic, the action, mystery, and constant peril keep this story humming with tension.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Foote. To dispel romantic notions about fairies, narrator Miss Edythe McFate supplies grotesque descriptions and grim cautionary anecdotes about the creatures, all accompanied by appropriately dark and spiky illustrations. Lots of folkloric information is provided, along with some modern-sounding details (e.g., thieves being punished with flying snot). After all that, the assertion that we should attempt to help fairies flourish is perplexing.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) YA Sixteen-year-old Sydelle, a gifted weaver, lands in the middle of a political and magical melee when the king dies mysteriously. A strange wizard whisks Sydelle away from her village, using her as a tool to prevent all-out war. Although the thinly written narrative leaves puzzling gaps in the story's development, its themes of romance, ingenuity, and self-discovery make for an enjoyable read.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) 4-6 Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess, the stepsiblings from Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps, have the world's only phoenix roosting in their garden. While collecting magical egg-hatching aids, the children stumble into a sinister trap to sap the phoenix's power. Some flat characterizations and a moralizing tone detract from the adventure, but the plot has good pacing and plenty of suspense.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) YA Isabel has no memories, but she knows she is a shape-shifter with an innate talent for manipulating people and an irrevocable duty to protect the king. She must unravel her own murky history before political chaos destroys the kingdom. The careful, deliberate development of characters and intrigues in this suspenseful fantasy steadily builds to Isabel's staggering revelation.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) YA Magic and academia collide when Lily Carter sits for a top-secret Princeton University entrance exam. With help from a mysterious boy--and hindrance from many other people and creatures--she must save both the magical and the real Princeton from all-out war. Durst incorporates some imaginative fantasy elements into the book, which is more concerned with setting than characterization.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) 4-6 When his great-uncle dies, a peculiar curse is passed on to Charlie: he must sleep in water every night or he'll shrivel to death. With his twin, Lacey, Charlie battles this disturbing legacy. The twins' frantic pursuit of a cure introduces kooky, creepy, and downright scary supporting characters, but the storytelling stalls with slapstick and forced thrills.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) K-3 Amphibiana series. This series provides a cursory introduction to frogs, toads, and other amphibians. The books emphasize the similarities among all amphibians while highlighting species' unique capabilities. Each volume conveys information about the life cycle of the title animal as well as its habitat, diet, and environmental dangers; there is some repetition across volumes. The vivid close-up photographs are eye-catching. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Amphibiana titles: Amazing Water Frogs, Little Newts, Slimy Salamanders, Warty Toads, Tricky Tree Frogs, and Leaping Ground Frogs.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) K-3 Amphibiana series. This series provides a cursory introduction to frogs, toads, and other amphibians. The books emphasize the similarities among all amphibians while highlighting species' unique capabilities. Each volume conveys information about the life cycle of the title animal as well as its habitat, diet, and environmental dangers; there is some repetition across volumes. The vivid close-up photographs are eye-catching. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Amphibiana titles: Amazing Water Frogs, Little Newts, Slimy Salamanders, Warty Toads, Tricky Tree Frogs, and Leaping Ground Frogs.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) K-3 Amphibiana series. This series provides a cursory introduction to frogs, toads, and other amphibians. The books emphasize the similarities among all amphibians while highlighting species' unique capabilities. Each volume conveys information about the life cycle of the title animal as well as its habitat, diet, and environmental dangers; there is some repetition across volumes. The vivid close-up photographs are eye-catching. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Amphibiana titles: Amazing Water Frogs, Little Newts, Slimy Salamanders, Warty Toads, Tricky Tree Frogs, and Leaping Ground Frogs.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) K-3 Amphibiana series. This series provides a cursory introduction to frogs, toads, and other amphibians. The books emphasize the similarities among all amphibians while highlighting species' unique capabilities. Each volume conveys information about the life cycle of the title animal as well as its habitat, diet, and environmental dangers; there is some repetition across volumes. The vivid close-up photographs are eye-catching. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Amphibiana titles: Amazing Water Frogs, Little Newts, Slimy Salamanders, Warty Toads, Tricky Tree Frogs, and Leaping Ground Frogs.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) YA Questions of class warfare and a decadent, elite lifestyle dominate this steampunk thriller set on a neo-Victorian city-ship. When Colbert Porpentine encounters the lowliest members of onboard society, he grapples with their dehumanization and his own family's oppressive legacy. The quick action rolls revolution, fleeting romance, and sibling rivalry into a page-turning adventure that leaves room for sequels.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Legends series. Illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Stories from Horowitz's previously published Kingfisher Book of Myths and Legends are presented in these two volumes, modestly re-edited and with new illustrations. Under Horowitz's hand, the tales from around the world have a casual tone, accessible language, dry humor, and just enough gore to keep reluctant readers going. Black-and-white illustrations add some excitement and visual interest. Review covers these Legends titles: Battles and Quests and Beasts and Monsters.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Legends series. Illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Stories from Horowitz's previously published Kingfisher Book of Myths and Legends are presented in these two volumes, modestly re-edited and with new illustrations. Under Horowitz's hand, the tales from around the world have a casual tone, accessible language, dry humor, and just enough gore to keep reluctant readers going. Black-and-white illustrations add some excitement and visual interest. Review covers these Legends titles: Battles and Quests and Beasts and Monsters.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Greg Call. In a quaint New England village, Misty Gordon and her best friend, Yoshi, must find three magical statues before a crew of vengeful ghost pirates claims the powerful loot. An entertaining cast of kooky townspeople and relatives (both living and otherwise); a dash of local history; and a battle to protect the town keep this ghostly mystery humming with suspense.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 A generations-old treaty lands fourteen-year-old Princess Ivy in a tower to await a prince who can slay the dragon that guards it. Disliking the arrangement, plucky Ivy befriends the unusually shy dragon and chooses to battle the status quo. Supporting characters including a fairy godmother, some quirky relatives, and conniving villains round out the story.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Young Wolf runs away from a monastery and into the devil's hands in this darkly imaginative fantasy set in medieval Wales. Local spirits, the momentum of Christianity, and deep superstitions haunt Wolf as he tries to protect an elf child. A multi-layered plot and vivid characters keep the story well tuned for eager fantasy readers.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem