(4) K-3 DK Readers series. Short sections of text, leveled for "reading alone" and accompanied by lots of photos, introduce an inspiring group of women with noteworthy accomplishments, including scientists, athletes, artists, and business figures, both past and present. A diverse range of cultural backgrounds and ethnicities is represented. The biographical details are cursory, but they may spark further interest in specific individuals. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sue Cornelison. This unusual, true refugee story--centering on Kunkush, a cat who becomes separated from his human family after they flee Mosul together--will be of particular interest to children. Smudgy art in vibrant, saturated colors emphasizes the tenderhearted rather than the terrifying elements of Kunkush's ordeal and the joy when he's finally reunited with the family in Norway. Notes, photos, and a map are appended.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kristy Caldwell. In this thought-provoking story, fictional boy Drasko experiences the restorative power of small acts of kindness and hope: real-life cellist Vedran Smailović honors the twenty-two victims of a 1992 Sarajevo mortar attack by playing at the attack site the following twenty-two days. Gray-toned art using ink, charcoal, pencil, and Photoshop finds beauty in a war-ravaged place. Notes, music, and an audio CD included.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jessica Lanan. During the late ninteenth century, when few women studied science, Anna Comstock became a Cornell-educated naturalist and artist; she championed the then-revolutionary concept of outdoor nature classes for children. Quiet, reflective prose, interspersed with quotations from Comstock's writings, highlights her passionate connection to nature, while the illustrations' translucent washes of leafy greens and yellows bring the outdoor world to life. "More About Anna" is appended.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Tavares. In 1805, Sophie Blanchard became the first woman to fly solo in a hot-air balloon. Her daring exploits are recounted in lively, informative prose, while Tavares's ink and watercolor illustrations depict both the elegant French society that frowned upon Blanchard's high-flying aspirations and the boundless views visible to her from the sky. An author's note sets Blanchard's accomplishments in historical context. Bib.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen. In 1861, thirty-seven-year-old Harriet Colfax began tending the Michigan City Lighthouse. Harriet's demanding, often dangerous work as one of the nation's few female lighthouse keepers for over forty years is recounted in the narrative and diary-entry sidebars. Finely rendered art with washes of color evokes her life and times. An author's note is included; unfortunately, sources are not. Glos.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(4) K-3 Comic strip–style artwork, drawn in Prismacolor pencils then digitally enhanced, depicts the adventures of Mr. Particular, a young superhero with picky likes and dislikes; he must overcome his aversion to squishy mud in order to rescue his friend. Although the progression from one illustrated panel to the next isn't always straightforward, readers will easily find the humor in this super-silly tale of pickiness.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Sydney Smith. Achievements in sports, culture, and science, along with information about historic events and famous Canadians, are found in this well-organized chronological survey incorporating excerpts from ten other books by the same publisher. Readers will enjoy browsing the short sections of clear, engaging text. Appealing line and wash illustrations bring Canada's history alive and acknowledge its multicultural population. Ind.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nizar Ali Badr. Syrian artist Badr used ordinary beach stones to compose the three-dimensional collage art depicting the harrowing journeys that many present-day Syrians undertake. Ruurs's free-verse text, in English and Arabic, chronicles one specific journey of fictional girl Rama, whose family must flee its war-torn village. A memorable look at what it means to leave one's home in search of "a bright new future." Websites.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(3) K-3 In easy-to-understand language, a girl named Sydney describes her life with cerebral palsy. The text is accompanied by candid color photos set on bright-hued backgrounds; these images show Sydney cheerfully engaged with others, often while using a wheelchair or walker. Basic information about cerebral palsy is conveyed with clarity, as is the upbeat message about accepting others as they are. Websites.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(3) 1-3 Here's Hank series. Illustrated by Scott Garrett. Irrepressible Hank Zipzer, a boy with learning disabilities, is back; this time, he's serving up his usual hijinks while competing in a cooking contest against his stuck-up cousin, Judith Ann. As in previous books, there's a fast-paced (and somewhat predictable) story line, lively dialogue, and lots of black-and-white cartoon-style spot art. The typeface used throughout is designed to benefit dyslexic readers.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Akin Duzakin. As its title suggests, this heady Norwegian import addresses existential questions to do with one's place in the world, as well as the experiences of people elsewhere. Lyrical text works seamlessly with Duzakin's evocative pastel and colored-pencil illustrations to introduce readers to a range of "what if?" scenarios (many on bleak topics such as war) that should prompt reflective, empathetic responses.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson