(4) PS Papa loves the stinky swamp so much that his monster child wonders, "Do you love me as much...?" As they encounter creepy creatures galore, Papa repeatedly declares that he loves his little monster most. The message is more saccharine-sweet than spooky, but it delivers plenty of kid-pleasingly gross rhymes along the way. Cartoony digital illustrations feature entertaining details (e.g., a "Winnie the Boo!" headstone).

Reviewer: Julia Tyler

(2) PS When reindeer-obsessed Ollie is woken up by a "jingle, jingle, jingle" on Christmas Eve, she follows the sound to the woods, where she meets a friendly reindeer who flies her home. The next morning Ollie finds a gift from a special someone by which to remember the reindeer. Killen's inky illustrations in a muted palette are sophisticated and warm, with well-placed die-cuts.

Reviewer: Julia Tyler | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(3) 4-6 In 2005, while laying a sewer line, workers discovered a slave cemetery near Albany, New York; this book describes what a team of bioarchaeologoists learned from the people's remains. Huey, an archaeologist herself, explains the scientific and historical research processes in a way that is thorough and informative without becoming too dry. Photos of the excavation add impact. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julia Tyler

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. This history highlights individuals who have made notable contributions to performance magic. Each of the eight chapters concludes with instructions for one trick, such as the old "cups and balls" illusion. The readable text is enhanced by section inserts, black-and-white archival photos, and illustrations. The book's focus is scattered, but those fascinated by the subject may find this offering useful. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Julia Tyler

(4) K-3 Translated by Jane Springer. Illustrated by Luciana Justiniani Hees. This is an important story of a slave woman who learned to read and write from Jesuit priests and later became the first African Brazilian to pen a letter of petition to the governor in an attempt to escape her master's abuse and be reunited with her family. A sometimes-unnatural first-person narrative switches suddenly and awkwardly to the third person; Hees's stylized, bold illustrations are, however, striking.

Reviewer: Julia Tyler

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Doogie Horner. This browsable collective biography introduces middle-grade readers to sixteen mostly well-known, mostly male athletes (five are women), including Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Each chapter focuses on an individual's early years, using anecdotes to illustrate character, emphasize challenges, and humanize the sports icons. The cartoony illustrations help break up the accessible text. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Julia Tyler

(2) YA When sixteen-year-old Lucy impulsively quits an international piano competition, she jettisons a deeply-held family tradition, a lifestyle, and her career as a concert pianist. The novel's strength is Zarr's unflinching attention to the gray areas in Lucy's life, where adults are fallible, decisions are reversible, and passions can guide you forward or lead you astray.

Reviewer: Julia Tyler | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013