(2) 4-6 African American eleven-year-old Zoe is shy around others but has a big imagination. A Madagascan astronomer comes to her father's exotic plant shop, touching off events that help her grow out of her shyness. Woods balances serious issues with humor; Zoe's character is relatable and encouraging to those who are trying, like Zoe, to understand themselves and the world around them.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(4) PS Illustrated by Mary McQuillan. "'Oh, you mucky piglets,' said Mama Pig. 'Tonight you will all have a bath.'" But her three piglets don't want a bath. So Mama adds bubbles, rubber ducks, and some scrubbing for "the best bathtime ever." Though the story is somewhat predictable and goes on a bit too long, it reads aloud well and the bright illustrations are full of energy.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(4) PS Illustrated by Anna Vojtech. Full-page color illustrations of cheery meadow animals accompany the text of this nineteenth-century rhyme. For readers familiar with other versions, some of the language may seem odd: e.g., mother beaver says, "Beave. / We beave said the ten." John Langstaff's adaptation of this rhyme, which includes music, remains a far superior selection.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Tobin. Adler and Tobin team up again, this time to present methods of measuring in their hands-on, let's-have-fun style. They cover units of measure in ancient Egypt, demonstrate the importance of a standard unit of measure, introduce the customary (inch-pound) and metric systems, and more. Tobin's cartoonishly offbeat illustrations radiate enough pizzazz to motivate even the most resigned math haters.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 1999

(4) 4-6 Female Firsts in Their Fields series. Accompanied by poorly reproduced black-and-white photos in an uninspired design, each of these volumes profiles the professional accomplishments of six pioneering women. The books don't discuss their subjects' personal lives in any depth, but they do address issues such as how individuals have made decisions about career, marriage, and/or family. This series offers a general history of women entering traditionally male-dominated professions. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(2) 1-3 I Can Read Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Don Bolognese. When the first mate becomes ill, young Abigail finds herself at the wheel of her father's freight boat towing a large, disabled sailing ship up the Hudson River. Avi's generous dose of adventure and suspense, combined with his straightforward yet compelling storytelling style, custom-fit this tale for new chapter-book readers. Bolognese's subdued watercolors create a turn-of-the-century nautical atmosphere.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 1999

(4) 4-6 Female Firsts in Their Fields series. Accompanied by poorly reproduced black-and-white photos in an uninspired design, each of these volumes profiles the professional accomplishments of six pioneering women. The books don't discuss their subjects' personal lives in any depth, but they do address issues such as how individuals have made decisions about career, marriage, and/or family. This series offers a general history of women entering traditionally male-dominated professions. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(4) 4-6 Slick, glossy pages illustrated with sepia photos (some of which are used in more than one book) lend these slim biographies a magazine-like look. A general understanding of African-American history emerges from volume to volume while the individual is the focus of each. The at-times graphic photos are themselves a visual history. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(4) 4-6 Female Firsts in Their Fields series. Accompanied by poorly reproduced black-and-white photos in an uninspired design, each of these volumes profiles the professional accomplishments of six pioneering women. The books don't discuss their subjects' personal lives in any depth, but they do address issues such as how individuals have made decisions about career, marriage, and/or family. This series offers a general history of women entering traditionally male-dominated professions. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Ellen Thompson. At Camp Bear, Cody befriends Arthur, a fellow TV-junkie who, like Cody, would take arts and crafts over horseback riding any day. But Cody soon finds courage to meet camp challenges. With little desire to be "manly men," Cody and Arthur bumble their way through the numerous humiliations of preadolescence just by being themselves.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 1999

(2) 1-3 A green, fuzzy, chubby alien who does work in exchange for Twinkies? That's who third-graders Lexie and J. P. find in Lexie's lunchbox after Bork (the alien) rescues them from the fifth-grade bully by turning him into a baby. Readers caught up in the immediacy of Duffey's writing are not likely to question the loosely hinged premise and may even wish they could spend a few Twinkies for an alien of their own.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 1999

(2) PS "Five drivers for five trucks" begins this concept book, as five workers head out across a tarmac to prepare an airplane for take-off. At close inspection, there's more to see--a boy, his dad, and an overstuffed, rainbow-colored plaid suitcase pop up in various illustrations. The book's simplicity is engaging and age appropriate--even those who are vague about airport operations will catch on quickly.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 1999

(4) 4-6 Female Firsts in Their Fields series. Accompanied by poorly reproduced black-and-white photos in an uninspired design, each of these volumes profiles the professional accomplishments of six pioneering women. The books don't discuss their subjects' personal lives in any depth, but they do address issues such as how individuals have made decisions about career, marriage, and/or family. This series offers a general history of women entering traditionally male-dominated professions. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(4) 4-6 Female Firsts in Their Fields series. Six accomplished athletes, from Althea Gibson to Debi Thomas to Pat Head Summitt, are profiled in brief essays. Gaines portrays the determined natures of these women and highlights the challenges each overcame to become a "female first" in her sport. Illustrated with poorly reproduced black-and-white photos in an uninspired design, this book will nevertheless serve as an adequate introduction to these role models. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(3) YA This informative, well-organized history traces the plight of young female factory workers from the start of the industrial revolution in America to the organization of labor unions, which fought to change unbearable working conditions. The thoroughly documented narrative--peppered with quotes from interviews, letters, and diaries--gives voice to workers and reform leaders, offering a real sense of their time. Ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(4) 4-6 Slick, glossy pages illustrated with sepia photos (some of which are used in more than one book) lend these slim biographies a magazine-like look. A general understanding of African-American history emerges from volume to volume while the individual is the focus of each. The at-times graphic photos are themselves a visual history. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(4) 4-6 Female Firsts in Their Fields series. Accompanied by poorly reproduced black-and-white photos in an uninspired design, each of these volumes profiles the professional accomplishments of six pioneering women. The books don't discuss their subjects' personal lives in any depth, but they do address issues such as how individuals have made decisions about career, marriage, and/or family. This series offers a general history of women entering traditionally male-dominated professions. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(1) 4-6 The summer of '71 brings a lot of change for some residents of the small town of Antler, Texas. Toby's mother leaves, his best friend Cal's brother is killed in Vietnam, and Zachary Beaver, self-proclaimed fattest-boy-in-the world, has arrived in town. In her own down-to-earth, people-smart way, Holt provides not a night out in the big city but a lovely, at times even giddy, date with real life.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1999

(4) 4-6 Female Firsts in Their Fields series. Accompanied by poorly reproduced black-and-white photos in an uninspired design, each of these volumes profiles the professional accomplishments of six pioneering women. The books don't discuss their subjects' personal lives in any depth, but they do address issues such as how individuals have made decisions about career, marriage, and/or family. This series offers a general history of women entering traditionally male-dominated professions. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey

(4) 4-6 Slick, glossy pages illustrated with sepia photos (some of which are used in more than one book) lend these slim biographies a magazine-like look. A general understanding of African-American history emerges from volume to volume while the individual is the focus of each. The at-times graphic photos are themselves a visual history. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey