(4) 4-6 Adapted from an adult edition, this volume chronicles a rescue by American soldiers of prized horses taken by the Nazis. Letts's immense affection for horses is clear: Lippizaners, Arabians, and their breeders, trainers, and riders are celebrated; war's inhumanity to horses is lamented. Attributions of human thoughts and sentiments to the horses may jar some readers' understanding of equine abilities, but horse-lovers will go along for the ride. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) YA The complicated topic receives earnest if superficial treatment in this slim, densely-printed volume. Miller traces a continuum, from medieval blood libels to "Pizzagate," and attempts to differentiate between real fake news and those who decry unfavorable press using the epithet. In his attempts to be timely, Miller refers to the Mueller Report, but the text is, of course, already dated. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jill Calder. This informative volume achieves exactly what its title purports to do and any library would do well to add it to their collection. Those teaching or studying poetry should also find it valuable, both for its insights regarding interpretation and creation and for its range of poetic examples by classic British and American poets. Loose black-and-white spot illustrations add kid-friendliness. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 After getting into trouble at school, thirteen-year-old Jamie finds her community service assignment less punishment than pleasure when she connects with staff, patrons, and the mission of her local library. Every quirky character's history is touched upon, but none are given much depth. The plot moves slowly toward a sweet but expected conclusion in this unabashed paean to public libraries.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Written with her customary succinct text and illustrated with simple yet eloquent acrylics, Winter recounts the Williams sisters' tennis careers, from childhood practices in Compton, California, to international championships. It is clear that their paths have not been easy, and the sustenance of their sororal bond is appropriately invoked and celebrated in this tribute. Bib.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 A predominantly celebratory, occasionally sobering collection of hundreds of poems related to the United States, these selections were not written for children but work nicely for them here. The poets include some of our most celebrated, and their range of tone and subject give the whole a resonance that will make the anthology useful for years. Photographs from National Geographic's archives accompany the poetry. Reading list. Ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Young fairy Ophelia finds her training and preconceptions challenged by the human world when she embarks on her first wish-granting mission. Can she complete her mission with a broken wing? Should she accept help from an unexpected canine quarter? Funny, iconoclastic, and warm-hearted, Anderson's vision of a world shared by fairies, humans, and a slobbery dog is enchanting.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Poly Bernatene. Despite having been adopted by bookstore owners when she was five, eleven-year-old Property Jones is (secretly) illiterate. Fortunately, she is also extremely observant, which enables her to thwart the swindlers who are bent on cheating her family out of the commodious, almost-magical book emporium they've just won in a contest. This pleasant fantasy, enlivened by Bernatene's cartoon illustrations, will engage young book lovers ready to take on denser chapter books.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) YA Rebellious, horse-crazy British teen Jay escapes the unloving, shady relatives who've been raising her just to cash in on her horseracing skill. Jay's empathic way with the equine allows her to break into the misogynistic racing world, but not without added complications involving criminal gambling and animal abuse. Though a bit soap opera–ish, this novel offers plenty to keep the attention of horse-loving teens.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Borden's admiration for American Pete Seibert's skill as a skier and his heroism as a WWII soldier in the Italian Alps is clear, but her writing is uncharacteristically colorless. However, text laid out as free verse makes for extremely accessible reading, and archival photographs appear prominently throughout the spacious design. There's not a ton of information here, but back matter directs readers to more in-depth material. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Crims series. The Crims--a family of the world's most inept criminals--return, but now they're disappearing one by one. It's up to young Imogen (who's actually a genius) and Crim matriarch Big Nana to find and rescue them. Are the kidnappings related to Imogen's fall from queen-bee status at her secondary school? Who is her all-too-perfect archenemy Ada Gud, really? Implausible, hilarious fun for all.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Spirit Riding Free series. The Baby-Sitters Club meets the Spirit Riding Free Netflix show in this diary-format series. More simply written and with more spacious pages than Selfors's Spirit novelizations, this anodyne tale of girls and their trusty steeds offers a smidgen of adventure and minimal character development as Lucky and her girlfriends start a day camp and struggle to make it successful.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Emma is grieving the recent death of Aunt Jenny (her mom's best friend). When Emma receives a mysterious letter instructing her to wish for ten "lucky little things" and see which come true within thirty days, she confronts the interpretation, nature, and vagaries of luck and of life itself. Emma's NYC-private-school milieu is realistically evoked, and her eighth-grade angst is universal.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 A small, depressed city in southern New Jersey is hit by a rolling blackout. Sixth grader Luis and his friend Maura collaborate to uncover the motive for the computer hack that's caused the problem. Equal parts thriller, STEM lesson, political satire, and commentary on class and racial inequality, this fast-moving story with plenty of heart is well constructed and thought-provoking. Includes electricity facts and emergency-kit instructions. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 In 1905, when public library service in the U.S. was young, Mary Lemist Titcomb set out to serve all corners of Washington County, Maryland, by loading up a horse-drawn wagon and making the rounds. Glenn provides a basic biography of Titcomb and recounts the success of her invention. Many photographs and ephemera in a stylish scrapbook design lend interest to a rather dry text. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) PS Illustrated by Ashling Lindsay. A reassuring poem about waning daylight hours and the ascendancy of night, illustrated with a simplicity that homes in on children's wonder. A fox, a cat, and more wait for Max to open the Night Box ("WHOOSH! Day slips inside as Night sweeps out"). "And when Night falls asleep...", Max releases Day into the dawn. The quotidian ritual is expressed pleasingly in this quiet bedtime book.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Unassertive children, particularly younger siblings, may cheer Piggy's liberation from domineering boy Thomas, who's always called the shots in their household. After meeting Wild Pig, Piggy throws off his clothes and escapes to choose his own destiny. The simple text is much enhanced by Gulemetova's color-saturated, atmospheric illustrations--particularly those enticing green pastures beyond the fence.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Warriors: A Vision of Shadows series. Readers who devoured the previous titles in the ever-expanding Warriors franchise will be delighted with the continuation of this spinoff series. Those who aren't already initiated may find it difficult to adjust to the many characters with complicated allegiances and to the ultra-specific language of these politically organized cats. But, hey. Suspend your disbelief and purr. Review covers these Warriors: A Vision of Shadows titles: Darkest Night and River of Fire.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 With Paul Mantell. Fifth in Jeter's loosely autobiographical series about his childhood, this novel concentrates on his search for role models during the summer of his eleventh year. Derek's aspiration to be a good person and a great ballplayer would be overly cloying if we didn't know that's just what he grew up to be. The story's messages are padded with plenty of baseball action.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Gary Cherrington. A rare Jewish Major League player, Moe Berg took a hiatus from baseball to work as a spy for the OSS during World War II, parachuting into Yugoslavia, reporting on the Nazi’s progress toward developing the atom bomb, and more. The interesting biography is illustrated with emotive cartoons. No sourcing is provided, but an afterword (with a couple of photos) expands on Berg's interesting life story.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin