(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sol Linero. This brisk, practical overview explores the required training, unique tools, and workplaces of veterinary practice. It also discusses other animal-related jobs, from farmers to wildlife rehabilitators. French doesn’t ignore the mental and emotional challenges involved but encourages children to volunteer or do further research if they’re considering animal-focused careers. Despite often-busy layouts, readers will discover much about what this occupation demands. High-contrast digital illustrations evoke midcentury poster art, depicting a diverse cast of professionals, children, and animals. Websites appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald. A picture book’s journey from Asian printing factory to American bookstore. Each striking double-page spread includes parallel texts: Sidebar narration explaining details about each phase of the process and pairs of opposites depicting more abstract impressions of the story (“Every UP has a DOWN” and “Every QUIET has a NOISY”). Digital illustrations contrast grayscale environments with selective colors (the bright red cargo ship; blue, green, and orange container crates, etc.).

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Food Heroes series. Illustrated by Christy Hale. A market’s diverse offerings motivate Eva Sommaripa to explore gardening, growing unusual herbs and experimenting with new methods of composting. Her unique approach soon brings quality herbs and other plants to Boston-area restaurants, enhancing local cuisine and demonstrating how her work inspires communal pride and fulfillment. Collage and print illustrations alternate between double-page spreads of idyllic farmyards and vignettes of helpful garden inhabitants. Back matter includes an afterword by Sommaripa, information on women farmers in the United States, “Eva’s Recipe for Growing Pea Shoots,” glossary, and resource list.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Diana Hernández. Toucan Grecia’s life is upended when a group of humans senselessly destroy her upper beak in this picture book based on a true story. News of the injury spreads, inspiring her rescue team of veterinarians and engineers to build her a 3D-printed prosthetic beak and sparking demands that lead to Costa Rica’s first anti-animal cruelty law. Cartoony digital illustrations soften the story’s darker moments, showcasing the beauty of Grecia’s rainforest home and the passion of Grecia’s diverse supporters. Back matter includes an author’s note, timeline, additional facts about Grecia’s life, and a bibliography.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Traveling with his pa, nomad Kai feels unable to connect with other children due to language barriers. When Kai’s frustration causes him to lose his special stone, his journey to retrieve it becomes a magical lesson in making friends without words. The gentle message of building understanding should encourage readers facing friendship and cultural challenges. Illustrations deftly combine cloud-like watercolors and crisp color-pencil lines to showcase both the grounded and fantastic elements of Kai’s world. An author’s note is appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Fabien Cousteau Expeditions series. Illustrated by Joe St. Pierre. In this graphic novel, oceanographer Fabien Cousteau (grandson of Jacques) learns of a group of Hawaiian sea turtles ensnared in an abandoned fishing net and sets off to save them. Enlisting the help of "Junior Expeditioners" Bianca and Baylor, Fabien combs Molokini Island's coral reefs to find and free the turtles. The story is inspired by real expeditions and incorporates information about ocean conservation and microplastic pollution alongside search-and-rescue action. Magazine-style sidebars provide additional facts; digital illustrations effectively depict a diverse range of ocean environments and wildlife.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kate Garchinsky. This picture-book introduction to the species follows Lutris, a fictional sea otter, as she swims through kelp forests, hunts for shellfish, and teaches her new pup how to survive. Conversational, straightforward text describes how Lutris's natural adaptations allow her to thrive in her habitat. Potentially unfamiliar terms are italicized and defined in an appended glossary. Digital illustrations skillfully capture stormy skies, deep ocean waters, and otters' playful antics. "More About Sea Otters" provides additional information on this endangered species. A reading list is included at book's end.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Laura Fanelli. This engaging book uses magazine-style infographics to depict several consequences of climate change (rising sea levels, desertification, etc.) in a series of two-page spreads. Each topic is presented with an overview alongside a "before and after" illustration and sidebar explaining a particular issue's importance and how things have changed over time. Follow-up spreads use diagrams to show how these problems develop and why they're ongoing. Additional sidebars explain what's being done to combat these challenges and how readers can help. Minoglio's informative, concise text combines with Fanelli's striking full-color illustrations for a worthy introduction to this timely subject. Websites, a glossary, and index are appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Alex Paterson. This practical guide briefly reviews the causes of climate change and common misconceptions about the issue before presenting solutions that range from adjusting personal habits to organizing community projects. Short chapters with attention-grabbing titles like "Be Annoying" (on writing to congressional representatives) and "Eat Your Neighbors" (about buying local, seasonal produce) are accompanied by a Planet-O-Meter rating of each activity's environmental impact, cost, and difficulty. Thomas's conversational tone balances the urgent danger of climate change with encouragement to actively confront the crisis, while black-and-white cartoons throughout reinforce the text's energy and humor. An index is appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Science Comics series. Illustrated by Pat Lewis. When beaked whale Zip is tagged with an underwater microphone by "aliens" (i.e., human scientists), he decides to travel the ocean and interview different whale species. Brisk text is packed with facts about whale biology and behavior and climate change. Sly humor balances serious observations about ecological damage and the interconnected nature of life on Earth. Digital comic-panel illustrations employ simple line work with a mostly blue-green palette (shifting to eerie photo-negative colors for human encounters). Whale and "Human Impact" glossaries and suggestions for further reading are appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Nhung Lê. This lively "who's who" presents a diverse group of individuals who have made great strides in fighting climate change. Grouped by professional field, Zissu's compact profiles examine the triumphs and setbacks of each person's work. Subjects range from the famous to the obscure, including activist Greta Thunberg, former vice president Al Gore, scientist Vandana Shiva, urban farmer Will Allen, sustainable business leader Eileen Fisher, and documentary filmmaker David Attenborough. Profiles are accompanied by Lê's vibrant portraits, rendered in a high-contrast palette, and conclude with advice for how readers can follow each person's example. A glossary is appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Translated by Laura Watkinson. Illustrated by Wendy Panders. This deep dive begins by discussing the difference between naturally driven climate events in Earth's past and the exponentially damaging effects of industrialization and a growing human population. The book also examines current and long-term consequences of a hotter climate on the environment, wildlife, and human society; measures to combat the threat; and resistance from climate change deniers. The mostly sober text includes some lighter touches: a breakup letter to fossil fuels ("You in particular, Oil") and the doodle-like limited-palette illustrations add humor and visual interest. Metric-only measurements may be problematic for US readers. A climate bingo game and an index are appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 In an alternate post–World War I Britain, orphan Christopher works as an engineer's assistant, building (and befriending) robot children called "mechanicals." When an accident reveals that Christopher himself is actually a mechanical, he's kidnapped for experimentation. To save him, his friends enlist the help of a reclusive inventor. Robots, magic, and frights combine in this gripping adventure, propelled by the heroes' devoted friendships.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Fifth grader Oliver is obsessed with Tito the Bonecrusher, a former lucha libre wrestler turned action-movie star. When Oliver's father is jailed for tax fraud, he seeks the celebrity's help to break his dad out of prison. Some readers may balk at the naiveté of Oliver's plan and the coincidental plot threads, but Oliver's confusion, anger, and desperation are treated with compassion and authenticity.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Loner Danny forges an unlikely friendship with awkward yet popular Eric. After Danny discovers his new friend is actually an android, the boys seek the truth behind Eric's creation. Alternating between Danny's and Eric's perspectives, this sci-fi mystery explores the possible "humanity" of robots and criticizes rampant consumer culture. Despite a one-dimensional villain and flat supporting characters, the compelling central friendship drives this story.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 When ghost Simon is assigned to haunt an old house, he's thrilled that an easy-target grandma is moving in. However, her grandson, Chester, is excited, not frightened, by their spectral housemate. Exasperated, Simon tricks Chester into doing "ghost chores" like rattling chains, but they soon discover common interests and become friends. Expressive retro-style illustrations complement the spooky yet humorous tale.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 After moving to a remote Colorado town, Arlo joins the Rangers scouting troop and learns about the hidden magic of nearby Long Woods. Arlo builds confidence and friendships through the Rangers, but when supernatural phenomena strike, he and his troop must work together to make it back home. This intriguing combination of traditional scouting story and supernatural mystery lays the groundwork for future adventures.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Essi Kimpimäki. The informative text of this series entry asks readers basic questions about life on a farm. Shining light behind recto pages reveals animals, buildings, and plants hidden in each full-color picture. Turning the page reveals the black-and-white image answer. While text from each verso page unfortunately shows through, the flashlight gimmick should engage young readers. A final spread provides additional facts about farm life.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Douglas Holgate. In this entertaining fourth Last Kids on Earth book, Jack plans a makeshift Christmas celebration to cheer up his snowbound friends (and fellow monster-apocalypse survivors). But then a new human villainess kidnaps Jack's friend Dirk for a ritual sacrifice, and Jack and company must prevent her from summoning an evil extra-dimensional entity. Dynamic comic book–style illustrations featured throughout once again support the story's well-rounded characters, humor, and action.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. National Geographic Kids Chapters series. These nonfiction chapter books should appeal to adventure-seekers> Readers follow three exciting stories of river expeditions navigating treacherous waters in Alaska, Africa, and Peru for research and conservation; and three stories of rock climbers setting records scaling the roof of Red Cave in Japan, Castleton Tower in Utah, and Mount Meru in the Himalayas. Engaging photographs and sidebars complement the dynamic texts. Websites, ind.

Reviewer: Russell Perry