(2) 4-6 Translated by Edward Gauvin. Jun's graphic novel for young readers begins with Yu'er, a Chinese girl who dreams of swimming in the Special Olympics. When her swim-class application is rejected because of her disability, Grampa has an ingenious solution. Heartwarming relationships, moments of levity, and magical elements also mark the remaining three vignettes. The earth-toned watercolor illustrations seem quiet at first glance, but dynamic perspectives and compositions provide lively energy.

Reviewer: Roxanne Hsu Feldman | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(4) K-3 A young girl rescues and adopts a white kitten. The two enjoy Beijing by bicycle until Kitty chases a kite and is lost. After searching many famous sights, the girl learns that Kitty, now named Angel, has a new home with a lonely old woman. Although the first-person narration lacks lyricism, the gouache illustrations use bold brush strokes and saturated colors enticingly. Visual context helps explain Chinese terms in the text.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 4-6 Global Cities series. Photographs by Adrian Cooper. Readers are introduced to the history, culture, economy, environment, and challenges faced by these cities. Each section is dense with facts, reading like an encyclopedia entry, but the "case study" sidebars focusing on specific people or issues provide insider views. Well-captioned photographs, charts, graphs, and maps appear throughout the busy pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Global Cities titles: Tokyo, Mumbai, and Beijing.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jude Daly. In his efforts to comfort the late emperor's grieving elephant, a spoiled young man in "long ago" Peking finds friendship and purpose. Roome's telling is sure handed and satisfying (and the story even includes a riddle). Daly's rich, clear palette is gorgeous, whether depicting open countryside or crowded city shops, tiny figures or the enormous elephant.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 4-6 Cities Through Time series. Illustrated by Ray Webb. A simple but effective design and crisply worded prose are the highlights of this look at the social history of the capital city of China during its ancient, imperial, and modern periods. Competent but unexciting illustrations dominate the early part of the book, while color photographs are used to portray modern times. A time line is appended. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne