(2) K-3 Encounter series. Illustrated by Harriet Popham. Karl, an Abyssinian ground hornbill, arrived at the Smithsonian's National Zoo with a damaged lower bill, which limited his ability to eat a balanced diet and participate in normal activities. Nargi's lighthearted and informative account shows how zoo staff engineered Karl a 3-D printed beak, each step in the process demonstrating how engineering and science can solve problems in animal conservation. Creative illustrations combine blueprint-like schematics with photos; a downloadable companion app is available. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(3) K-3 Encounter series. Illustrated by Nick Hardcastle. At age sixteen, American Indian Jim Thorpe was sent to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. In spite of adversity, he thrived there as a multi-sport athlete, particularly as the 1912 football team's linchpin in beating--against all odds--West Point's Army team. Straightforward, conversational text and meticulous ink and watercolor art reveal the prowess and importance of this extraordinary athlete. Reading list. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Encounter series. The history behind the mass evacuation of Jewish and other vulnerable children from Germany to the UK during WWII is given multifaceted treatment in this middle-grade nonfiction volume. Recollections, poems, photographs, and other primary sources factor into touching and often heartbreaking narrative profiles of seven real kinder. A final chapter details each subject's "life after the Kindertransport." Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Bushore

(4) K-3 Encounter series. Illustrated by el primo Ramón. Sixteen-year-old Hedy and her family must overcome numerous obstacles on the perilous journey from Hungary through Nazi-ruled territory to Lisbon and on to America. Gray- and sepia-toned illustrations reflect both the time period's dark history and the family's struggle to survive together. While a bit wordy, this story illuminating the author's family history nevertheless offers a worthy contribution to the Holocaust canon. Reading list, timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Encounter series. Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin escaped from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in 1962. A riveting narrative discusses the physical evidence and interviews with cellmates that helped authorities determine how the three breached the prison walls but not whether they survived; Braun includes numerous theories regarding the real-life unsolved mystery. Critical thinking questions and photographs are appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Encounter series. Illustrated by Ebony Glenn. In nineteenth-century Ohio, a lantern in the window of abolitionist John Rankin's home provided a sign to enslaved blacks that the Underground Railroad--and freedom--were nearby. Digital illustrations in dark hues are sometimes slick and vary in quality as backdrops for the detailed historical narrative, which integrates (sourced) direct quotes. An afterword touches on the Civil War and Rankin's legacy. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) 4-6 Encounter series. Langston-George covers the last six years of John Wilkes Booth's life while also examining the story of his overshadowed older brother Edwin. While both men were well-known actors, Edwin's affinity for the North contrasted with John's unwavering belief in Southern values that led him to assassinate President Lincoln. Captioned historical photographs and illustrations illuminate this thorough, gripping account. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jessica Bushore

(3) K-3 Encounter series. Illustrated by Beidi Guo. During a dangerous journey out of Iraq, a refugee family loses their beloved cat. Through the actions of several volunteers and a social media campaign, the family is finally reunited with Kunkush in Norway. A heartwarming true story of hope amidst heartbreak, with digital illustrations that skillfully manipulate light and color palettes to convey emotion. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Encounter series. Braun chronicles the survival of a crew of U.S. medics stranded in Nazi-controlled Albania during WWII after a plane crash. Their two-month ordeal of avoiding capture by Nazis and their Albanian sympathizers is vividly portrayed in a narrative presentation. Young history buffs will appreciate this suspenseful account of a true event. Archival photographs and maps are appended. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Encounter series. Illustrated by Iva Sasheva. In 1988, fifty-year-old Helen Thayer hiked to the North Pole, becoming the first woman to reach "any of the world's Poles" alone. This inspiring biography's straightforward text heightens tension during action-packed scenes, but a rushed ending detracts from Thayer's accomplishment. The photorealistic illustrations convey Thayer's isolation in the stark Arctic environment. Notes from Thayer and the author are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 4-6 Encounter series. Through moving, fascinating accounts of seven children's experiences on mid-nineteenth-century orphan trains, Langston-George brings this moment from history to vivid life. While also providing broader context, each chapter delves into a different child's background and follows through to his or her eventual (not-always-happy) placement in a home. Archival photographs enhance the narrative. Critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Encounter series. Illustrated by Rudy Faber. This text-heavy picture-book biography relies on lots of fictionalized dialogue to introduce fourteen-year-old Dicey, who worked as an informant during the American Revolution. Sneaking supplies to soldiers and warning of an impending Redcoat attack made Dicey a hero in her South Carolina colony. Digital illustrations with an old-timey oil-paint quality complete the story. An author's note and cornbread recipe are appended. Reading list.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) K-3 Encounter series. Illustrated by Janna Bock. Although there are several biographies of the young Pakistani girls'-rights activist for third and fourth graders, this volume's large-picture-book format works well for such primary-grade readers. Sticking to the facts and with direct quotes noted in the back matter, the narrative is accompanied by digital illustrations that vary in quality, from moving images to cartoony pictures of doe-eyed girls. "More About Malala's Story" appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Encounter series. This book explores the harrowing exploits of pilots who flew "The Hump," the air transport route between India and China in WWII's lesser-known China-Burma-India theater. The narrative includes individuals' experiences as well as background on the war itself, and the result is a bit choppy. Occasional black-and-white photos, sidebars, and a map supplement the main text. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo