(3) 4-6 A middle-school project prompts violin prodigy Charlotte (known as Charlie) to research the great-aunt for whom she was named and who disappeared during the Holocaust; her persistent detective work leads to unexpected discoveries about her family. Sweet twelve-year-old Charlie's story provides an accessible entry point into the Holocaust and its connections to people living today, with a dash of hopefulness amid the difficult history.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Paige Keiser. Second grader Elizabeth (younger sister of Vail's Justin Case) confronts the inequities of alphabetical order, deals with the downside of her longer first name, and learns how excluding classmates hurts feelings and complicates friendships. Friendly halftone illustrations grace these gentle stories of classroom dynamics, family, and friendship--perfect for newly independent readers. Review covers these titles: A Is for El!zabeth and Big Mouth El!zabeth

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vashti Harrison. Teacher Ms. Curie encourages Cece's love of science. When her class gets a research assignment, Cece and friend Isaac choose to investigate whether dogs will eat vegetables. Cece's dog Einstein refuses all veggies until Cece makes a keen observation that leads to an answer. In this kid-friendly introduction to the scientific method, data collection, and persistence, cartoony digital illustrations include the kids' science-project worksheets. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. When a blizzard strands a young boy at home with his parents and little brother (a.k.a. "the scallywag") on the eve of his school report on Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, he reimagines his family as a restless ice-bound crew. Ebbeler's humorous and evocative illustrations complement the pitch-perfect tone of the entertaining log-style text. An author's note and supplementary information about Shackleton are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Spanish-language edition translated by Teresa Mlawer. In an unnamed U.S. city, Lola is given homework to draw "the country you are originally from," which Lola doesn't remember. The elderly apartment-building superintendent finally tells her "a monster"--a stand in for political destabilization--"fell upon our poor Island"; Lola's concluding drawing shows her homeland (likely the Dominican Republic) in its complexity. A welcome community and immigration story with vibrant illustrations of city and island life. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(2) 4-6 Sixth grader Sam Warren feels homework leaves no time for things he wants to do. With the help of his retired-lawyer neighbor, Sam and classmates put together Warren v. Board of Education. Once granted class-action status, the case is off to the Supreme Court. Though hardly credible, the story is entertaining, and readers will learn much about constitutional law and the legal rights of students. Glos.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(4) K-3 First Facts: All About Media series. These volumes provide very basic (sometimes confusing or incomplete) information about various print- and digital media and research methods. Source gives examples (e.g., books, internet, primary sources) while the meatier Opinions helps readers become critical consumers ("Ask questions to figure out the media maker's purpose"). Helpful sidebars appear throughout, and stock photos show kids working in the library and elsewhere. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: All About Media titles: Fact, Fiction, and Opinions and What's Your Source?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. When Judy Moody is assigned to do a family tree project, she discovers what she thinks is a royal relative; from there it's full-steam ahead: Judy writes to the queen, starts wearing purple, and drops British colloquialisms. But classmate Jessica also seems to know a lot about royalty...could they be long-lost relatives? Judy's fourteenth amiably illustrated episode is timely considering interest in England's current royals.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ayesha L. Rubio. Abby, who is avoiding doing her homework, secretly follows her physicist dad's instructions for making a black hole. But could there be a downside to entering a homework-free "baby universe"? While the story is somewhat contrived, its science is sound, as an author's note avers. The lovely swirls and hazes in the digital illustrations conjure something seemingly antithetical to science: magic.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Middle school is hard for seventh grader Gregory (The 14 Fibs of Gregory K). Realizing that excessive homework doesn't leave time for the things he loves, like creative writing, Gregory goes on a homework strike; as Gregory researches the problem and civil disobedience, he discovers unexpected allies and a clever solution. Pincus has keen insights into early adolescence, and Gregory is a sympathetic hero.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Harry Bliss. "My favorite pet is sheep," begins a farm boy's school paper. (The book's text resembles a child's handwriting on lined paper.) The ensuing report is made up not of traditional sheep facts but of entertaining lessons the boy learned while cavorting with his sheep (e.g., "You can't put sheep into a wheelbarrow"). New Yorker cartoonist Bliss's illustrations play like perfect punch lines.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 First Step Nonfiction: Responsibility in Action series. A boy performs the necessary steps to complete his homework. Most kids won't find it fascinating to watch another child sit at a desk ("I sharpen my pencil. Then I set out my math worksheet"), but the clear photos will help support new readers with text/picture matching. A writing activity, word list, and "fun facts" are appended. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Benjamin Chaud. In this small-trim manual, author Cali delivers an onslaught of over two dozen outlandish explanations for neglected homework. The one-note running humor is unrelenting, but homework-averse kids will applaud the zany excuses, each made cleverer in Chaud's hilarious, detailed cartoons: e.g., the narrator has turned into an elephant to illustrate "cough medicine that my doctor prescribed had a strange effect on me."

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers. Emma is struggling with her homework assignment: "to write a poem about her best day ever." Luckily, the next day is a snow day, giving Emma and her pup Dixie plenty of time for winter play--and giving Emma plenty of material for her poem. Accessible text mirrored in friendly watercolors leads beginning readers through a story with just enough excitement.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Rick Whipple. Marley appropriately disobeys his order not to bark when the baby crawls away (Woof); Cassie uses fruit to make a model of the solar system, and Marley eats it (Homework); Cassie brings baby chicks home for the weekend, and Marley can't resist the urge to play (Peep). The overly simple stories, accompanied by stiff but pleasant illustrations, are full of predictable action. Review covers these I Can Read titles: Marley: The Dog Who Ate My Homework, Marley: The Dog Who Cried Woof, and Marley: Not a Peep!.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jack E. Davis. All week long, Martin MacGregor disappoints the substitute teacher with his far-fetched homework excuses--which just happen to be true. Cartoon-style illustrations play up the exaggerated humor of the drawn-out story. When Martin's regular teacher returns, along with his pet tarantula, so does Martin's enthusiasm for school and homework.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden