(4) 1-3 I Can Read Chapter Book series. This is the tale of a small town in Maryland that, according to legend, used trickery to defend itself against the British during the War of 1812. Unfortunately, fictional nine-year-old heroine Caroline is hard to believe: she can outrun all the boys in town, confronts the enemy while her friend Robert runs away, and save the flag in battle. Readers may enjoy the interesting historical anecdote and McCully's loose illustrations.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 1-3 I Can Read Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. Nine-year-old Noah, who loves life on the prairie, resists his aunt's efforts to teach him to read and write until Dora shows him how an education will help him better understand the natural world around him. Set in 1880 Colorado, the short chapter book has a large typeface, short sentences, and a reader-friendly layout. An emphasis on sepia tones in the full-color illustrations helps create an old-fashioned mood.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(2) 1-3 I Can Read Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Don Bolognese. When the first mate becomes ill, young Abigail finds herself at the wheel of her father's freight boat towing a large, disabled sailing ship up the Hudson River. Avi's generous dose of adventure and suspense, combined with his straightforward yet compelling storytelling style, custom-fit this tale for new chapter-book readers. Bolognese's subdued watercolors create a turn-of-the-century nautical atmosphere.

Reviewer: Mary Burkey | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 1999

(4) 1-3 I Can Read Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Jane Manning. Wendy learns that even though she is the youngest witch in her family she has enough magic power to get the better of her older sisters. Low has made slight changes to simplify the text and re-format it to attract young readers. The new illustrations are cheerful and clear, though some may find it harder to warm up to Manning's green, warty witches with all their spikes and sharp lines.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 I Can Read Chapter Book series. Riding home one rainy day, Jeffrey meets two kids in the process of saving a squirrel from the mud, and they invite him to join their adult-supervised Animal Rescue Club. In five short chapters, they also rescue and rehabilitate a goose and an opossum. This story about a popular topic is enhanced by bright, simple illustrations. An author's note warns not to try animal rescue without proper supervision and training.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.