(1) YA Parachute Kids series. Tang continues the saga of the Lin family begun in the graphic novel Parachute Kids (rev. 5/23). In 1981, the family left Taiwan in search of a better life, making their home in a Los Angeles suburb. When the parents returned to Taiwan to earn a living, the children -- ­­Feng-Ling­ (Ann), Ke-Gang (Jason), and Jia-Xi (­Jessie) -- were forced to fend for themselves and adapt to American culture. Here the three siblings face challenges including complicated relationships rife with drama and an overshadowing and persistent anxiety due to their undocumented immigration status. Sixth grader Ann auditions for a summer music youth band; high-schooler Jason develops a crush on classmate Alex; and Jessie stresses over getting into Harvard. Meanwhile, their spoiled cousin Ting-Ting (Josephine), a violin virtuosa, arrives from Taiwan and flaunts her cosmopolitan education, stylish fashion, linguistic fluency, and acceptance into the prestigious Music Institute of Los Angeles. However, Josephine must give up her place at M.I.L.A. and return to Taiwan when her parents decide to divorce; she takes out her disappointment on the Lins, creating a very tense situation for her cousins and necessitating a nerve-wracking overnight move. Vibrantly colored panels add occasional comic relief while exploring themes of family, friendship, belonging, queer sexuality, and the sense of loss that reflects true-to-life immigrant experiences. Overall, perseverance and the enduring triumph of the human spirit propel the Lin siblings on their journey to realizing the American dream.

Reviewer: Jerry Dear | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2025

(2) K-3 Number Tours for Curious Kids series. Illustrated by Dawn DeVries Sokol. Berne's counts and measures of the cells and organs of the human body illustrate just how remarkable -- and quantifiable -- we are. "Did you know" that we are composed of "30 trillion cells," eight thousand taste buds, and "60,000 miles" of blood vessels? Or that "15 million cells in your body were replaced by new ones in the time it took you to read this sentence"? Numerous other facts about our sensory organs and digestive, skeletal, respiratory, and circulatory systems are equally impressive. The organized layouts include diagrammatic illustrations that effectively portray each system, often within a child-size human body outline, accompanied by text on scraps of lined notebook paper that appear taped onto the pages. The end notes should not be skipped, as they include noteworthy details about the various systems, additional number facts, and an important statement about the degree of certainty of some of the numbers. An interactive section at the very end of the book encourages readers to measure their own bodies and to calculate the volume of their blood, their heart rate, and number of bones in their hands.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) K-3 Mile End Kids series. Wanting peace and quiet, Albert moves outside to the alley, imagination in fine working order. But his Montreal-neighborhood friends (from Colette's Lost Pet) invade, becoming increasingly boisterous and fracturing the peace of Albert's seaside daydream. The story unfolds in dialogue, sound effects, and pencil and pen drawings highlighted with jaunty orange and soft turquoise. A subtle portrait of the independent republic of childhood.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(4) K-3 Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Dealing with Feelings series. Illustrated by Hilli Kushnir. In Jealous, the narrator envies the attention-getting new girl. Scared finds a (different) narrator worried about swim lessons. Both books feature adults who help the children recognize emotions ("What am I feeling? I am feeling scared") and react appropriately ("We practice breathing deeply"). The easy-reader stories, with their "Dealing with Feelings" message and somewhat static digitally-colored pencil illustrations, are reassuring if a little bland. Review covers these Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Dealing with Feelings titles: This Makes Me Jealous and This Makes Me Scared.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Dealing with Feelings series. Illustrated by Kushnir Hilli. In Jealous, the narrator envies the attention-getting new girl. Scared finds a (different) narrator worried about swim lessons. Both books feature adults who help the children recognize emotions ("What am I feeling? I am feeling scared") and react appropriately ("We practice breathing deeply"). The easy-reader stories, with their "Dealing with Feelings" message and somewhat static digitally-colored pencil illustrations, are reassuring if a little bland. Review covers these Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Dealing with Feelings titles: This Makes Me Jealous and This Makes Me Scared.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(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

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats series. These slim volumes demonstrate how statistics drive decision-making for professional basketball and football teams, aiding players, coaches, and fans to better understand wins and losses. References to specific athletes and their performances abound. The book design is uninteresting, but color photographs, tables, and graphs appear throughout, helping to clarify the information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats titles: Basketball Is a Numbers Game and Football Is a Numbers Game.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Positive Power series. Illustrated by Eren Unten. In Brave, a girl conquers her (small) fears on a family beach vacation. In Strong, a boy takes the lead during his school's field day events. Both easy-reader stories, with their "Positive Power" messages and somewhat static digitally-colored pencil illustrations, are reassuring if a little bland. Review covers these Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Positive Power titles: I Am Brave and I Am Strong.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Positive Power series. Illustrated by Eren Unten. In Brave, a girl conquers her (small) fears on a family beach vacation. In Strong, a boy takes the lead during his school's field day events. Both easy-reader stories, with their "Positive Power" messages and somewhat static digitally-colored pencil illustrations, are reassuring if a little bland. Review covers these Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Positive Power titles: I Am Brave and I Am Strong.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Rodale Kids Curious Readers: Dealing with Feelings series. Illustrated by Hilli Kushnir. A girl is thrilled to ride a roller coaster, visit the petting zoo, etc., on her field trip to the fair. Everything is happy-making until the charity bake sale, where her peanut allergy prevents her from partaking. No matter: she can still enjoy the satisfaction of giving. The easy-reader story, with its "Dealing with Feelings" message and somewhat static digitally-colored pencil illustrations, is reassuring if a little bland.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. These nonfiction chapter books focus on animal behavior. Readers are introduced to three human-dolphin relationships (a trainer at a marine mammal institute, a scuba instructor and his dolphin best friend, and an underwater photographer), and three stories of animal troublemakers (an ill-mannered cat, a thieving emu, and a destructive-when-lonely puppy). Engaging photographs and sidebars complement the heartwarming texts. Websites. Ind. Review covers these National Geographic Kids Chapters titles: My Best Friend Is a Dolphin! and Terrier Trouble!.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats series. These slim volumes demonstrate how statistics drive decision-making for professional basketball and football teams, aiding players, coaches, and fans to better understand wins and losses. References to specific athletes and their performances abound. The book design is uninteresting, but color photographs, tables, and graphs appear throughout, helping to clarify the information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Know the Stats titles: Basketball Is a Numbers Game and Football Is a Numbers Game.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 Ranger Rick Kids' Guides series. These books present detailed guides for children who may have little experience with the titular outdoor recreations. Each uses a how-to format with step-by-step instructions; useful tips; and basic information related to sites, gear, food preparation, and activities. Illustrations, photos, and diagrams extend the readable texts on cleanly designed pages. Each book includes a working compass. Ind. Review covers these titles: Kids' Guide to Fishing, Kids' Guide to Paddling, Kids' Guide to Hiking, and Kids' Guide to Camping.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. These nonfiction chapter books focus on animal behavior. Readers are introduced to three human-dolphin relationships (a trainer at a marine mammal institute, a scuba instructor and his dolphin best friend, and an underwater photographer), and three stories of animal troublemakers (an ill-mannered cat, a thieving emu, and a destructive-when-lonely puppy). Engaging photographs and sidebars complement the heartwarming texts. Websites. Ind. Review covers these National Geographic Kids Chapters titles: My Best Friend Is a Dolphin! and Terrier Trouble!.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) K-3 Books That Drive Kids Crazy! series. In another meta offering from the Stantons (This Is a Ball etc.), an unseen narrator tries to convince readers not only that this book is red (it's not), but that its featured cartoonish animals and objects are colors they're not ("Roses are red. So Rose the penguin is red"). The narrator's leaps of (il)logic and defensiveness ("Are you calling me a liar? Ouch") are unremittingly funny.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Ranger Rick Kids' Guides series. These books present detailed guides for children who may have little experience with the titular outdoor recreations. Each uses a how-to format with step-by-step instructions; useful tips; and basic information related to sites, gear, food preparation, and activities. Illustrations, photos, and diagrams extend the readable texts on cleanly designed pages. Each book includes a working compass. Ind. Review covers these titles: Kids' Guide to Fishing, Kids' Guide to Paddling, Kids' Guide to Hiking, and Kids' Guide to Camping.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. These nonfiction chapter books should delight pet lovers. Readers encounter three stories of heroic working dogs (at a firehouse, tracking missing pets, and as comfort dogs at a wildlife sanctuary), and three stories of cats having unusual adventures (living on a sailboat, stealing human belongings, and trekking around national parks). Engaging photographs and sidebars complement the lively, conversational texts. Websites. Ind. Review covers these National Geographic Kids Chapters titles: Hero Dogs! and Adventure Cat!

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Shockers! series. Fourteen brief chapters discuss a variety of players and teams who have come from behind or otherwise defied expectations to succeed in their sport ("Fleury was one of the smallest players in the NHL"; "Few people thought New York could defeat the New England Patriots"). The pages are crowded with main texts, sidebars, photographs, captions, etc., but fans should enjoy the highlights. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Shockers! titles: Pro Football's Underdogs and Pro Hockey's Underdogs.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Shockers! series. Fourteen brief chapters discuss a variety of players and teams who have come from behind or otherwise defied expectations to succeed in their sport ("Fleury was one of the smallest players in the NHL"; "Few people thought New York could defeat the New England Patriots"). The pages are crowded with main texts, sidebars, photographs, captions, etc., but fans should enjoy the highlights. Reading list. Ind. Review covers these Sports Illustrated Kids: Sports Shockers! titles: Pro Football's Underdogs and Pro Hockey's Underdogs.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Chapters series. Three sections comprised of short chapters showcase pets or domesticated animals with unusual talents--Norman, a bicycle-riding pup; hoops-shooting aquarium sea otter Eddie; and Kidogo, a tightrope-walking zoo gorilla--and the humans they're devoted to. High-interest, easy-to-read text filled with amusing anecdotes traces the animals' paths from obscurity to performing fame; color photographs and fact boxes are sprinkled throughout. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen