(4) 4-6 Mabel Jones series. Illustrated by Ross Collins. Mabel (The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones) searches the Noo World for her baby sister, who's been abducted by an evil jungle sorceress. Teaming up with two explorers and some old friends, she journeys to the Forbidden City. Wordiness and backstory slow the action in places, but fans won't be disappointed with this second wild romp, illustrated with plentiful line drawings.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) 4-6 Mabel Jones series. Illustrated by Ross Collins. Pulled into an animal-populated "footure without hoomans," spunky, nose-picking swashbuckler Mabel Jones and friends race against a master spy to find the Doomsday Book and the reason for "hoomankind"'s extinction. Chock-full of nonstop action, zany characters, and exuberant typefaces and line drawings, the third book will have readers guffawing--and awaiting Mabel's next adventure.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) 4-6 Mabel Jones series. Illustrated by Ross Collins. Mabel picks her nose, eats it, and consequently finds herself a prisoner among pirates who like a good pun; unless she helps them find the X, she'll never get home to London. Absurdity prevails in this whimsical voyage light on substance and rife with bad spelling, which seems to be the point. Varying typefaces and Collins's playful line illustrations amplify the zaniness.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto