(4) YA In this conclusion to a duology that began with Flame in the Mist, readers return to the lush forests and palace intrigues of an alternate feudal Japan. Protagonist Mariko and her many supporting characters are more fully developed here, and the complex plot trajectory is ultimately satisfying. Despite overwrought prose, readers will get swept up in the high drama of this exciting romantic fantasy. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Little Kunoichi, her baby bro, and her bunny are getting bored during summer vacation until her parents decide that they need to visit Ba-chan, the kids' "scientist/inventor, recycling genius, cha-cha dancer, [and] artist" grandmother. From Ba-chan's island, they descend to "the Treasure Trove" to explore what's most important: "Curiosity, resourcefulness, kindness, love, [and] imagination!" The fantastical watercolor paintings are full of details about Japanese life.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) PS Illustrated by Stephen Savage. Never mind that candlestick: "Jack B. Ninja! Jack, be quick! / Jack, jump over the bamboo stick!" Young Jack proceeds to dive underwater, bust into a bandit cave, and recover stolen treasure. This sleekly illustrated stealth fantasy inspired by the classic nursery rhyme becomes even more fantastical when the bandits turn out to be Jack's family members, who present him with a birthday cake.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Ruby is spending a week at ninja school, where each "sapling" is to discover his or her "secret skill." Ruby fears that she'll never find hers, but her fellow students' homesickness gives her a crafty idea. (The book concludes with instructions for making two different stuffed-animal dragons.) Pilutti's skills are whiz-bang plotting and creating art as warm as it is witty.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 In young ninja Yukio's second holiday-themed adventure (Samurai Santa), doting little sis Kashi annoyingly emulates all of his Halloween trick-or-treating preparations; her copycat costume is the final straw. But then Kashi cleverly invokes Yukio's spooky urban legend about Samurai Scarecrow to get some well-deserved respect. Thoughtful text design enhances the spare, funny narrative. Digital illustrations in a limited orange-and-purple palette capture the siblings' relatable range of emotions.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bomboland. After a martial arts teacher bakes a Ninjabread Man, the cheeky cookie defeats all opponents--unlike his ill-fated counterpart in the traditional tale of "The Gingerbread Man." Afterward, he remains at the dojo to give the animal students' workouts "a whole new flavor." Despite groan-worthy wordplay and occasionally difficult-to-decipher action, readers will likely admire the three-dimensional effect of the cut-paper-style illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) K-3 In his note to Santa, young ninja Maxwell (Ninja!) claims he doesn't want anything this year, but "make sure you sit on this RED CHAIR! P.S. I hope you can't read minds." Chung's sly comic-panel illustrations reveal what the nimble text doesn't: Maxwell's stealthily rigged traps. His snares are effective, but not on his intended victim. "Papa? Those are Santa's cookies!"

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(4) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: History's Hotshots series. Each book takes a broad look at its titular warriors, exploring their historical beginnings, how they lived and fought, and even their place in modern pop culture. While treatments of individual topics are brief, the volumes are decently informative overall. The layouts are bland, but photos, illustrations, and sidebars add extra information to the basic texts. Timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: History's Hotshots titles: Ninjas!, Samurai!, and Vikings!.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Scholastic Reader series. Moby the kid ninja (Ninja on the Farm) is this time looking to help Papa Peppy at the pizza restaurant. But ninja skills and food service don't necessarily mix. Rhyming couplets run along the tops of pages, with onomatopoeia sprinkled into the pictures. The highly detailed, vibrant, and action-orientated illustrations are great for movement, but they leave emerging readers with little rest for their eyes.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) PS In the follow-up to Little Kunoichi: The Ninja Girl, readers join Little Kunoichi's best friend, Chibi Samurai, on his quest to find a pet. Both Ishida's text and vibrant illustrations contain references to Japanese culture; there's also plenty of humor as the friends encounter many creatures, real and fantastic, and eventually learn not to overlook small "treasures" (like the humble stag beetle). Japan-related facts appended.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(3) 1-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In two standalone early chapter books, Pedro and friends Katie and JoJo take karate lessons (Ninja); and, using paper cups, their class experiments with construction (Tower). Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Jokes, writing prompts, and discussion questions are appended. Also available in Spanish. Glos. Review covers these Pedro titles: Pedro the Ninja and Pedro's Tricky Tower.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) PS An omniscient narrator notes that mosquitoes bite everyone but ninjas, who are simply quicker and sneakier. A kid in ninja attire is on hand to demonstrate the ninja's athletic and mental superiority. But there's some seriously (and hilariously) non-ninja-like behavior exhibited in the cartoony digitally colored ink drawings when the ninja vanquishes a mosquito via sandwich: Who says ninjas can't bite mosquitoes?

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. In the sixth My Life book, Derek's friends' interest in ninjas leads them to martial-arts classes with Sensei Takai, who doesn't show them the "ninja moves" they expect. Abundant subplots--graffiti appears at school, Carly directs the musical, Derek's dad's new job is not what it seems, poison oak sidelines Derek--make for a choppy read; cartoon marginalia and likable characters help compensate for the unfocused plot.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 To keep a powerful wish-granting pearl out of the hands of enemy Saiko, Kata (Deadly Flowers) relies on help from her assassin friends, thief Jinnai, and a band of ronin. Along the way, she faces even more dangers with roots in Japanese folklore (including a despair-inducing forest). Intriguing supernatural elements and fast-paced action build toward a satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) K-3 On Christmas Eve, Buzz and his pet fly read about ninjas. Then Buzz explains Christmas: "Santa comes, and we give each other presents." When Santa arrives, Fly Guy mistakes him for an intruder, and knocks him--and the Christmas tree--down ("NINJAZZZZ!"). The hallmarks of the long-running easy-reader series return: the bug-eyed characters, the clean design, and all those ZZZZZZZs.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dario Brizuela. Color by Heather Breckel. Letters by Shawn Lee. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and April solve problems and fight bad guys in these comic books adapted from the Nickelodeon show. Episodes include hallucinogenic poison darts, a military-equipment junkyard, carnivorous plants, and zombie mayhem at a sleep research institute. The slim plots are carried by the energetic panel art and the characters' trademark slangy banter and playful jabs at one another. Review covers Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dario Brizuela. Color by Heather Breckel. Letters by Shawn Lee. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and April solve problems and fight bad guys in these comic books adapted from the Nickelodeon show. Episodes include hallucinogenic poison darts, a military-equipment junkyard, carnivorous plants, and zombie mayhem at a sleep research institute. The slim plots are carried by the energetic panel art and the characters' trademark slangy banter and playful jabs at one another. Review covers Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dario Brizuela. Color by Heather Breckel. Letters by Shawn Lee. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and April solve problems and fight bad guys in these comic books adapted from the Nickelodeon show. Episodes include hallucinogenic poison darts, a military-equipment junkyard, carnivorous plants, and zombie mayhem at a sleep research institute. The slim plots are carried by the energetic panel art and the characters' trademark slangy banter and playful jabs at one another. Review covers Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) K-3 Maxwell (the titular ninja) is on a quest for an opponent, but everyone is too busy to spar--until Mama, Papa, and little sister Cassy launch a surprise attack. Comic-strip illustrations rendered in pen, ink, and Photoshop include clever details and effectively convey Maxwell's frustration at his family's initial obliviousness. An eye-catching palette change accompanies their loving, ninja-action-packed reconciliation.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 4-6 In an alternate twenty-first century, super-powered teens Ghost, Kate, and Cormac are recruited by a ninja organization. They train to take down the massive Samurai Empire--a mission that takes them back in time to the Empire's sixteenth-century beginnings in Japan. Science fiction, fantasy, and action blend for a fast-paced narrative. However, character development is uneven as the plot centers mostly around only Ghost. Glos.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo