(4) K-3 Illustrated by Migy Blanco. The 1904 St. Louis World's Fair introduced many wonders, but fictional attendees Lillie and Aunt Mae are focused on an electric candy machine that spins sugar into fluffy threads of "fairy floss" (what we now call cotton candy). Candy-colored illustrations are a bit garish and the telling somewhat over-sweet, but this picture book introduces an appealing little bit of history. Reading list.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ron Husband. Hopkinson's story based on true events introduces former slave John Meachum's important achievement. In 1847 St. Louis, narrator James's school in the church basement is shut down by a Missouri law prohibiting African American education. Reverend John's brilliant workaround moves the school out of state--to a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Husband's crosshatched art captures moving small details. Author's note included. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Levinson presents two youth circuses: St. Louis (MO)'s Circus Harmony--specifically its elite squad, the St. Louis Arches--and Israel's Galilee Circus, notable for inclusion of both Arabs and Jews. In 2007 the Arches traveled to Galilee to promote cross-cultural understanding--and to have fun practicing circus arts. Vivid photographs and straightforward, interview-heavy text paint a hopeful portrait without sugarcoating reality. Ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA After Pretty Sly's revelation that Willa's mother is actually her sister, Willa and fellow outlaw Aidan bring their stealing and breaking-and-entering talents to St. Louis to investigate her real mother's murder. They have to solve the mystery before they're caught by the FBI--or the bad guys. This fast-paced, over-the-top trilogy's conclusion brings Willa's improbable adventures to a satisfactory end.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Wanderville series. The Wanderville gang is waylaid on their journey to California when they agree to deliver a mysterious medallion to "Mr. Moses McGee" at the St. Louis World's Fair. Some tough older boys, a ruthless smuggler, and a past threat keep the orphans on the run. Some plot elements are overly convenient, but series fans will enjoy the lively pace of this third adventure.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) 4-6 In 1911 St. Louis, eleven-year-old orphan Julia and her sister are sent to the nuns' House of Mercy, while their brother is taken to Father Dunne's boys' home. Desperately wanting control over her life and her family reunited, Julia lashes out at authority figures and tries to escape at every turn. The characters' distinctive voices carry this fine work of historical fiction.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. Blues-reminiscent rhymes tell the story of the dance and civil rights icon Josephine Baker's climb from penurious St. Louis childhood to Jazz Age–era fame in France. Winter finds the right way to introduce an unconventional, groundbreaking artist to a young readership; Priceman's gouache and ink illustrations energetically dance on the page. An author's note further details Baker's accomplishments.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Peter de Sève. In 1849, twelve-year-old Zeb Crabtree meets gambler and grifter extraordinaire Charles "Chilly" Larpenteur. Zeb, after losing his money, is seduced into Chilly's complicated con to "help rich gents be a bit more charitable and Christian-like with their pocketbooks." That Zeb is neither superhero nor helpless victim is a tribute to the rousing plot's nuances. An appended author's note provides rich historical background. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2009

(2) 4-6 In 1955, Rosemary is the lone black child in her classroom, and her voice rings with excitement and anxiety. Racist Grace is in her class, but when the sixth-grade queen bee tries to humiliate them, Grace and Rosemary become friends. McKissack's secondary characters are complex, conflicted and imperfect but full of wisdom. As Rosemary's mother says, "It's the little victories that win the war."

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2007

(4) 4-6 Jackson ably provides a roundup of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, describing in detail its buildings and what was inside them. Although he mentions some of the darker sides of the fair--including the forced displays of "primitive" tribes--he glosses over others, such as the protests against clearing the trees in Forest Park, where the fair was held. Black-and-white period photos illustrate the text. Reading list. Ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Port Cities of North America series. Documenting the history of America's largest inland port, this book identifies commodities imported and exported via the Mississippi River, discusses the ways cargo is transported, and explains how the entire operation is overseen by public and private management groups. A final chapter introduces landmarks and tourist activities. Illustrated with color photos, the overly detailed prose seems amateurish at times. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta