(3) K-3 Illustrated by Deborah Hocking. Curly-haired Max eventually comes around to accept his conscription as Mom's errand-companion and shares his expertise in a how-to guide for potential supermarket-draftees. Digitally manipulated gouache and colored-pencil illustrations show stylized (and stylish) characters amid the store's abundance. Comic-book elements create gentle dramatic irony, but Max navigates the tedium in earnest, making realistically childlike attempts to manipulate a loving but savvy mother.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Tim Bowers. In his easy-reader debuts, Rappy the rapping velociraptor averts multiple disasters on a trip to the supermarket and goes on a class field trip to a library. The books lack much of a story and rely on an inconsistent pseudo-rap rhyme scheme. Bowers's customary cartoonish illustrations showcase a wacky cast of Flintstones contemporaries and capture Rappy's exuberance. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Rappy Goes to the Library and Rappy Goes to the Supermarket.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) YA Social-climbing Margot uses Papi's credit card to impress her private school friends. Her punishment--a summer of work at her Puerto Rican family's supermarket--sends her back to the Bronx, with petty "cashieristas," the ubiquitous drug trade, and a sexy social activist battling gentrification. Although Margot's snobby attitude is hard to empathize with, Rivera authentically depicts the stress of juggling cultural identities.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) PS When Roxy's mom takes her grocery shopping, the little rabbit is thrilled and tries her best to be helpful as they walk the aisles. But the situation quickly goes downhill, culminating in frosting-smeared faces and a tantrum. Paired with spot-on dialogue, the colored-pencil and pen illustrations are both expressive and humorous in capturing the split-second mood transformations toddlers experience.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) K-3 Translated by Laura Watkinson. Illustrated by Simona Mulazzani. This entertaining Italian import describes a supermarket with "only natural foods," where all the animals--from snails to elephants--come to buy their favorite provisions. "A three-for-two sale on crumbs? The birds twitter and the ants form a long line. What a bargain!" Imaginative, humorous touches draw the reader in: e.g., a mongoose steals eggs by hiding them under his ball cap.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 4-6 Orca Currents series. Soon after fourteen-year-old Trevor starts his first job at a local supermarket, several food-tampering instances occur. Trevor and his friends have a few suspects in mind as they try to uncover the vandal before they become suspects themselves. This quick read has some contrived plot points, but the mystery will keep readers guessing until the surprise ending.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Scott Altmann. Magician Mr. Cigam assigns nine-year-old cousins Henry and Keats a new job: rid the local supermarket of giant slugs before the store is named a hazard zone and shut down. Delightfully, there's no logic in the absurd, slapstick messiness that ensues as the boys chase slimy critters and trash the store. Chapter book readers into yucky humor will gobble this up.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) PS A boy and his mother shop for groceries, including ingredients to make his birthday cake. This new edition retains the original version's simplicity, cheerfully chronicling a child's everyday experience. Minor adjustments to the text update it slightly, while the rich acrylic-gouache pictures are bolder and more colorful than the original three-color separations.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden | Horn Book Magazine Issue: October, 1979

(3) YA From the author of Fifteen Love, another novel told from alternating perspectives--this time, those of various employees of a large supermarket, from pill-popping Jared to aspiring nurse Louisa to modern Muslim Rahel. Although the end result is somewhat disjointed, the individual portraits have depth and variety. Entertaining and undemanding, the book may engage reluctant readers.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) PS Super Sturdy Picture Book series. Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. "Beets. Meats. Ham. / Peanut butter. Jam." This brief, rhyming romp through the market captures the chaos a toddler in a shopping cart can create. Westcott's humorous illustrations show the mayhem that follows mother and child down the aisles. The book, printed on sturdy card stock, is sure to please little ones who spend much time in this supermarket hot seat.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Who Works Here? series. Each book describes various jobs that people perform in a particular work environment and the relevance of the work, including air traffic specialist, site excavator, hygienist, paramedic, detective, and deli manager. In addition, the books discuss equipment specific to certain jobs (meat packaging machine and grinder, laser planer). The bland texts, accompanied by color photos, are easy to read. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire