(3) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Shelly Ross. The rescue stories of four orphaned raccoon kits and an injured anteater pup are used to spotlight the work of two animal sanctuaries in these series entries. Accessible text, engaging photographs, and frequent informational sidebars allow readers to shadow the volunteer caregivers as they work toward the ultimate goal: releasing the animals back into the wild. One of the young creatures "narrates" part of each book. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these True Tales of Rescue titles: Anteater Adventure and Racoon Rescue.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Ella Baron. The rescue stories of four orphaned raccoon kits and an injured anteater pup are used to spotlight the work of two animal sanctuaries in these series entries. Accessible text, engaging photographs, and frequent informational sidebars allow readers to shadow the volunteer caregivers as they work toward the ultimate goal: releasing the animals back into the wild. One of the young creatures "narrates" part of each book. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these True Tales of Rescue titles: Anteater Adventure and Racoon Rescue.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. Professor Fauna's jalopy airplane whisks Uchenna and Elliot (The Creature of the Pines) to Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border to help another elusive mythical creature: the chupacabras. They also discover tension in the city concerning the construction of a border wall. A fast-paced plot, plenty of laughs (including in the black-and-white illustrations), and a serious discussion about the border elevate their latest adventure.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Phil Melzer, Donna Stepan, and Jacky Ling. Ostensibly welcoming a new rescue to a real wombat sanctuary in Australia, two-year-old orphaned wombat Chance "narrates" this introduction to the species and to wombat rehabilitation. Plenty of engaging photos and a friendly design make for an accessible presentation. An author's note, three questions for photographer and wombat rehabilitator Stepan, and suggested resources are appended. Websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Virgil Ocampo. Three senior dogs "tell" their stories of abandonment, rescue, and (hopefully) finding a new home. The dogs' "voices" sound similar, but the content--about older-dog rescue, ways the dogs and caregivers accommodate "senior ills," and rescuer Val Lynch's Maryland sanctuary work--is compelling. Plenty of engaging photos in a friendly design make for an accessible presentation. An author's note and additional resources appended. Websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Magic Animal Rescue series. Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak. In the Enchanted Forest, populated with unicorns, griffins, trolls, etc., Maggie lives with her not-so-nice stepmother and stepsiblings. These first two adventures involve rescuing a flying mini horse and catching a magical wish-granting fish. With a fairy-tale feel, these chapter books will appeal to magic lovers not quite ready for Baker's many popular middle-grade series (Tales of the Frog Princess et al.). Review covers these Magic Animal Rescue titles: Maggie and the Flying Horse and Maggie and the Wish Fish.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Magic Animal Rescue series. Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak. In the Enchanted Forest, populated with unicorns, griffins, trolls, etc., Maggie lives with her not-so-nice stepmother and stepsiblings. These first two adventures involve rescuing a flying mini horse and catching a magical wish-granting fish. With a fairy-tale feel, these chapter books will appeal to magic lovers not quite ready for Baker's many popular middle-grade series (Tales of the Frog Princess et al.). Review covers these Magic Animal Rescue titles: Maggie and the Flying Horse and Maggie and the Wish Fish.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Magic Animal Rescue series. Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak. Since Maggie's mean stepmother kicked her out, the eight-year-old lives with stableman Bob and his wife in their magical stables, where she helps with injured Enchanted Forest animals. As Maggie learns about flying pigs, unicorns, and other creatures, she makes observations in her notebook. With a fairy-tale feel, these illustrated chapter books (third and fourth in the series) will appeal to magic lovers not quite ready for Baker's many popular middle-grade series. Review covers these Magic Animal Rescue titles: Maggie and the Flying Pigs and Maggie and the Unicorn.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Magic Animal Rescue series. Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak. Since Maggie's mean stepmother kicked her out, the eight-year-old lives with stableman Bob and his wife in their magical stables, where she helps with injured Enchanted Forest animals. As Maggie learns about flying pigs, unicorns, and other creatures, she makes observations in her notebook. With a fairy-tale feel, these illustrated chapter books (third and fourth in the series) will appeal to magic lovers not quite ready for Baker's many popular middle-grade series. Review covers these Magic Animal Rescue titles: Maggie and the Flying Pigs and Maggie and the Unicorn.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Animal Rescue Center series. Illustrated by Artful Doodlers. Each UK-import chapter book opens with a mock website for Animal Magic Rescue Center, owned by Ella Harrison's family. In Foal, the shelter's first ponies join the cats, dogs, rabbits, and goats. Fox describes the tricky balance between healing an injured animal and preserving its ability to return to the wild. A bit saccharine, but with obvious appeal for animal-loving young readers. Review covers these Animal Rescue Center titles: The Homeless Foal and The Injured Fox Kit.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Animal Rescue Center series. Illustrated by Artful Doodlers. Each UK-import chapter book opens with a mock website for Animal Magic Rescue Center, owned by Ella Harrison's family. In Foal, the shelter's first ponies join the cats, dogs, rabbits, and goats. Fox describes the tricky balance between healing an injured animal and preserving its ability to return to the wild. A bit saccharine, but with obvious appeal for animal-loving young readers. Review covers these Animal Rescue Center titles: The Homeless Foal and The Injured Fox Kit.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Animal Rescue Center series. Illustrated by Artful Doodlers. The latest entries in this UK-import series each begin with a mock website screenshot for Ella Harrison's family's Animal Magic Rescue Center. Duckling focuses on a tiny duckling separated from its family. In Rabbit, Ella is determined to discover how a shy rabbit was separated from its humans. The slightly cloying texts, accompanied by spot line drawings, will likely appeal to animal-loving young readers. Review covers these Animal Rescue Center titles: The Lost Duckling and The Runaway Rabbit.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Animal Rescue Center series. Illustrated by Artful Doodlers. The latest entries in this UK-import series each begin with a mock website screenshot for Ella Harrison's family's Animal Magic Rescue Center. Duckling focuses on a tiny duckling separated from its family. In Rabbit, Ella is determined to discover how a shy rabbit was separated from its humans. The slightly cloying texts, accompanied by spot line drawings, will likely appeal to animal-loving young readers. Review covers these Animal Rescue Center titles: The Lost Duckling and The Runaway Rabbit.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Police Search & Rescue! series. Introductions to types of law enforcement careers, these books also document real-life anecdotes of heroic officers who have risked their own lives to save others. Color photos accompany clear, reluctant-reader-friendly texts to help tell the exciting stories of on-the-job courage and quick thinking. A section on equipment used by each agency is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Police Search & Rescue! titles: Highway Patrol Officers, Air-Sea Rescue Officers, City Cops, K-9 Cops, Sheriffs and Deputies, and State Troopers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Police Search & Rescue! series. Introductions to types of law enforcement careers, these books also document real-life anecdotes of heroic officers who have risked their own lives to save others. Color photos accompany clear, reluctant-reader-friendly texts to help tell the exciting stories of on-the-job courage and quick thinking. A section on equipment used by each agency is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Police Search & Rescue! titles: Highway Patrol Officers, Air-Sea Rescue Officers, City Cops, K-9 Cops, Sheriffs and Deputies, and State Troopers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Police Search & Rescue! series. Introductions to types of law enforcement careers, these books also document real-life anecdotes of heroic officers who have risked their own lives to save others. Color photos accompany clear, reluctant-reader-friendly texts to help tell the exciting stories of on-the-job courage and quick thinking. A section on equipment used by each agency is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Police Search & Rescue! titles: Highway Patrol Officers, Air-Sea Rescue Officers, City Cops, K-9 Cops, Sheriffs and Deputies, and State Troopers.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Wildlife Rescue series. Eszterhas, an accomplished wildlife photographer, documents the work of the Alaska SeaLife Center and Borneo's Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine in straightforward texts and vivid full-color photographs; the adorable images show orphaned baby otters and orangutans interacting with caregivers to learn life skills. Important conservation-related information and a "Kids Ask Suzi" interview round out each volume. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Wildlife Rescue titles: Orangutan Orphanage and Sea Otter Rescue.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan