(3) K-3 Fly Guy series. With help from his pet, Fly Guy, Buzz makes a movie about a space-alien attack unleashed on the "Secret Hero Fort." In easy-to-read text, the silly movie-within-the-story meanders in an authentically childlike way, and Arnold's cartoony illustrations cleverly zoom in on the action and back out to show a smartphone filming homemade paper dolls and other toys on Buzz's desk. Lots of fun (or, as Fly Guy says, "FUNZZIE") for new readers.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tedd Arnold. Noodlehead brothers Mac and Mac are forced by their mother to go outside and learn something. They try their hands at fishing when they discover a rod but are bamboozled repeatedly (including by themselves). Over three humorous, comics-style chapters, the goofy yet lovable Noodleheads' ideas are as surprising as they are misguided. Authors' notes link each exploit to an original story source.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(3) K-3 When Fly Guy misses his family, his human friend Buzz puts up signs for a surprise party in all the stinkiest, fly-friendly places. Soon, thousands of flies arrive. True to the series, every illustration is integral to the narrative, and many of the flies have distinct, communicative facial expressions. Brief chapters with easy-to-sound-out words make this easy reader as accessible as it is humorous.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Buzz and his pet fly, Fly Guy, learn about science topics including the human body, animals, plants, nature, and "other cool stuff." Simple related science projects are interspersed throughout. Small photographs commingle rather awkwardly with Arnold's signature cartoon-style illustrations and the occasional comic strip. Still, fans of Buzz and Fly Guy will like learning along with the pals. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tedd Arnold. Foolish Noodleheads Mac and Mac (Noodlehead Nightmares) hope their mother will bake them a cake. While searching for oven firewood over the course of three easy-reader chapters, they are tricked, bamboozled, and outsmarted. The brothers' silliness, wordplay, and comics format are engaging, but the pacing and the connection between scenarios feel forced. An author's note links each exploit to an original story source.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall

(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) K-3 Mac and Mac are "noodleheads"--childlike creatures with empty macaroni noggins, comically rendered with expressive bugged-out eyes--who share adventures and nightmares while seeking ways to avoid making their beds. This graphic easy reader, divided into three short chapters, uses silly dialogue and goofy illustrations to appeal to young readers. However, the shout-outs to fool-centric folktales range from confusing to unnoticeable.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Fly Guy series. Buzz and his pet fly, Fly Guy, learn about bats on a trip to the zoo, and Buzz keeps track of information in his research notebook. Small photographs of bats are interspersed rather awkwardly with Arnold's signature cartoon-style illustrations. Still, the easy reader is decently informative and engaging, and fans of Buzz and Fly Guy will like learning along with their pals.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 When Fly Guy helps boy Buzz with his homework, Fly Guy imagines himself as the insect hero of Buzz's original fairy tale. As Buzz thinks aloud ("Once upon a time, there was an ugly troll"), Fly Guy's verbal and nonverbal reactions help Buzz craft his story ("'No? What about a handsome prince?' 'YEZZ!'"). The humorous text and expressive illustrations support comprehension.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 A familiar-looking artist named Vincent is about to paint his house white until a spider, caterpillar, snake, and more and have other ideas. Vincent solves the dilemma with a cheerful creation using each one's favorite color. The amusing, simple story, ending with a Starry Night homage, could be a springboard for introducing young kids to the alluded-to artist.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(2) K-3 I Like to Read series. Jake turns Robug ("Remote Operating Basic Utility Gizmo") on and commands it to "fix this mess." Robug energetically fires into action, but things don't quite turn out right. Funny details in Arnold's characteristic cartoon-style illustrations build momentum from page to page, and the vocabulary is simple enough to allow the newest readers to enjoy it all on their own.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014

(3) K-3 Fly Guy's circus tricks aren't welcome at dinner: he does the Backstroke in Mom's milk; the Dizzy Doozie knocks Dad over; the Big Booger is just gross. But when a bully harasses Buzz, Fly Guy's performance saves the day. Easy-reader heroes Buzz and Fly Guy have their act together in this installment, as do the approachable text and comic illustrations.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 In his first picture book outing, easy-reader star Fly Guy wants his own pet. He and (boy) Buzz are excited, then frustrated, then disappointed when each choice (dog, frog, worm) is unsuitable. The two realize that Fly Guy needs "a pet with a cool name." Buzz? "YEZZ! BUZZ!" Arnold's lively illustrations make the most of the characters' special friendship; the final page is especially satisfying.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) K-3 Little girl Gert loves getting dirty--she even eats dirt. One day, "soil internalizer" Gert eats so much dirt that she grows roots and becomes part tree. Reminiscent of David Small's Imogene's Antlers, this transformation tale is told in rhymes of varying success that contain some sophisticated vocabulary ("It photosynthesized her!"). Still, this quirky, humorous story will be a read-aloud hit.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Fly Guy series. In their latest outing, Buzz and his best friend, Fly Guy, play with monster puzzles and monster masks until Buzz goes to bed. But Fly Guy is up to something. That night Buzz wakes up to find Frankenfly loose in his bedroom! The ending is kind of sappy, but beginning readers will appreciate the silly sci-fi story and plentiful illustrations.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Buzz and his pet fly go for a car ride with Dad, but Fly Guy gets accidentally blown out the open window. Buzz and his dad follow Fly Guy as he lands in a truck, boat, circus train, and plane. Simple vocabulary, repetition, and plenty of humor are the hallmark of this series, and this newest addition won't disappoint fans.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Fly Guy joins Buzz and his parents on a trip and quickly discovers the hotel's restaurant. He decides to take a bath in a customer's bowl of soup, which sets off a chaotic string of events resulting in all the restaurant's diners needing baths, too. Readers will enjoy the usual hilarious hijinks, easy-to-read chapters, and cartoony illustrations of bug-eyed characters.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Buzz and Fly Guy are excited to embark on a school field trip, only to find out they're visiting a fly swatter factory. Readers will appreciate the hilarity that naturally ensues when the gregarious fly encounters his arch nemesis: Super Swatter 6000. Easy-to-read font, simple vocabulary, and a humorous story line provide ample entertainment for emergent readers.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) K-3 Fans of Fly Guy hungering for another installment will be happy to get their hands on this one. Buzz writes a story in which he awakens to find himself the same size as Fly Guy--and kidnapped by pirates; good thing boy and pet have wings. Arnold's imitation of a child's writing and illustration style rings true.

Reviewer: Sarah Novogrodsky

(4) K-3 In this endearing series' latest installment, Buzz, owner of Fly Guy, meets Liz, owner of Fly Girl, and they hit it off almost as well as their pets do. The ending sputters out, but everything up until then--the sincerity behind the absurd premise, the z-heavy "fly talk" ("Wuzzle wuzzie"), the subtly squiggly surfaces of the cartoony illustrations--flies right.

Reviewer: Nell Beram