(4) 4-6 In New York City during WWI, fourteen-year-old Leo, an orphaned pickpocket, becomes assistant to a secretive, second-rate magician. As Leo learns the trade, his mentor pursues one last shot at fame with a risky bullet stunt. The story drags at times, but its historical secondary characters (Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) and behind-the-scenes look at the world of magic are engrossing.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Abby is an aspiring fashion designer. To cope with family issues, particularly a deteriorating relationship with her mother, Abby sends letters and sketches to First Lady Jackie Kennedy. The novel is a bit too precious, but the early 1960s setting is appealing and contains many authentic details. Fashion sketches (most drawn by the author as a girl) are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jack E. Davis & Jack E. Davis. Despite scoffing from his family and friends, Max insists that a flying saucer will soon arrive and take him away to join an alien family. A common childhood fantasy is played for laughs, especially in the amusing illustrations depicting the snaggletoothed, oddly coifed narrator and his equally eccentric family. The conclusion--in which a spaceship actually arrives and an alien temporarily changes places with Max--is too abrupt.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jack E. Davis. Max's older brother, Gordon, is a pest: he terrorizes Max on his birthday with, among other things, his generally obnoxious self. So Max's birthday wish is that Gordon be turned into a bug--until a close call with a spider makes him reconsider. Axelrod's strong, funny buildup and Davis's cartoon illustrations capture the humor in sibling rivalry.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sharon McGinley-Nally. When the Pig family's dance instructor comes down with a cold, Mr. Pig volunteers to be the square-dance caller. After losing his glasses during a collision with an accordionist, Mr. Pig continues to announce and improvise square-dance calls, which leads to a pileup on the dance floor. The math connection is tenuous, but the Pig family's escapades---pictured in a colorful combination of ink, watercolors, and acrylics---are amusing.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sharon McGinley-Nally. After missing their flight on Christmas Eve, the Pig family hops aboard a delivery plane--piloted by Santa--which lands in cities in three time zones before arriving in "Beantown." City nicknames may be unfamiliar to young readers, and while a final paragraph clearly describes time zones, equations with distance, time, and rate of speed are left unexplained. Festive illustrations capture the Pigs' latest over-the-top antics.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sharon McGinley-Nally. The Pig family celebrates Mr. Pig's birthday at a miniature golf course. While Mrs. Pig and the piglets navigate the geometric greens with ease, Mr. Pig's putts land afield. Although the golfing mishaps overshadow the math content, energetic illustrations--featuring the protagonists in clothing decorated with shapes--provide clues to the math vocabulary. An introductory author's note and a final math quiz help emphasize geometry connections.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger