(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Space Adventures series. Illustrated by Mike Moran. This series combines bright, cartoony illustrations with slight framing stories both imaginative and fact-filled. In each title, a child narrates his or her imagined outer space adventure, including astronomical facts about the destination. The illustrations depict diverse characters of both genders. While contrived, the series' balance of science with fantasy is successful enough. Each book includes a simple activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf books: Space Adventures titles: To Mars!, To Planet Earth!, To the Stars!, To the Moon!, and To the Sun!.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Space Adventures series. Illustrated by Paula Becker. This series combines bright, cartoony illustrations with slight framing stories both imaginative and fact-filled. In each title, a child narrates his or her imagined outer space adventure, including astronomical facts about the destination. The illustrations depict diverse characters of both genders. While contrived, the series' balance of science with fantasy is successful enough. Each book includes a simple activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf books: Space Adventures titles: To Mars!, To Planet Earth!, To the Stars!, To the Moon!, and To the Sun!.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Space Adventures series. Illustrated by Mike Moran. This series combines bright, cartoony illustrations with slight framing stories both imaginative and fact-filled. In each title, a child narrates his or her imagined outer space adventure, including astronomical facts about the destination. The illustrations depict diverse characters of both genders. While contrived, the series' balance of science with fantasy is successful enough. Each book includes a simple activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf books: Space Adventures titles: To Mars!, To Planet Earth!, To the Stars!, To the Moon!, and To the Sun!.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) 1-3 Ellie Ultra series. Illustrated by Jessika von Innerebner. Formerly homeschooled third grader Ellie Ultra tries to balance her superhero identity with her desire to fit in at her new public school for regular citizens. Brown-skinned Ellie and her diverse group of classmates are welcome contributions to the genre of superhero chapter books, but the stilted writing lessens the series' appeal. Discussion guide and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Ellie Ultra titles: An Extra-Ordinary Girl and Queen of the Spelling Bee.

Reviewer: Kazia Berkley-Cramer

(4) 1-3 Ellie Ultra series. Illustrated by Jessika von Innerebner. Formerly homeschooled third grader Ellie Ultra tries to balance her superhero identity with her desire to fit in at her new public school for regular citizens. Brown-skinned Ellie and her diverse group of classmates are welcome contributions to the genre of superhero chapter books, but the stilted writing lessens the series' appeal. Discussion guide and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Ellie Ultra titles: An Extra-Ordinary Girl and Queen of the Spelling Bee.

Reviewer: Kazia Berkley-Cramer

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Renée Kurilla. For narrator Anna, "Math + Spelling + Soccer = STRESS" (personified by a furry, red Muppet-like creature). Anna learns about "good stress" and "bad stress" and some coping mechanisms for dealing with the latter. Exaggeratedly cartoony illustrations + easy resolution = not very realistic or believable. However, kids may come away with some useful stress-busting strategies. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Holli Conger. "Mighty Matthew" (in a superhero cape) relates the dangers of accidentally ingesting "harmful substances" around the home. Secret agent Sophie advises not talking to strange men in vans and telling a teacher about playground bullying. After playing "Mud Monsters," Caleb's germophobe mom insists he take a bath before dinnertime. The exaggeratedly cartoony illustrations add some liveliness to what are basically PSAs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits titles: Be Aware!, Poison Alert!, and Take a Bath!.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Holli Conger. "Tuna salad? Yuck!" begins picky-eater narrator Lucas in this book about trying new--and "healthful!"--foods. Dad and Lucas take a tour of the grocery store, where they learn all about the five food groups, steering clear of cookies and opting for raisins instead. Exaggeratedly cartoony illustrations show an ever-smiling Lucas happily changing his ways. It's unrealistic, but kids may glean some good-food facts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Renée Kurilla. On her class's field day, super-cheerful Natalie ("captain of the Beach Ball Relay!") relates, in exclamation-point-heavy text, some basic information about exercise and its importance in kids' lives. Exaggeratedly cartoony illustrations show Natalie and her classmates doing the three types of exercise: aerobic, anaerobic, and stretching. It's all very basic but may get kids moving. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Holli Conger. "Mighty Matthew" (in a superhero cape) relates the dangers of accidentally ingesting "harmful substances" around the home. Secret agent Sophie advises not talking to strange men in vans and telling a teacher about playground bullying. After playing "Mud Monsters," Caleb's germophobe mom insists he take a bath before dinnertime. The exaggeratedly cartoony illustrations add some liveliness to what are basically PSAs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits titles: Be Aware!, Poison Alert!, and Take a Bath!.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Renée Kurilla. "Mighty Matthew" (in a superhero cape) relates the dangers of accidentally ingesting "harmful substances" around the home. Secret agent Sophie advises not talking to strange men in vans and telling a teacher about playground bullying. After playing "Mud Monsters," Caleb's germophobe mom insists he take a bath before dinnertime. The exaggeratedly cartoony illustrations add some liveliness to what are basically PSAs. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: My Healthy Habits titles: Be Aware!, Poison Alert!, and Take a Bath!.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Community Helpers series. Illustrated by Ed Myer. In each book introducing a community-benefitting career, schoolchildren meet one adult to learn about his or her job; information includes the training required to become a firefighter, doctor, etc., daily routines, and primary responsibilities. The content is inclusive and up-to-date but delivered through vapid stories. Peppy computer-generated cartoons are amateur. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Community Helpers titles: Let's Meet a Fire Fighter, Let's Meet a Librarian, Let's Meet a Police Officer, Let's Meet a Veterinarian, Let's Meet a Construction Worker, Let's Meet a Dentist, Let's Meet a Doctor, and Let's Meet a Teacher.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Community Helpers series. Illustrated by Ed Myer. In each book introducing a community-benefitting career, schoolchildren meet one adult to learn about his or her job; information includes the training required to become a firefighter, doctor, etc., daily routines, and primary responsibilities. The content is inclusive and up-to-date but delivered through vapid stories. Peppy computer-generated cartoons are amateur. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Community Helpers titles: Let's Meet a Fire Fighter, Let's Meet a Librarian, Let's Meet a Police Officer, Let's Meet a Veterinarian, Let's Meet a Construction Worker, Let's Meet a Dentist, Let's Meet a Doctor, and Let's Meet a Teacher.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Community Helpers series. Illustrated by Cale Atkinson. In each book introducing a community-benefitting career, schoolchildren meet one adult to learn about his or her job; information includes the training required to become a firefighter, doctor, etc., daily routines, and primary responsibilities. The content is inclusive and up-to-date but delivered through vapid stories. Peppy computer-generated cartoons are amateur. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Community Helpers titles: Let's Meet a Fire Fighter, Let's Meet a Librarian, Let's Meet a Police Officer, Let's Meet a Veterinarian, Let's Meet a Construction Worker, Let's Meet a Dentist, Let's Meet a Doctor, and Let's Meet a Teacher.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Community Helpers series. Illustrated by Cale Atkinson. In each book introducing a community-benefitting career, schoolchildren meet one adult to learn about his or her job; information includes the training required to become a firefighter, doctor, etc., daily routines, and primary responsibilities. The content is inclusive and up-to-date but delivered through vapid stories. Peppy computer-generated cartoons are amateur. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Community Helpers titles: Let's Meet a Fire Fighter, Let's Meet a Librarian, Let's Meet a Police Officer, Let's Meet a Veterinarian, Let's Meet a Construction Worker, Let's Meet a Dentist, Let's Meet a Doctor, and Let's Meet a Teacher.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. Sam visits cousin Mia in Illinois and Ethan visits cousin Addison in Oklahoma where both are showered with state-specific gifts, "Twelve Days of Christmas"–style. Letters home to Mom and Dad relate the cultural activities each state has to offer; additional state facts are appended. Children may enjoy trying to count the gifts in the cheesy illustrations. Review covers these titles: The Twelve Days of Christmas in Illinois and The Twelve Days of Christmas in Oklahoma.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen