(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure series. Illustrated by Yancey Labat. With Ed Stafford. Readers are given a chance to experience the danger, thrill, and wild adventures of a six-month journey in the Amazon. Twenty-six different options provide a variety of paths and challenges in the rainforest. Survival is key, and learning about the environment, its natural beauty, and perils is enhanced with black-and-white cartoon drawings.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure series. Illustrated by Yancey Labat. With Mike Perham. This Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style installment, filled with fast-paced action, offers kids a front-row seat on a sailing trip around the world. As in the others, readers are asked what the characters should do at critical points in the story; repeat readings are invited, as few will guess right upon first reading. An "Expedition File" section provides necessary background. Black-and-white illustrations increase the energy.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. Also written by Robin Epstein. This amusing volume describes various disasters and tips for how to survive them. Topics are arranged in alphabetical order from airplanes to woods, with a double-page spread devoted to each. Ample graphics and colorful pages enhance the presentation. Students will be entertained and informed as they browse. Ind.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure series. With David Morton. In this engaging Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style book, readers join a team climbing Everest; of the twenty-six possible endings, only one takes participants to the top. Organization is spotty; an appended "Expedition File" section, which should be read first, provides maps, gear, and safety information to help readers make informed choices (they're also encouraged to "listen to your gut"). Black-and-white illustrations and comic-style spreads add visual interest.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure series. Illustrated by Yancey Labat. With Robert Zubrin. In this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style book, readers join an international crew on a journey to Mars. The mission is "Help prepare Mars Base I for its first wave of permanent settlers" then return safely to Earth. Organization is spotty: the appended "Mars Expedition File" should be read before takeoff, as it provides maps, diagrams, and lifesaving information. Comic-style black-and-white illustrations enhance the interactive adventure.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. This guide for "how to survive the grossest of the gross situations that life poops out at you" lives up to its goal. Boogers, barf, spit, gas, and warts are just the tip of the yuck. Amidst the not-for-the-squeamish topics, the book also offers helpful (and even hygienic) tips. Crisp book design and uniform black-blue-gray color palette help clean up the subject matter.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan