(2) K-3 Heading to the first day at a new school, this story's young narrator boards the bus looking glum and apprehensive. Typical concerns about different teachers and friends are quickly overshadowed by a more immediate problem: "I'm on the wrong bus! AUGHHH!!!" And that's not the only issue: this bus is filled with puppies instead of children, and the oblivious (human) driver drops everyone off at puppy school. The ridiculous canine twist addresses familiar new-kid/first-day anxieties and insecurities with humor and understanding. The narrator's remark that "everything about this school is strange and different" will resonate with anyone who's been in a similarly disorienting situation. ­Brockington's spirited cartoonlike art is in on the joke: there's the all-dog cast's speech bubbles ("Woof + Woof = ?"), dog food for lunch ("disgusting"), and a fire hydrant instead of a toilet in the bathroom stall. When things seem the most hopeless for our protagonist, a few friendly (furry) faces and recess help make puppy school more welcoming. "Maybe this school isn't so bad after all." And hopefully that's what young readers embarking on new adventures will carry with them. Also, make sure you're on the right bus.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(4) PS A green Godzilla-like monster is so hungry that it's angry, or "hangry." When a bird snatches its hot dog, the monster becomes really hangry, wreaking havoc in the city. The portmanteau can't sustain a whole picture book, but the comics-style layouts in this mock horror story's mixed-media illustrations are ideal for showcasing the monster's size changing according to its, er, hanger.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 CatStronauts series. Blanket is devastated when Cat-Stro-Bot is stranded on Europa. Unwilling to abandon his pal, Blanket convinces his fellow CatStronauts to "borrow" a spacecraft for a rescue mission. As in the previous two books, the humor of ludicrous situations (the CatStronauts replace themselves with suspiciously efficient robot decoys) and cat-centric logic (the latest space venture is a global fish-finder satellite) is accentuated by dryly funny dialogue and expressive, dynamic panel illustrations.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Waffles resigns from the CatStronauts (Mission Moon; Race to Mars) after a frightening experience outside the space station. When an asteroid endangers the team (and the entire planet), Waffles must suit up to save the day. This third graphic novel delivers all the hallmarks of the previous entries: super-silly science, puns and pop-culture references, personality-filled illustrations, and emphasis on friendship and cooperation.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 The CatStronauts undertake a dangerous mission to install solar panels on the moon in hopes of averting a global energy crisis (Moon), then compete against other countries' astronauts in a space race (Mars). Both times, loyalty and teamwork--and snacks, and a clever robot--save the day. Simple dialogue (in small print), personality-rich illustrations, and plenty of humor make for engaging, unabashedly silly graphic-novel adventures. Review covers these CatStronauts titles: Mission Moon and Race to Mars.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 The CatStronauts undertake a dangerous mission to install solar panels on the moon in hopes of averting a global energy crisis (Moon), then compete against other countries' astronauts in a space race (Mars). Both times, loyalty and teamwork--and snacks, and a clever robot--save the day. Simple dialogue (in small print), personality-rich illustrations, and plenty of humor make for engaging, unabashedly silly graphic-novel adventures. Review covers these CatStronauts titles: Mission Moon and Race to Mars.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher