(3) 4-6 Fifth grader Ada lives in Oddity, where avoiding zombie rabbits in the yard and surviving leopards in gym class are commonplace occurrences. With the help of two friends, Ada looks for her missing twin sister and hunts the destructive Blurmonster--only to discover the true source of evil in Oddity is its founders. Readers will cheer the trio from page one of this quirky fantasy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) PS Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. When house lights go out unexpectedly, neighborhood children enjoy impromptu winter fun under a luminescent "snowball moon"--sledding, building forts, and throwing snowballs. Rhymed couplets convey the action, rhythm, and mood of the cozy winter tale: "Snowy night... / firelight. / Cozy flames, / friendly games. / Lights go out-- / a scream! A shout!" Cool-colored illustrations embrace the spontaneous winter adventure.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) 4-6 In 1937, brothers Pete and Gus must set aside their differences and jealous feelings to help their family and town survive the Ohio River Valley's worst flood ever. While Gus gets caught out in the storm, Pete is left at home to handle the rising water. This historical drama, based on the author's family history, is deftly portrayed from the siblings' individual perspectives.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Wiechman offers readers an exceptionally empathetic portrait of life in a Harlan County coal mining town during the Depression. Thirteen-year-old Adabel's voice is clear and compelling as she slowly begins to uncover long-held family secrets and understand why her mother has left home and her father has turned to drink. Adults and children are portrayed with nuance, and the relatively happy ending is welcome.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 Fifteen-year-old soldiers Leander and Polly (disguised as "Paul") meet in a makeshift hospital in Rome, Georgia, during the Civil War and become fast friends. Individually, the characters journey through training, long marches, a stint in the Andersonville POW camp, and the explosion of the steamship Sultana. Rich historical details make this novel stand out. An author's note (with archival photos) provides background information. Bib.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lee White. Jake's classmate Sophie asks if he'll babysit her fish Yo-Yo for the weekend. He agrees--"how hard can it be?"--but second-guesses himself, constructing scenarios for which he'll be unprepared. Jake is adorably neurotic, and the (sort of) twist ending is executed brilliantly. White's illustrations are fascinatingly surreal-looking and subtly hilarious (Herring Potter is on hand for Yo-Yo's bedtime reading).

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Julie Olson. Dog-lover Addie May finds herself helping the class bully find his lost (stolen?) Chihuahua. She uncovers the root of the mysterious disappearances of dozens of Chihuahuas and learns about loneliness. Though Addie May is at times overly precocious and some plot elements are too easily resolved, the well-paced mystery, accompanied by nicely shaded black-and-white illustrations, will hold readers' attention.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) 4-6 In a short introduction, narrator Jimmy sets the scene: 1940s West Virginia railroad town. Seven episodic chapters follow, one per year, describing events on Halloween night. Jimmy and his brothers make mischief and investigate a long-standing "secret society," and Jimmy bonds with his railroad foreman father. The stories are by turns humorous, sad, uplifting, and nostalgic.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) YA To impress a new girl in town, Ed pretends to be the "Sergio" of his work nametag, thus complicating an already tangled love-quadrangle. Hurt feelings, misdirected affections, and self-doubt pave the way for the too-perfect ending's revelations about life and love. The book's strengths are the voices of its four principle characters (especially Ed's offbeat friend, Quark) and their occasionally striking wisdom.

Reviewer: Becca Schaffner

(4) K-3 Viking Easy-to-Read series. Illustrated by Elwood H. Smith. In three simply written episodes, pirates Pete and Joe visit their rambunctious mom, the Pirate Queen; share a meal of eels, crabs, and jellyfish; and go bowling at Disco Dan's House of Pins. There's not a lot of plot, but the cartoony color illustrations are bright and comical and the prose has a freewheeling, rollicking quality ("Yo ho ho and away they go!") that will engage young readers.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) K-3 Pinduli is a young female hyena whose identifying characteristics bring on rude comments from other East African savanna animals. The story sags under the weight of its message once the animals reveal they made fun of Pinduli because they themselves had been hurt by similar taunts. Still, it's worth making it through to the informative back matter. Cannon's illustrations are both expressive and faithful to nature.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2004

(3) K-3 Viking Easy-to-Read series. Illustrated by Elwood H. Smith. With just the right amount of gusto and enthusiasm, this likable duo humbly embraces the pirating life. Inherent goodness and a fear of the water, however, keep Pirate Pete and Pirate Joe on dry land in these three stories. An accessible text combines effectively with cartoonlike illustrations, presenting a high-energy adventure for early readers.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(2) 4-6 In a unique coming-of-age story, a spirited Mormon girl travels with like-minded souls from their native Wales to America. The first-person narrative tells of the walking trek from Iowa City to Utah and of Charlotte's caring for a baby girl whose mother dies in childbirth. Her fantasy--a future with baby Rose--is destined to hurt her, but with help, she does what she knows she must when Rose's father comes to reclaim his daughter.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2002

(3) K-3 In this tale featuring the Fuzzheads, a society of creatures that resemble cats and have the intelligence of humans, Little Yau disguises herself as a human so that she can retrieve the herb that saves her sick friend. Drama, humor, and a likable protagonist create a satisfying story for those who can suspend disbelief. Cannon renders her imaginary species in soft, detailed images.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Repeatedly thwarted by larger animals who steal his food, a disabled cockroach named Crickwing decides to take out his frustration by bullying those who are smaller--the leaf-cutting ants. Despite remorse for his bad behavior in the end, Crickwing's whining and grumbling make him an unsympathetic character. Facts about roaches and ants conclude the book, which is illustrated with large, detailed acrylic artwork as well as black-and-white vignettes.

Reviewer: Anne St. John