(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lonnie Ollivierre. This inspiring picture-book biography sheds light on Maurice Stokes, a 1950s NBA star whose promising career was tragically cut short by a severe head injury. Combining engaging storytelling with digital illustrations in a palette of neutral colors, the story highlights his incredible talent, inspiring resilience, and the deep bond between Stokes and his teammate Jack Twyman. Back matter fleshes out Stokes’s life and includes source notes and a selected bibliography.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Japanese Canadian Kaede's mother died recently in a car accident. Chapman effectively alternates Kaede's first-person narrative with letters he writes in a journal he begins keeping for school; it's his constant companion during a summer spent in Tokyo with his father and half-brother--neither of whom he's seen since his parents' divorce nine years ago. Rich with the sensory details of life in Tokyo and the complexities of a boy finding his way.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(2) PS It's "holiday underwear season!" A giddy pea in teal-colored undies lays it all out with some skivvies-modelling vegetable pals: "There's cozy underwear and scratchy underwear...And underwear for Santa!" The silly premise, gussied up for the season, will be familiar to fans of Chapman's Vegetables in Underwear, as will the colorful, rotund characters sprouting thin black-line arms and legs.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(3) K-3 Hilarity ensues when two T. rexes stumble into a time machine and into the future (read: modern day) where there is so much food they don't know what to do with themselves. Told in a combination of word bubbles and text alongside digital illustrations that use comic panels to great effect, this story will leave readers wanting to time-travel with these silly dinosaurs.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Ollie the owl is jealous of his grandmother's treatment of baby cousin Lily. The initial scenes of jealousy ring true, but later the text tells rather than shows the problem at hand, and the resolution is too sudden and too happy. The illustrations contain appealingly fluffy brown owls, but the bright teal grass is at odds with the purple sky and nighttime setting.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(3) PS In this follow-up to Vegetables in Underwear, a variety of fruits clarify the distinction between a bathing suit and a work suit for a clueless, uptight grapefruit. The story ends with the grapefruit doing a cannonball and a baby pomegranate swimming in its birthday suit. The colorful illustrations demonstrate a charming self-awareness of the book's silliness.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) PS A comical parade of veggies in brightly colored briefs demonstrates opposites: "There's big underwear / and little underwear, / dirty underwear and clean underwear..." With its stripped-down text and vibrant illustrations on clean white pages, this silly celebration of undies (and produce) successfully makes the transition to board-book form.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(3) YA Ellery plans her suicide right down to the post-deed cleaning service. When the gun fails, however, a desperate late-night Kmart visit brings Colter into her life. Both teens are seeking redemption for a sibling's death, and out of this shared sadness comes unexpected love. Dramatic, dark, and sometimes achingly realistic. Fans of All the Bright Places will get lost in this book.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) K-3 Steve was raised by wolves and enjoys howling, wrestling, and pouncing--all things that don't go over too well when you start school. Despite a rough start, Steve learns how to use his wolfish traits to help his classmates and be part of the "pack at school." Chapman's bold illustrations and understated text will have readers giggling at Steve and his hilarious missteps. A fresh twist on the new-to-school book.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(2) PS A stripped-down text follows a comical parade of produce in bright underthings, demonstrating opposite concepts: "There's big underwear and little underwear, / dirty underwear and clean underwear..." Wearing nothing but underpants and a smile, the veggies feature black-dot eyes and stick-figure arms and legs. The contrast between each vegetable's rich hue and its vibrantly toned underwear adds energy to the minimalist compositions.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2015

(4) 4-6 In the first book (XYZs), Hallie begins her first year at Dowling Academy School of Witchcraft, but her arch nemesis, Kendall, turns up as Hallie's roommate. Evil chronicles Hallie's second year at Dowling; she has a new roommate, but Kendall continues to make life difficult. On the plus side, cute boy Cody likes her. There's not much depth, but these are diverting magic-school tales. Review covers these titles: Accidentally Evil and The XYZs of Being Wicked.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Tribe series. At the end of his rope, Spencer's father sends him to a summer camp meant to help behaviorally disturbed boys. But not long after his arrival, Peashooter and the Tribe take over the camp and turn everyone against Spencer in retribution for the events in Homeroom Headhunters. Dark but humorous, the story is a modern mash-up of classic middle-grade survival tales.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) YA After killing her genetic double in Dualed, West Grayer thought she was done killing--until the government makes her an offer she can't turn down. But taking a life isn't as easy as she remembers. West's moral struggles are well balanced against the constant action. Fans of dystopias with a hint of romance will find plenty to sink their teeth into.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) K-3 Scientist is friends with Viking and with Pirate. But Viking and Pirate are not friends at all, "not even on Scientist's birthday." Scientist tests out different hypotheses to help Viking and Pirate become friends. Once Scientist realizes, through trial and error, what the two have in common, the birthday party is a success. Boisterous illustrations are a good match for this quirky tale.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 4-6 In the first book (XYZs), Hallie begins her first year at Dowling Academy School of Witchcraft, but her arch nemesis, Kendall, turns up as Hallie's roommate. Evil chronicles Hallie's second year at Dowling; she has a new roommate, but Kendall continues to make life difficult. On the plus side, cute boy Cody likes her. There's not much depth, but these are diverting magic-school tales. Review covers these titles: Accidentally Evil and The XYZs of Being Wicked.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Tribe series. After accidentally burning down his previous school, Spencer hopes to make a new start at Greenfield Middle. However, trouble finds him when a group of runaways who live undetected within the school relentlessly recruit him. Spencer's attempt to fit in with the marginalized Tribe while trying to fly under the radar makes for an intriguing and darkly humorous story.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) YA Just after suffering a huge blow to her confidence, West is given the standard one month to find and kill her Alt, her genetic double, to prove that she's the better version. Before the month passes, West must prove to herself that she deserves to survive. There's action and romance aplenty, but West's journey of self-discovery is the real compelling narrative.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tim Warnes. A terrifying bear stomps and roars and hoards all his yummy honey, not sharing with the other forest animals. But in a surprising twist, it's just Bear playing his favorite game: "Big Scary Bear." Convincingly in on the farce and adding to satisfaction of the revelation are the soft illustrations of endearing animal characters initially shivering in fear before laughing it off.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) K-3 As he helps Big Bear prepare for the holiday, young Teddy keeps asking, "Is it Christmas yet?" His boundless enthusiasm--and mishaps resulting from it--begin to try Big Bear's patience, but the elder rises to the occasion when the Christmas tree breaks. Lively illustrations, with Teddy charging and cavorting across the large pages, underscore the air of anticipation and excitement.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) YA Creative Workshop series. These how-to books by professional artists will be best appreciated by readers with serious interest and fairly advanced skills. All feature information about tools, materials, and techniques. Oil covers color theory and includes six projects for practice; Fashion discusses anatomy and research; Digital is the most technical, both in terms of concepts and equipment. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Creative Workshop titles: The Fundamentals of Oil Painting, Creative Fashion Drawing, and Digital Art.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn