(3) K-3 Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. With inspiring quotes integrated throughout, this dense picture-book biography, which spans JFK's life but centers on civil rights progress, urges young readers to speak out against injustice. Corey acknowledges Kennedy's imperfect handling of complex issues; Christie's stylized paintings include striking scenes of contemporaneous unrest. An author's note and bios (with portraits) of other icons from the era are appended. Reading list, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Red Nose Studio. This tour de force tells of nineteenth-century inventor Alfred Ely Beach's solution to New York City's crowded streets: in 1870, he unveiled the first underground train, which went back and forth in a 294-foot tunnel. (Self-serving bigwigs killed Beach's dream of expansion.) The art's sensational 3-D sets are, per the endpapers, created by hand. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Corey highlights how Juliette Gordon Low’s go-getter attitude led to her founding of the Girl Scouts one hundred years ago. Appropriately retro illustrations, saturated with the greens and blues of the outdoors, help establish time and place. This picture book biography crams a lot of information into its forty pages and succeeds in presenting "Daisy" as an unusually spunky and special woman.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Corey describes how Annette Kellerman overcame physical obstacles then went on to swim with grace and endurance--and design bathing suits. Fotheringham's illustrations, bright marine colors accented by oranges and yellows, create a sense of Kellerman's joy in the water. Extensive author's notes add detail; documentation of source materials is appended.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by James Bernardin. This engaging easy-reader biography of President Obama (who is referred to as "Barack" throughout) provides interesting details about his unconventional childhood. It also depicts the excitement of his historic victory, while emphasizing his interest in finding a way for everyone to work together to make America a better place for all. Soft-focus realistic illustrations emphasize the man's approachability.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Will Terry. Children dressed as Halloween monsters of all shapes and sizes participate in a trick-or-treat parade: "Monsters go from door to door. / The street's a giant candy store!" The bouncy rhymes, featuring kid-pleasing monster noises, encourage participation. With soft, friendly illustrations showing rounded, silly costumes, this is a decidedly non-scary holiday celebration. Removable sticker sheets are included.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Teague. When first-grader Tera has to work on a group project with classmates Horus, Pelly, and Nergal, she considers her bossiness simply a matter of being right, ruins their project, and gets a time-out. Not until reading her favorite book about a league of alien superheroes that night does Tera realize the importance of teamwork. Both the snappy story and the imaginative cartoon illustrations are filled with warmth and humor.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen & Dan Andreasen. This lively biography tells the story of the French farm girl who listened to voices she said were sent to her by God, led her country into victorious battle against the English in the fifteenth century, was burned at the stake as a witch, and eventually sainted. Brief paragraphs and short sentences help make the history accessible. Sepia-toned illustrations rendered in simple lines adequately convey the story's events.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. Corey focuses on a fictional girl--nontraditional, ball-playing Katie Casey--to tell the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, founded when WWII interrupted America's favorite pastime. The writing is spirited, the story is satisfying, and the illustrations--just old-fashioned enough to indicate the time period--are lively. However, the story seems driven by its (extensive) author's note, rather than the other way around.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) PS Illustrated by Pamela Paparone. Although "Bernice loved to dance," a pink tutu and ballet shoes can't help this klutzy dancer. When a new student, Bertram, joins ballet class, his perfect pirouettes bore everyone except Bernice. She asks to be his partner for the recital and becomes Bertram's comic relief. The self-confidence theme overwhelms the simplicity of the portrayal of Bernice's desire to dance in this story illustrated with lively art.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Brett Helquist. In this interesting if heavily fictionalized account, the immigrant workers at Macy's Department Store are feeling homesick during the winter holidays of 1924. To help out, young Milly (an invented character) persuades Mr. Macy (who actually died in 1877) to hold the first Thanksgiving Day Parade. The illustrations create memorable characters and capture the flavor of the times. An author's note explains the facts behind the fiction.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Teague. It's Martian Health Week, and first-grader Nergal is a nervous wreck over Pod 1's upcoming space race, the 100-meteor dash: he is no good at running and fears that he won't do his "martian best." But his parents' no-one's-good-at-everything pep talk convinces him that all he has to do is try. The milieu, snappy language, and funny, sight-gag-filled cartoon illustrations give an old theme fresh juice.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Teague. Pelly doesn't have tentacles on her head like her Martian classmates: she has a fluffernobbin, and bossy Tera thinks that's weird. Not wanting a special class visitor to think she's weird, too, Pelly wraps her fluffernobbin with rubber bands, but the visitor (who also has a fluffernobbin) shows Pelly that she's special. This warm story about feeling different is complemented by Teague's funny cartoon illustrations.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Teague. Martian first grade is not what Horus expected--there are no naps, no snacks, and no "slime table" as there were in martiangarten--and he has a horrible day. But when he meets Pelly, a new student from Phobos who's afraid of first grade, too, he offers to show her the ropes. Corey's lean, on-target story about transitioning from kindergarten is complemented by Teague's humorous cartoon illustrations.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Early Step into Reading series. Illustrated by Mike Reed. Rhyme and repetition are used effectively to introduce very beginning readers to different types of boats. While ample visual cues are provided to aid in deciphering more challenging words, the illustrations have a grainy, dated look. The text is serviceable, but far from compelling.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Chesley McLaren. Women's rights activist Amelia Bloomer lampoons the restrictive costume considered proper in nineteenth-century America. When Elizabeth Cady Stanton's cousin Libby shows up in pantaloons, Bloomer adopts the outfit, to women's cheers and men's gasps. A gossipy, well-paced narration and freewheeling, stylish watercolor illustrations complement the story. An author's note is appended.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam