(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Gladys Jose. Eight-year-old Rica (short for Frederica) Baptista desperately wants a pet. When she overhears a conversation that leads her to believe her best friend, Laini, will be moving, getting a pet feels even more urgent in order to ward off loneliness. The breezy chapter book, peppered with cartoon-style illustrations, is a fresh look at evergreen themes. Rica and Laini brainstorm ways to convince Rica's parents that she is responsible enough to care for a pet while planning moneymaking schemes, which are supported by extended family and neighbors--with mixed results. In the end it's an unselfish act of kindness that persuades Rica's parents that she is ready to adopt a cat from the local shelter. The satisfying story closes with some additional happy news about Laini's family. Rica's first-person narration is convincing and endearing. She bounces from one grand plan to a major worry and then on to a new plan. Her mother reminds Rica that she is named after her great-great-grandfather, who emigrated from Cape Verde to the U.S. and was a businessperson and a philanthropist whose community depended on him. By the end of the book, Rica proves that she, too, is a dependable and vital member of her community.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) PS Illustrated by AG Ford. Can you put a house to bed? Grandpop can. Isaac, a young Black boy who is happily visiting his grandfather--but reluctantly sleeping over--says he isn't sleepy when Grandpop tells him it's time for bed. "Then stay awake," Grandpop quips, "but it's time to put the house to bed." As they walk through each room, turning off lights and closing windows, Isaac hears unfamiliar noises that Grandpop explains, allaying the child's fears. The clicking sound is just pet dog Snuffles, the Airedale, following them; the creaking is the wind blowing the swings around outside. In Ford's rich-hued, warm-toned illustrations, books appear in nearly every room of the house, highlighting the centrality of literacy to this family and foreshadowing what will come next. The two settle into a big comfy chair near Isaac's bed, and when Grandpop suggests a bedtime story, Isaac protests that he hasn't yet learned to read. "I bet you can read pictures...Just tell me what you see on each page." And he does. The accompanying illustration suggests that Keats's The Snowy Day is that bedtime story, a mirror book for Isaac; but unlike that book, African American creators crafted this story, and Ford (Brown Baby Lullaby, rev. 3/20) celebrates Black joy with close-ups of Isaac's deep brown face, button nose, and locked or twisted hair. A fine, uplifting intergenerational tale of literacy, literature, and homemade love.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ben Costa. Following events in The Road to Epoli, undead-skeleton/bard Rickety Stitch and his sidekick, the Gelatinous Goo, continue their quest to discover Rickety Stitch's identity, this time venturing down the deadly Middle-Route Run. Vibrant colors, movement-filled panels, fantastical creatures, deadpan humor, and exuberant protagonists combine to create an entertaining adventure story in graphic-novel format.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ben Costa. Minstrel skeleton Rickety Stitch and his loyal sidekick, an animated sack named Gelatinous Goo, embark on a quest in faraway lands populated with ogres, gnomes, and other friends and foes. The irreverent graphic-novel comedy blends music and fantasy into a contemplation of the skeleton's former life, clues to which arrive in black-and-white dream sequences; otherwise the art is brazenly vibrant as the farcical quest advances.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) PS Squirrel, who has just moved to a new treehouse, is looking for a friend. Likewise, Rabbit is in a new burrow and wants a buddy. The digitally tweaked linocuts in blues (Squirrel) and oranges (Rabbit) highlight the joke, which young readers will find enjoyable: friendship is literally an acorn's throw away...if only the two lonely hearts would look (or listen to two helpful worms).

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS In this moralistic tale, a tree refuses to share his beautiful green leaves with birds, butterflies, etc. When the leaves turn yellow and fall off, he is distraught until a crow explains the seasons; when the leaves return, the tree is ready to share. A clunky text is offset by bright, spacious illustrations that imbue the tree with recognizable emotions.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lambert Davis. As Grandma marks her seventieth birthday, resourceful Cora finds a way to persuade her to return to Cape Verde and visit the sister she left behind many years ago. The satisfying story and the endnote that follows provide an interesting glimpse into Cape Verdean culture. While the illustrations sometimes look stiff and posed, they do show the affection between Cora and Grandma.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gosia Mosz. For Hanukkah, Isobel visits her aunt Luisa, who "just moved here from Mexico," and learns new holiday traditions. Though the educational aspect of the text can overwhelm its sense of story, the depiction of Sephardic traditions is welcome. Mosz's earthy desert tones and deep purple-hued nights evoke the warmth of this contemporary Hanukkah celebration. Glos.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) YA Presidential Leaders series. The books in this series briefly chronicle the lives and achievements of five former presidents. Each volume attempts to portray the subject and the events surrounding his presidency honestly and openly, but the broad overview allows for little depth. Well-captioned photos enhance a bland design. Reading list, source notes, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Presidential Leaders titles: Woodrow Wilson, Harry S. Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA A & E Biography series. Though centuries may separate the subjects of the volumes in this series, all have played prominent political or cultural roles. Their life stories are relayed in sometimes rushed prose, but these books will make acceptable starting points for those seeking basic biographical information. The texts are accompanied by average-quality photos and historical reproductions in black and white and in color. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth I, Oprah Winfrey, George W. Bush, The Beatles, Benjamin Franklin.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Lerner Biographies series. This biography recounts Indira Gandhi's life and accomplishments, from her birth in a prestigious Brahmin family to her service as prime minister of India, with schooling, marriage, and motherhood in the background of a life spent in public view. Considerable material is incorporated in a fairly pedestrian style, and well-documented black-and-white photographs illustrate the text. A time line and information about religions in India are appended. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu. Avi, a young Jew living in Jerusalem, follows a stray cat he's befriended only to discover that Hamudi, an Arab boy, is caring for the animal in the Muslim quarter. The watercolor paintings that accompany this familiar, somewhat didactic tale realistically depict the ancient city and successfully extend the story's hopeful mood. An author's note is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) YA A well-written biography provides a chronological overview of a remarkable poet's surprisingly ordinary life. Complementing the emphasis on events that influenced Dickinson's development as a writer, the inclusion of many poems and letters gives readers a sense of her unusual style. Black-and-white photographs of Dickinson and her home, family, and friends enhance the text. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute