(3) 4-6 Flaxfield Quartet series. An accident in the Mines releases the evil wizard, Ash. Despite this danger, magic-less roffle (think underground hobbit) Tadpole sneaks aboveground, wishing to see the stars. When young wizards Sam and Tamrin discover him, they find an unlikely ally for their battle against Ash, whose plans threaten all magic. Fantastical characters, rich friendships, and interwoven worlds carry this high-fantasy quartet's conclusion.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Young, wild Tamrin runs away from Canterstock College in this third book. As a wizard's apprentice, she has learned to harness her power in secret, but now she must escape to find her twin and discover her true identity. The cluttered cast of supporting characters, as well as multiple viewpoints, obscure her story, but Tamrin's quest for self-identity is strong and often moving.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ruth Brown. Jim, the quayside cat, loves to listen to Old Tregarn's tales of his life on the high seas. When the feline pair sneaks onto a ship, Jim experiences his own ocean exploits and realizes that his true home is on land. The lyrical language and striking, painterly illustrations infuse this story of friendship and adventure with just the right amount of nostalgia.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(2) 4-6 In this Dragonborn prequel, greedy wizard Slowin steals both name and power from his apprentice, Bee. Meanwhile, twelve-year-old Cabbage's own master, Flaxfield, suddenly loses all his magic, and Cabbage and a new friend, Perry, are the only ones who can help. The curiosity, courage, and talents of Bee, Cabbage, and Perry, growing into adolescence, are at the heart of this intelligent, down-to-earth story.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2013

(2) 4-6 Flaxfield Quartet series. Apprentice wizard Sam is lonely and beleaguered when his master, Flaxfield, dies. Flaxfield's former apprentices accuse Sam of lying about his status; he ends up sent to the mines. Like many a naive wanderer, Sam meets some kind helpers and some mischief-makers. With glimmers of Tolkien, Alexander, Rowling, and others, this fantasy offers up its own friendly, sympathetic voice, imagined land, and characters.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2012

(3) PS Illustrated by Carol Thompson. A little boy describes his first day of school, which proves remarkably similar to his mother's day at the office: e.g., the image supporting "I...tried hard to do my very best writing" shows the boy working to master the alphabet, while on the facing page his mom types at her computer. The loose, bustling watercolors depicting their parallel experiences are engaging and reassuring.

Reviewer: Nell Beram