(4) 1-3 Molly Mac series. The spunky African American protagonist finds herself in awkward situations at elementary school. Molly is (perhaps overly) concerned new girl Tori is a snack- and friend-thief (Bandit); Molly loses her lucky pencil at the unluckiest time: before the school-wide art show (Lucky). Tidy spot illustrations show the dramas unfold in these run-of-the-mill school stories. Discussion questions and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Molly Mac titles: The Best Friend Bandit and Lucky Break.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Molly Mac series. The spunky African American protagonist finds herself in awkward situations at elementary school. Molly is (perhaps overly) concerned new girl Tori is a snack- and friend-thief (Bandit); Molly loses her lucky pencil at the unluckiest time: before the school-wide art show (Lucky). Tidy spot illustrations show the dramas unfold in these run-of-the-mill school stories. Discussion questions and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Molly Mac titles: The Best Friend Bandit and Lucky Break.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) PS This silly, audacious look at flatulence celebrates all the people who fart: "Clowns fart. / Cooks fart. / People reading books fart." In fact, everyone farts--except one mother who won't admit to it. (Guess who is farting behind closed doors at book's end?) Cartoony illustrations in neat comic panels with grayish backgrounds cleverly interpret the slight but kid-pleasing rhyming text.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) K-3 The monster under the bed, the creepy birthday clown, the never-ending car trip: this list of terrible childhood experiences will amuse nostalgic adults more than it will the picture book set. Full-bleed watercolor illustrations with reader-as-main-character perspective and a minimal text may encourage discussion of real and imagined anxieties.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden