(4) K-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Marcy Goldberg Sacks. Translated by Carlos E. Calvo. Martha and Alice teach their friend Truman to catch so he can play in his softball game the next day. The text is easy to read in both Spanish and English, and a small, amusing twist ("Sorry...Dogs can't throw. No thumbs") helps improve the otherwise formulaic plot. The book, adapted from a teleplay, features flat cartoony illustrations fans of the series will recognize.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. Written by Pippin Parker and Silvia Olivas. In this chapter-book adaptation of a TV-series teleplay, talking dog Martha becomes a substitute teacher at Wagstaff Elementary. When Helen's friend Alice must complete an oral report in Spanish class, Martha eats Mexican alphabet soup and becomes fluent. Contrived inclusion of Spanish phrases take over the story, but bilingual fans of the chatty canine won't mind. English and Spanish glossaries included.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In this glossy package of six colorful comic-strip vignettes adapted from TV series teleplays, Martha the talking dog has a series of adventures with a cast of canine characters. These easy-to-follow but slight tales will make younger readers, mostly fans of the show, excited to be spending more time with the familiar character. Activities for readers to create their own comics are appended.

Reviewer: Margaret Nell Becker

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In these three chapter-book adaptations of teleplays from the TV series, Martha the talking dog shares ghost stories around a campfire, solves several curious capers as a dog detective, and shows her human friends what it means to be a canine. Martha's charm only lasts so long before overt lessons flatline the stories, though the character's fans will likely stay engaged. Glos. Review covers these Martha Speaks titles: Campfire Stories, Detective Dog, and So You Want to Be a Dog?.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In these two chapter-book adaptations of teleplays from the TV series, Martha reunites with her estranged relatives (while her human family prepares for their own Thanksgiving reunion) and plays investigative reporter, uncovering a giant dinosaur bone in the park. Vocabulary lessons often weigh down the stories, but the talking dog's charm and familiar illustrations will likely continue to engage young fans. Review covers these Martha Speaks titles: Martha's Nose for News and Thanksgiving Reunion.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In these two chapter-book adaptations of teleplays from the TV series, Martha reunites with her estranged relatives (while her human family prepares for their own Thanksgiving reunion) and plays investigative reporter, uncovering a giant dinosaur bone in the park. Vocabulary lessons often weigh down the stories, but the talking dog's charm and familiar illustrations will likely continue to engage young fans. Review covers these Martha Speaks titles: Martha's Nose for News and Thanksgiving Reunion.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In these three chapter-book adaptations of teleplays from the TV series, Martha the talking dog shares ghost stories around a campfire, solves several curious capers as a dog detective, and shows her human friends what it means to be a canine. Martha's charm only lasts so long before overt lessons flatline the stories, though the character's fans will likely stay engaged. Glos. Review covers these Martha Speaks titles: Campfire Stories, Detective Dog, and So You Want to Be a Dog?.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In these three chapter-book adaptations of teleplays from the TV series, Martha the talking dog shares ghost stories around a campfire, solves several curious capers as a dog detective, and shows her human friends what it means to be a canine. Martha's charm only lasts so long before overt lessons flatline the stories, though the character's fans will likely stay engaged. Glos. Review covers these Martha Speaks titles: Campfire Stories, Detective Dog, and So You Want to Be a Dog?.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) K-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Martha the dog gets into a humorous predicament when she and pal Skits try to bake a cake. "If only I had thumbs!" she comments as the two dogs mix batter on the rug with their paws. The layout is a little busy for new readers. Fans of the show will be the main audience for this brief adaptation of an episode from the PBS series.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. Martha the dog helps T.D. with his class project about space and Helen with her part in the school play. These chapter books, "based on the TV series teleplays," feature lots of brightly colored illustrations and hard-to-miss lessons. The stories are trivial, but Martha's fans will enjoy spending time with their favorite talking dog. Activities inspired by each story are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. Martha the dog helps T.D. with his class project about space and Helen with her part in the school play. These chapter books, "based on the TV series teleplays," feature lots of brightly colored illustrations and hard-to-miss lessons. The stories are trivial, but Martha's fans will enjoy spending time with their favorite talking dog. Activities inspired by each story are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) K-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Karen Barss. In this adaption of a TV teleplay, Martha learns to get over her prejudice against cats and becomes friends with a new feline from the shelter. As in Martha's other vocabulary-rich tales, the key words discriminate and prejudice are clearly defined; other big words are incorporated. The more-serious-than-humorous narrative is complemented by glossy illustrations and occasional speech-balloon text.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Talking dog Martha helps broker a compromise for the town's fireworks display; discovers who is making scary sounds while camping out; and finds missing Valentine card supplies. These three brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series, while somewhat diverting for more confident beginning readers, are as glossy (and ultimately forgettable) as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All, Martha Speaks: Martha Camps Out, and Martha Speaks: Thief of Hearts.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Talking dog Martha helps broker a compromise for the town's fireworks display; discovers who is making scary sounds while camping out; and finds missing Valentine card supplies. These three brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series, while somewhat diverting for more confident beginning readers, are as glossy (and ultimately forgettable) as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All, Martha Speaks: Martha Camps Out, and Martha Speaks: Thief of Hearts.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In White House, Martha nominates candidates for the First Family's pet and also receives an important assignment. In Out West, Martha causes trouble on a dude ranch, but her antics ultimately help save the day. These adaptations of the TV series (based on Meddaugh's picture books), though slight, may appeal to the show's fans. Glos. Review covers these Martha Speaks titles: Martha and Skits Out West and White House Dog.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) K-3 This compendium, published for the twentieth anniversary of Martha Speaks, includes six stories about the communicative canine. A two-page introduction by Meddaugh discusses the genesis of her idea and shows two pictures of the real Martha. The book's square shape scales the illustrations down a bit. A two-page removable sticker sheet is included.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 1-3 Martha Speaks series. Adapted by Jamie White. In White House, Martha nominates candidates for the First Family's pet and also receives an important assignment. In Out West, Martha causes trouble on a dude ranch, but her antics ultimately help save the day. These adaptations of the TV series (based on Meddaugh's picture books), though slight, may appeal to the show's fans. Glos. Review covers these Martha Speaks titles: Martha and Skits Out West and White House Dog.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Talking dog Martha helps broker a compromise for the town's fireworks display; discovers who is making scary sounds while camping out; and finds missing Valentine card supplies. These three brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series, while somewhat diverting for more confident beginning readers, are as glossy (and ultimately forgettable) as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All, Martha Speaks: Martha Camps Out, and Martha Speaks: Thief of Hearts.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. In this adaptation of an episode of the Martha Speaks TV cartoon, Martha is mistakenly sent to deliver a flower basket to a house that has long been presumed haunted. As a result, she inadvertently spooks its new inhabitants. The light and silly tone matches the glossy illustrations, lending some fun even though the plot doesn't entirely make sense.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. In Farm, Martha visits a farm, where she proves better at saving the sheep from a coyote than herding them. In Play, she coaches her friend Truman on catching a baseball but forgets about throwing practice. These two brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series are as glossy as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Farm Dog Martha and Martha Speaks: Play Ball!

Reviewer: Susan Halperin