(3) PS Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. The poem "Steppin' Out" invites readers and listeners into this cheerful collection of rhyming poems ("Grab a hand and come with me. / Let's go see what we can see"). Topics are homey and familiar, including visiting relatives, going to the playground, and special Sunday breakfasts. DePaola's Crayola-bright acrylics feature a multiethnic cast of happy tots and nicely synch with Oliver's upbeat poetry.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Fantastic Frame series. Illustrated by Samantha Kallis. On her eightieth birthday, neighbor Viola's magical picture frame sucks Tiger and his friend Luna (and Chives, Viola's faithful pig butler) into Georgia O'Keeffe's Red Hills with the Pedernal. The trio rushes to locate Viola's long-lost son atop Pedernal, a New Mexico mesa. Cartoon-style illustrations incorporating O'Keeffe's art add to the otherwise slight gimmick of this series' fourth installment; "About the Painting" details appended.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 1-3 Here's Hank series. Illustrated by Scott Garrett. In his ninth chapter book, NYC second grader Hank helps at his mother's deli, The Crunchy Pickle, for Take Your Child to Work Day. Hank, who has learning disabilities, makes more than a few mistakes, but the good-natured kid bounces back, as usual. Grayscale spot art breaks up the approachable underdog story. The typeface used throughout is designed to benefit dyslexic readers.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 1-3 Here's Hank series. Illustrated by Scott Garrett. Hank makes the second-grade basketball team, despite his inability to dribble or shoot a basket. He displays a talent for passing and proves his value to the team, but Coach Adolf in unconvinced. Can Hank help PS 87 win the big game? Fans of the series will enjoy another fast-paced, approachable school story in easier-to-read "Dyslexie" font and illustrated with grayscale spot art.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(4) 4-6 Fantastic Frame series. Illustrated by Samantha Kallis. A magical picture frame sucks Tiger and Luna into famous paintings to rescue a trapped boy: they meet the ferocious tiger of Rousseau's Surprised! (Danger) and face a bully in Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (Splat). Gimmicky and lightweight, the stories include cartoon-style illustrations that incorporate the paintings; "About the Painting" details appended. Review covers the following Fantastic Frame titles: Danger! Tiger Crossing and Splat! Another Messy Sunday.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 4-6 Fantastic Frame series. Illustrated by Samantha Kallis. A magical picture frame sucks Tiger and Luna into famous paintings to rescue a trapped boy: they meet the ferocious tiger of Rousseau's Surprised! (Danger) and face a bully in Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (Splat). Gimmicky and lightweight, the stories include cartoon-style illustrations that incorporate the paintings; "About the Painting" details appended. Review covers the following Fantastic Frame titles: Danger! Tiger Crossing and Splat! Another Messy Sunday.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) 1-3 Here's Hank series. Illustrated by Scott Garrett. Irrepressible Hank Zipzer, a boy with learning disabilities, is back; this time, he's serving up his usual hijinks while competing in a cooking contest against his stuck-up cousin, Judith Ann. As in previous books, there's a fast-paced (and somewhat predictable) story line, lively dialogue, and lots of black-and-white cartoon-style spot art. The typeface used throughout is designed to benefit dyslexic readers.

Reviewer: Debora Pearson

(4) 1-3 Here's Hank series. Illustrated by Scott Garrett. After watching a scary zombie movie with his friends Frankie and Ashley and local bully Nick, Hank develops an obsessive fear of zombies. This fifth installment is more humdrum than romp, but Hank is a relatable kid, and the story is approachable for struggling readers; as with other entries, the book's font is designed to be easily comprehensible to dyslexic readers.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) 1-3 Here's Hank series. Illustrated by Scott Garrett. Hank's sister Emily is disappointed that Ginger the snake won't be at her birthday party. To surprise her, Hank decides to disguise himself as the Westside Wizard and make a rubber snake appear out of thin air at the party; his efforts create more magic than expected. The approachable story (in easier-to-read "Dyslexie" font) about a likable kid includes silly cartoon illustrations.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) PS Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. From a sneeze ("A sneeze / Is a breeze / In / Your / Nose") to a blankie ("Without my blankie, / Me so cranky") to a bath ("Rubber duckies, floating books, / Suds and bubbles, happy looks"), these twenty-three brief poems observe ordinary things in a young child's world with humor and freshness. Each poem is framed with a bright border and accompanied by dePaola's sweet, distinctive acrylics.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 1-3 Here's Hank series. Illustrated by Scott Garrett. Hank's second grade class is putting on a play, and he's worried that his dyslexia will affect his audition. Although he doesn't get the part he wants, he still ends up a star of the show. This undemanding first book in a new chapter book series featuring a younger Hank Zipzer maintains the original series' slapstick humor. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations add to the comedy.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) 4-6 Leo, able to hear sounds from the past, agrees to use his ability to help his unscrupulous uncle Crane retrieve a valuable mask from Borneo in exchange for information about his parents' plane crash. While, like Sound Bender, the premise of this sequel is pretty out-there, preteens will love the fast-paced action, the relatable protagonist, and the plot's unusual musicology threads.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) 4-6 Ghost Buddy series. Billy gets his ghost friend Hoove a pet in hopes of improving Hoove's flunking grade in Responsibility--except Hoove is too scary for most critters. It's not until the family takes in a stray cat, and she has three kittens, that Hoove steps up. There's a lesson here, but it's nicely camouflaged by this third installment's humorous spirit and witty banter.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) 4-6 Ghost Buddy series. Snarky ghost Hoover tries to befriend the ghost of a Chumash princess at a museum. But after he breaks too many promises, he loses Anacapa's trust. Luckily, his human friend Billy is there to help Hoove discover just how powerful telling the truth can be. With a painlessly built-in lesson about the Chumash people, Hoove and Billy's latest hilarious romp will please fans.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) 4-6 Ghost Buddy series. Billy Broccoli's new house is inhabited by teenage ghost Hoover Porterhouse. Hoove helps Billy navigate a new school and defeat a nasty bully (Zero); second installment Mind finds Billy, with Hoove's help, convincing classmates that he's a mind-reader, but Billy opts for a less impressive (honest) feat in a competition. Billy and Hoove's snarky repartee make these books' lessons go down easy. Review covers these Ghost Buddy titles: Mind if I Read Your Mind? and Zero to Hero.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) 4-6 Ghost Buddy series. Billy Broccoli's new house is inhabited by teenage ghost Hoover Porterhouse. Hoove helps Billy navigate a new school and defeat a nasty bully (Zero); second installment Mind finds Billy, with Hoove's help, convincing classmates that he's a mind-reader, but Billy opts for a less impressive (honest) feat in a competition. Billy and Hoove's snarky repartee make these books' lessons go down easy. Review covers these Ghost Buddy titles: Mind if I Read Your Mind? and Zero to Hero.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) 4-6 When recently orphaned Leo turns thirteen, he learns that he can hear the past when he touches certain objects. The discoveries of a strange artifact and a recording made by his musicologist father lead him to the South Pacific to right a decades-old wrong. A far-out, fast-paced tale that will appeal to music lovers and middle-grade boys.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) 4-6 Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. Daniel Funk and his secret toe-sized twin brother, Pablo, are back for a final adventure. This time, trouble begins after Daniel's sister accidentally uploads a video of Pablo singing. Authentic sibling rivalry, humorously exaggerated characters (though their dialogue is a bit much), and a look at the ability of the internet to make anyone a star create an entertaining read.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. Daniel Funk and his miniature twin brother Pablo return in another marginally funny gross-jokes-packed adventure. The plot revolves around a model rocket launch, sibling rivalry, and a voyage to the La Brea Tar Pits. As Daniel learns how to control his ability to shrink, he and Pablo get into even more trouble, shown in cartoony ink-line illustrations.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Who Shrunk Daniel Funk? series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. Daniel Funk, who lives with a variety of female relatives, is excited to meet his newfound twin brother, Pablo--even though Pablo's the size of a toe. Daniel's ability to shrink leads to many complications, some gross. The characterizations are thin and Pablo's dude-heavy dialogue is annoying, but the setup is unique and the story, illustrated with ink-line cartoons, is lively.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister