(3) 4-6 Illustrated by M. S. Corley. Reynolds presents stories of thirty-five people--some well-known (Nelson Mandela, Hillary Rodham Clinton); some less recognizable (Maryam Mirzakhani, Erik Weihenmeyer)--who experienced failure before attaining their goals. Additional "Flop Files" and sidebars briefly introduce others who were initially unsuccessful. Direct questions and an informal tone should engage readers. One hundred additional questions about success and failure are appended. A thoughtful challenge to kids who think perfection is required.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) PS Illustrated by Jeff Mack. "If my love were a deep-sea dive, it would touch the ocean floor. / And if my love were a surfing champ, it would ride every wave to shore." Illustrations depicting a father tending to his young son at bedtime bookend images showing them in various hypothetical scenarios. The rhymes strain for the tenderness that's apparent in the attentive mixed-media art.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Mike Yamada. "'Bedtime?' 'Not yet.'" A boy and his daddy go on a series of quick adventures before bed. Each new imaginative spree builds to a turn of the page: "A race car...a driver... / his pedal-to-the-metal!" The simple patterned text and cheerful digital illustrations capture the joy of imagination--and the challenge of turning it off to go to sleep.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Reynolds, a teacher, offers quirky, frank guidance on "making middle school meaningful"--everything from overcoming negative comparisons (or stopping evil space gnomes from stealing your garlic bread) to recognizing that parents and teachers sometimes take their own issues out on students. Cartoonish spot illustrations and inspirational quotes contribute to an overall light tone. Interspersed writing exercises reinforce the lessons. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox