(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Karla Peña. Eight-year-old investigative reporter Emma gets her third case when her dance teacher's prized tambora drum, critical to the dance troupe's Thanksgiving Day Parade performance, goes missing. Despite a rushed plot line, Emma's enthusiasm shines. The bilingual half-Dominican girl's narrative is peppered with Spanish phrases and illustrated with cartoony grayscale spot art.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Karla Peña. Eight-year-old Emma Perez wants to be a TV reporter. Bursting with confidence, tenacity, and boundless energy, and mentored by her newspaper journalist father, she lands her first big story when a classmate finds a worm in his lunch. Emma's character is borderline twee, but her half-Dominican heritage and bilingualism are seamlessly integrated into the text. Frequent illustrations enhance the chapters.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Karla Peña. Aspiring TV reporter Emma Perez returns with a new mystery afoot: Sophia's lion costume, part of a group costume with Emma and Javier, has disappeared. Without it, their hopes to win the interschool Halloween costume contest are ruined. Still dauntless and spirited, but fortunately less fame-crazed in this installment, Emma heads up the investigation. Spanish phrases and cheerful illustrations are evenly sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez