(3) K-3 Illustrated by Clover Robin. This attractive book outlines, in very broad terms, the origins of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The brain child of conservationist Frank Chapman in 1899, it's grown to become the "longest-running citizen science project and wildlife census in the world." Collage is used to great effect to portray a host of different bird species, their habitats, and the humans who count them every year.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by John McKinley. At Monster Academy, Miss Mummy's monstrous pupils undertake science experiments and search for Vampire Vic's recently lost fang. A new student's contrary behavior becomes the scariest thing in school, earning her the title "Worst Monster Ever!" (even after a plot-twist revelation about her humanity). Humorous details (e.g., Miss Mummy is cursed to speak in rhyme) and colorful pastel-hued illustrations keep the story playful and energetic.

Reviewer: Flannery Wiest

(2) PS Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. The authors gracefully incorporate natural science into a comforting picture book comparing various nesting birds with a "nesting" child. Almost always, the verse ends with the soothing refrain, "But you nest here with me." Watercolor, gouache, and mixed-media illustrations use rich colors and delicate lines. A closing spread includes additional facts about each bird. A deeply satisfying collaboration between poets and artist.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Rebecca Guay. The authors introduce twenty-six women who either lived a life of criminality or were morally condemned for their actions. Each lighthearted, succinct summary is followed by a one-page graphic novel–format conversation--sardonic and mirthful--between Yolen and Stemple. Biblical figures, pirates, thieves and spies, murderesses and gangsters, rulers and queens are included as the authors consistently point out the very fine line between right and wrong. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) PS Illustrated by Sam Williams. Pretty Princess Pig's house turns into a wreck during preparation for "her big tea party." When her polite friends arrive, though, "no one comments on the mess." Lilting rhymes and lively pink-heavy pictures will make readers giggle at Pretty Princess Pig's efforts to entertain. A sparkly cover on soft boards makes the book easy to hold in little hands.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin. "Some princesses roll around, / wrestling on the muddy ground." A series of tight rhymes describe plain-clothed modern-day "princesses" playing soccer, wielding tools, etc., each with (let it be noted) "a sparkly crown" set primly atop her head. The book doesn't end memorably, but throughout it makes its ever-important girl-power point with panache and, thanks to Lanquetin's dynamic art, pizzazz.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Helen Cann. The well-told stories in this colorfully illustrated collection feature dance as central to the plots. The familiar "Twelve Dancing Princesses" and "Tam O'Shanter" are accompanied by six other tales, perhaps lesser known, from around the world. A section explaining the background and steps for each story's dance is appended, and a CD with actress Juliet Stevenson reading the tales completes the entertaining package. Bib.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) PS Illustrated by Brooke Dyer. "Snore, little skunk, snore. / Turn over and snore some more." In quiet rhyming verse and cozy illustrations, twelve animals settle down for a long winter's sleep. The last page addresses the listener ("And even you, it's time for sleep") and shows a little girl in bed with twelve stuffed animals. The dreamy text and pictures are a good combination.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Rebecca Guay. A short history of the development of ballet opens the book. With the exception of Giselle, the major classic "story ballets" are introduced and retold. Daphnis and Chloe and the more contemporary Shim Chung, based on a Korean folktale, round out the collection. Illustrations that are lush and romantic, but curiously static, accompany each tale. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. Children are encouraged to use their own reasoning powers to interpret the Salem witch trials of 1692. Each page includes historic information, the young detective-narrator's "notes" about the events, and important vocabulary words. The subdued palette of the illustrations reinforces the mystery's somber tone, and the careful detailing supports the book's interest in historical fact. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. The enigmatic disappearance of English settlers from their compound at Roanoke Island is this book's unsolved mystery. The authors tell the complicated story of dangerous trans-Atlantic voyages, alternating friendships and betrayal of and by native tribes with some clarity, though definitions and other sidebars are sometimes distracting. Careful illustrations aid in interpretation. Timeline.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. A girl detective leads readers through this "mystery from history": in the 1920s, an Indian missionary claimed that two girls in his orphanage had been raised by wolves. The informative text is accompanied by pencil and watercolor illustrations, word definitions on "Post-its," and research notes--which makes for a sometimes confusing layout. Readers are encouraged to decide for themselves whether the story is a hoax. Bib.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. An unnamed girl detective leads readers through the real-life "history mystery" of an abandoned ship from 1872. Capable watercolors portraying shipboard scenes also include definitions of unfamiliar words and supplemental nautical information. Theories about what happened to the crew are presented at the end, while questions pointing to clues in the text encourage critical thinking. Bib.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam