(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series. Illustrated by Amit Tayal. To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series. Illustrated by Amit Tayal. To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series. Illustrated by Amit Tayal. To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Star Belchers series. Illustrated by Amit Tayal. To pay for parts for their fixer-upper spaceship named Judy, Kurby and his brainy (and reluctant) friend Risk do odd jobs around the galaxy. As Kurby and Risk bumble their way through an alien rescue and other adventures, their friendship works because of their stereotypical differences. Aside from some laugh-out-loud shenanigans, these are standard space adventures; slick full-color illustrations and writing/discussion prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Star Belchers titles: Carma Comes Home, Jewel of the Galaxy, Robot Ruckus and A Spaceship Named Judy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Survive! series. Illustrated by Kirbi Fagan. Each formulaic standalone story finds children navigating seemingly impossible disaster situations: for example, twins Andy and Tony mistake the eye of a tornado for its aftermath and a dormant volcano erupts during Cam's family's Hawaiian vacation. Rapid pacing, vividly rendered scenes, and clever protagonists make for heart-stopping adventures. Serviceable black-and-white illustrations break up the short texts. Back matter includes related survival tips. Glos. Review covers the following Survive! titles: Blizzard, Lost, Tornado, and Volcano.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 4-6 Survive! series. Illustrated by Kirbi Fagan. Each formulaic standalone story finds children navigating seemingly impossible disaster situations: for example, twins Andy and Tony mistake the eye of a tornado for its aftermath and a dormant volcano erupts during Cam's family's Hawaiian vacation. Rapid pacing, vividly rendered scenes, and clever protagonists make for heart-stopping adventures. Serviceable black-and-white illustrations break up the short texts. Back matter includes related survival tips. Glos. Review covers the following Survive! titles: Blizzard, Lost, Tornado, and Volcano.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 4-6 Survive! series. Illustrated by Kirbi Fagan. Each formulaic standalone story finds children navigating seemingly impossible disaster situations: for example, twins Andy and Tony mistake the eye of a tornado for its aftermath and a dormant volcano erupts during Cam's family's Hawaiian vacation. Rapid pacing, vividly rendered scenes, and clever protagonists make for heart-stopping adventures. Serviceable black-and-white illustrations break up the short texts. Back matter includes related survival tips. Glos. Review covers the following Survive! titles: Blizzard, Lost, Tornado, and Volcano.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 4-6 Survive! series. Illustrated by Kirbi Fagan. Each formulaic standalone story finds children navigating seemingly impossible disaster situations: for example, twins Andy and Tony mistake the eye of a tornado for its aftermath and a dormant volcano erupts during Cam's family's Hawaiian vacation. Rapid pacing, vividly rendered scenes, and clever protagonists make for heart-stopping adventures. Serviceable black-and-white illustrations break up the short texts. Back matter includes related survival tips. Glos. Review covers the following Survive! titles: Blizzard, Lost, Tornado, and Volcano.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) K-3 Kitanai's Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Jamey Christoph. "Kitanai the Origami Dog" is resting in the garden when rumbling sounds disturb him. A hare with an empty, growling tummy has arrived; together they go in search of food. Dialogue bubbles reveal Hare's penchant for junk food, but Kitanai's knowledge of healthy foods wins Hare over. Cheerful characters, bright colors, and lively compositions lighten the overt message. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) K-3 Kitanai's Healthy Habits series. Illustrated by Jamey Christoph. "Kitanai the Origami Dog" is lily-pad jumping in the pond when a crocodile with a toothache surfaces. Dialogue bubbles reveal Croc's questions about how to take care of his teeth and Kitanai's extensive knowledge of oral hygiene. Cheerful characters, bright colors, and lively page layouts lighten the overt lesson. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Furry and Flo series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. In these two installments, Flo gets to see part of werewolf Furry's world when the crack in the floor that brought him into Flo's apartment building lets loose a mummy and skeletons. The danger is quickly resolved in each diverting story, but little feels at stake. Black-and-white illustrations feature not-very-scary monsters. Discussion questions and prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Furry and Flo titles: The Misplaced Mummy and The Skeletons in City Park.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Furry and Flo series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. In these two installments, Flo gets to see part of werewolf Furry's world when the crack in the floor that brought him into Flo's apartment building lets loose a mummy and skeletons. The danger is quickly resolved in each diverting story, but little feels at stake. Black-and-white illustrations feature not-very-scary monsters. Discussion questions and prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Furry and Flo titles: The Misplaced Mummy and The Skeletons in City Park.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Furry and Flo series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. Flo's rundown apartment building has one bright spot: her new friend Ferdinand ("Furry"). Over these volumes, Flo learns that he's aptly named--being a werewolf who's come from another world through a crack in the floor. Flo's authentic emotions balance out the sometimes outlandish plot points. Cartoonish black-and-white illustrations convey that the beasties aren't all that scary. Discussion questions and prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Furry and Flo titles: The Big Hairy Secret and The Problems with Goblins.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Furry and Flo series. Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. Flo's rundown apartment building has one bright spot: her new friend Ferdinand ("Furry"). Over these volumes, Flo learns that he's aptly named--being a werewolf who's come from another world through a crack in the floor. Flo's authentic emotions balance out the sometimes outlandish plot points. Cartoonish black-and-white illustrations convey that the beasties aren't all that scary. Discussion questions and prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Furry and Flo titles: The Big Hairy Secret and The Problems with Goblins.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Fairy-Tale Superstars series. Illustrated by Jeff Ebbeler. Each book briefly states whether its subject is real and then summarizes legends about it ("In fairy tales, most princesses have long hair"). Though the books might serve as introductions for readers completely unfamiliar with folklore, they won't teach other readers very much that's new. The illustrations in Fairies and Princesses create a lighter atmosphere than in Dragons. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fairy-Tale Superstars titles: The Truth About Princesses, The Truth About Fairies, and The Truth About Dragons.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax