(2) K-3 The tree ornaments are enjoying a “peaceful and calm” Christmas Eve when Otto, a brand-new, “snazzy...jazzy...Christmas-pizzazzy!” ornament, shows up and in-sists: “A superstar like me belongs on the top of the tree.” Glittery Otto is rebuffed by the group (after obnoxiously pointing out the others’ flaws) and sets out to find his own tree. But the perfect tree is missing something: “What’s the point of being at the top if I don’t have anyone to share it with?” The journey home is harrowing, and Otto returns chastened and lacking his previous luster but with a new appreciation for community. Lively cartoonlike illustrations depict Otto’s adventures with flair and heart.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(3) YA Tech Titans series. With clean design that reflects the companies they profile, these straightforward, well-organized introductions to technology innovators present the histories, impacts, key players, and controversies. With a focus on narrative and readability, each book compellingly begins with an anecdote about the founders or recent events to demonstrate the company's powerful influence. Sidebars and lots of captioned photographs help break up the texts. There are four other spring 2019 books in this series. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Tech Titans titles: Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(2) 4-6 When Trace, who has terrifying flashbacks to the car accident that killed his parents, researches a school history project at the New York Public Library, the ghost of a tearful little boy fixates on him. The project leads Trace to the horrific 1863 burning of the Colored Orphan Asylum and to connections with his life. This suspenseful and well-paced offering strikes a solid balance between ghost story and school story, past and present.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shane Devries. Immersive watercolors enliven an original fairy tale about a little deaf boy who uses his unique communication skills to save his village from an angry dragon and a belligerent king. The illustrations, in a warm coral-and-lavender palette, incorporate common signs ("'Thank you,' they said with dancing hands"). Despite its disability-as-heroism device, the engaging story is worthwhile for its different protagonist and message of tolerance.

Reviewer: Robyn Bahr

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. Alexander and the Super Secret Monster Patrol scheme to recover their monster notebook from the villainous boss-monster, whom they believe is actually their own principal, Ms. Vanderpants, in disguise. Fast, funny plotting and a twist ending will please series fans. Energetic black-and-white illustrations--along with the Patrol's notes and secret plans--supplement the mildly spooky tale. Questions and activities are appended.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) YA Hip-Hop Insider series. These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA Hip-Hop Insider series. These standalone series titles, ideal for student research, place facets of hip-hop culture in historical, political, and cultural context. The clean layouts employ a large font, wide margins, plentiful color photos, and informative sidebars. The series celebrates hip-hop as the voice of urban and marginalized populations while also objectively addressing concerns including commercialization and explicit lyrics. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Hip-Hop Insider titles: Hip-Hop Culture, The Men of Hip-Hop, The Women of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, and Hip-Hop Groups.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA Essential Library of the Civil War series. This series covers a broad spectrum of the American Civil War. Causes and Aftermath present overviews of the events leading up to and following the conflict; the other volumes zero in on the roles various groups played during the period. Each thorough book contains an abundance of archival photographs, maps, and related inserts. There are five other fall 2016 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Essential Library of the Civil War titles: Civil War Causes, African Americans in the Civil War, Women in the Civil War, Civil War Leaders, and Civil War Aftermath and Reconstruction.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Balance Keepers series. Albert Flynn and his fellow Balance Keepers return to Earth's Core to restore the Realm of Belltroll before its tremors destroy the surface world. While trying to fix the imbalance, Albert must also unmask the traitor bent on stealing his all-powerful Master Tile. Despite the formulaic elements, this finale offers humor and camaraderie, plus some twists for series fans.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Owen Swan. When Georgie visits her grandfather in a nursing home, she hopes he'll remember her. Instead, he is lost in his own memories of long ago...until she suggests making newspaper hats, an activity he does remember. This gentle intergenerational story about familial love and memory loss, quietly illustrated with soft watercolor and pencil drawings, may be comforting for children in similar situations.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. The Super Secret Monster Patrol has been extra vigilant ever since it discovered the boss-monster is after the kids' special monster notebook. But when S.S.M.P. leader Alexander is distracted by a previously defeated monster, the notebook falls into the wrong hands. As readers puzzle out who's behind the resurrected creatures they'll be chuckling at the ample slapstick humor and exaggerated black-and-white cartoons.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. Alexander and the "Super Secret Monster Patrol" (S.S.M.P.) encounter a new monster at Safety Land amusement park, and it's intent on stealing the S.S.M.P.'s secret weapon: their monster reference notebook. A fast-moving text features short chapters and a lightly spooky atmosphere. Bold digital art includes spot illustrations, sample notebook pages, and silly asides. Questions and activities are appended.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. Without their stolen monster notebook, the Super Secret Monster Patrol must improvise how to defeat an "octo-schnozz," an eight-nosed creature stealing stinky stuff from Stermont residents. Expressive black-and-white illustrations with exaggerated googly-eyed characters accompany the fast-paced light-horror story; this eleventh installment ends with a cliffhanger that should lure series fans back for more. Questions and activities are appended.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 4-6 Balance Keepers series. A disturbance in the underground domain of Ponderay is causing great devastation on the surface, so Albert Flynn returns to the Earth's Core with his fellow Balance Keepers. However, as they train to enter the endangered territory, a traitor seems bent on destroying the Core from within. Despite formulaic story elements, the humor, camaraderie, and inventive world-building will satisfy fans.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 When Kate's brother J.T. returns home to their rural Eastern Shore community after a year in juvenile detention, he faces harassment. To protect him, Kate makes a deal with schoolmate Curtis--he will stop bullying J.T. if she does Curtis's assignments--jeopardizing her own schoolwork, her friendships, and her peace of mind. Cummings explores many ethical issues in this introspective companion to Red Kayak.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. The members of the Super Secret Monster Patrol are at it again when they hear mysterious noises while at summer camp. After a freak snowfall blankets the camp, the trio comes face to face with snombies (snowman zombies), and eventually they discover the real culprit: the ice-crusher. This laugh-out-loud monster story includes black-and-white illustrations that reflect the text's humor.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. When mysterious boxes appear and objects start to go missing, Alexander thinks a monster is to blame. But it's not until the Ruby Scorpion goes missing during the school sleepover at the museum that the members of the Super Secret Monster Patrol discover the true bumpy culprit. This sixth clever chapter book includes zany black-and-white illustrations that propel the story's humor.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) 4-6 Balance Keepers series. Albert Flynn's boring summer is turned upside down when he discovers he is a Balance Keeper tasked with maintaining three mystical territories hidden beneath the earth. When an imbalance in the Calderon realm wreaks havoc on the surface, Albert and friends must set things right. Subterranean worlds, humor, and magic-school dynamics combine in a quick-paced but formulaic and familiar series-starter.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. Alexander and his friends Nikki and Rip notice strange things are happening at their elementary school: the temperature has plummeted, the cafeteria is serving sundaes and pie for lunch, and mysterious new faculty members have started showing up. The trio unravels the mystery and discovers the wacky culprits. This fourth laugh-out-loud chapter book includes black-and-white illustrations that will keep readers in stitches.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) 1-3 Notebook of Doom series. The members of the Super Secret Monster Patrol are at it again when they find mysterious footprints in the ground and random piles of candy everywhere. The trio suspects several monsters, but the kids eventually discover the real culprit of the destruction: the massive P-Rex ("Piñata-saurus Rex"). This fifth laugh-out-loud story includes black-and-white illustrations that will keep readers in stitches.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner