(3) 4-6 Epic Fails series. Illustrated by Tim Foley. This irreverent but entertaining volume provides brief overviews of the careers of United States presidents, with a focus on their bad luck, poor choices, and most controversial politics. Written in a conversational tone that will appeal to young readers, each chapter features a theme such as "Dead Presidents," "Eccentric Presidents," and "Unlucky Presidents," among others; black-and-white illustrations and photographs appear throughout. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Epic Fails series. Illustrated by Tim Foley. Failure has been the hallmark of humans' attempts at flight, starting with the mythological figure Icarus. The Wright Brothers were no exception, but Slader shows how their perseverance ultimately led to success, including their contributions to aviation after their successful Kitty Hawk flight. A light, humorous tone and plenty of black-and-white illustrations and photos make this an engaging read. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) 4-6 Epic Fails series. Illustrated by Tim Foley. That failures lead to success is the theme of this history of space flight, from early rockets through missions to the moon to the present. The Apollo 1 tragedy and other NASA missteps are discussed as leading to the triumphant Apollo 11 moon walk. A light, humorous tone and plenty of black-and-white illustrations and photos make this an engaging read. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) PS "'Later, Gator!' / 'See you soon, Baboon.'" In speech-bubble text, Gator bids farewell to his friends before his family moves. Lonely in his new neighborhood, Gator reaches out to make friends after receiving encouraging letters from his old buddies. The playful watercolor and acrylic-ink illustrations capture Gator's emotions as the text skillfully navigates the moving process, from goodbyes to hellos: "Howdy do, Kangaroo!"

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Dario Brizuela. Color by Heather Breckel. Letters by Shawn Lee. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and April solve problems and fight bad guys in these comic books adapted from the Nickelodeon show. Episodes include hallucinogenic poison darts, a military-equipment junkyard, carnivorous plants, and zombie mayhem at a sleep research institute. The slim plots are carried by the energetic panel art and the characters' trademark slangy banter and playful jabs at one another. Review covers Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kellen Hatanaka. Tokyo lives in a huge city built over a natural landscape that his grandfather wistfully recollects. When a mysterious older woman gives Tokyo magic seeds, he's able to grow that remembered world back into existence with unexpected results. Though the ending feels a bit rushed, Hatanaka's digitally constructed watercolor, ink, and collage illustrations vividly embody the metropolis's shift from dreary to cheerful and plant-filled.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. Stone Rabbit and friends create a fleet of robotic teddy bear workers to help them construct their parade float. A frantic spin on the familiar "Sorcerer's Apprentice" story line ensues when the lead bots get out of control. Colorful cartoon illustrations and bold font are ideal for new graphic-novel readers. It's all half-baked, but series fans won't be disappointed. Glos.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Leo Dillon & Diane Dillon. Haugaard's first children's book and its sequel are stark, epic Viking period novels infused with the feeling of Norse sagas. They focus, respectively, on young Hakon, who inherits an island kingship but must fight his uncle for his birthright; and young Helga, who accompanies Hakon to France on a mission to return a former slave to his homeland. Review covers these titles: Hakon of Rogen's Saga and A Slave's Tale.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: August, 1965

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Leo Dillon & Diane Dillon. Haugaard's first children's book and its sequel are stark, epic Viking period novels infused with the feeling of Norse sagas. They focus, respectively, on young Hakon, who inherits an island kingship but must fight his uncle for his birthright; and young Helga, who accompanies Hakon to France on a mission to return a former slave to his homeland. Review covers these titles: Hakon of Rogen's Saga and A Slave's Tale.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: June, 1963

(1) K-3 Translated by Kari Dickson. Illustrated by Øyvind Torseter. A little boy asks his father if Mommy will ever wake up again. Honest, but gently changing the subject, the father replies, "No, not where she is now. Should we go out and look at the stars?" A quiet, intimate text and enigmatic paper-collage and ink illustrations make a world of their own that commends interest beyond the therapeutic.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2013

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. Stone Rabbit and his friends use a pair of cursed dice and are transported inside a Dungeons & Dragons–esque game where they must defeat fantastical enemies to escape. This seventh entry has its predecessors' frenzied feel, but gamers may delight in the story, and action sequences, expressive characters, and bright colors will win over the young comics-loving crowd.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. Stone Rabbit and friends return in a Halloween adventure. An atomic lamp interacts with dust, creating rampaging dust bunnies. This graphic novel features potty humor and breakneck action and is bound to appeal to graduates of the Captain Underpants books. The frantic illustrations are busy and the gross-out humor is dumb, but young comics fans won't mind. Glos.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) YA American Music Milestones series. These well-researched, comprehensive chronologies of modern American musical genres are presented on jazzy magazine-style layouts with eye-catching vintage and contemporary photos. Descriptions of specific transformative moments and key musicians are smoothly worked into the engagingly written narratives. Sections highlighting periods and subgenres include "must download playlists"; longer lists of recommended albums and songs are appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these American Music Milestones titles: American Latin Music, American Rock, American Pop, American R&B, American Country, and American Hip-Hop.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Polar bear Alex and penguin Zina are opposites in many ways, from the realistic ("Alex lives in the Arctic. / Zina lives in the Antarctic") to the fanciful ("Alex gets up late. / Zina rises early"). Cartoony pencil, charcoal, and watercolor illustrations reinforce the concept's humor. It's a pleasant-enough story that doesn't add up to much.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. In their fifth adventure, Stone Rabbit and his friends step up to defend Grandpa Tortoise's pizza place from new competition, a pizza shop called Ninja Slice with a "shadow warrior cooking staff." Ninja fighting sequences and bold-hued illustrations bolster the graphic novel's thin story line. Series fans may not mind the volume's sometimes illogical full-speed-ahead action. Glos.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. A comic book combined with a virtual-reality machine transforms Stone Rabbit and his friends into superheroes. The gang then faces off against a group of villains. Eye-catching (if frantic) illustrations, frenetic humor, cartoon violence--and a positive message about friendship combine in this fourth entry in the comical graphic novel series. Glos.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. In Stone Rabbit's third adventure, evil alien Melvin the Plutarkian assumes the bunny's identity, leaving SR to face trial for Melvin's crimes while he ravages Earth. Luckily, our hero's gaming skills save the day. Colorful action sequences and humorous characters create an engaging read, though the frantic adventures can be hard to navigate across the graphic novel's panels.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. These entertaining graphic novels star an adventurous rabbit, first traveling through time to a prehistoric world populated by dinosaurs (Mambo), then tangling with a pirate curse (Palooza). Both of the quick-moving adventures are filled with humor and danger, though the books' frantic narrative style, with busy illustrations to match, may induce whiplash. Review covers these Stone Rabbit titles: BC Mambo and Pirate Palooza.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Stone Rabbit series. These entertaining graphic novels star an adventurous rabbit, first traveling through time to a prehistoric world populated by dinosaurs (Mambo), then tangling with a pirate curse (Palooza). Both of the quick-moving adventures are filled with humor and danger, though the books' frantic narrative style, with busy illustrations to match, may induce whiplash. Review covers these Stone Rabbit titles: BC Mambo and Pirate Palooza.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mies van Hout. In this odd story, Lovey and Dovey are jailed for stealing socks. Lovey bemoans the view from prison, so Dovey sneaks out and brings her the sun, stars, a tree, etc. They're released, but now the real world is cold and gray. Only one thing to do: steal more socks. Cheery illustrations show their cell resembling more and more the natural world.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley