(3) 1-3 Butterfly Wishes series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Sisters Addie and Clara discover Wishing Wings, butterflies that talk and grant wishes, in their new yard in the country. Vibrant descriptions of the Wishing Wings' grove provide a colorful backdrop as the sisters learn to help the magical butterflies--and each other. Grayscale illustrations portray the sisters' emotions and the magic of this backyard world. An approachable first fantasy series for newly independent readers. Review covers these Butterfly Wishes titles: Tiger Streak's Tale and The Wishing Wings.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) 1-3 Butterfly Wishes series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Sisters Addie and Clara discover Wishing Wings, butterflies that talk and grant wishes, in their new yard in the country. Vibrant descriptions of the Wishing Wings' grove provide a colorful backdrop as the sisters learn to help the magical butterflies--and each other. Grayscale illustrations portray the sisters' emotions and the magic of this backyard world. An approachable first fantasy series for newly independent readers. Review covers these Butterfly Wishes titles: Tiger Streak's Tale and The Wishing Wings.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Little girl Pipsie eagerly uses her detective skills to determine which creature stung her talking-turtle sidekick Alfred during their earlier park visit. A mosquito? A spider? A bee? It's a contrived mystery with touches of humor, but as the two retrace their morning walk, the lighthearted text and large, pastel-colored illustrations offer relevant wildlife details. Additional facts about insects are appended.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ben Bishop. Michael Collins, the oft forgotten third man of the Apollo 11 mission, didn't walk on the moon. But Irvine's graphic-novel account honors Collins's critical role in the mission, making sure he, Armstrong, and Aldrin got there and back safely. The sketchy, monochromatic art fits the setting, and Bishop seamlessly includes several explanatory diagrams within his paneled illustrations. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) PS Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. When house lights go out unexpectedly, neighborhood children enjoy impromptu winter fun under a luminescent "snowball moon"--sledding, building forts, and throwing snowballs. Rhymed couplets convey the action, rhythm, and mood of the cozy winter tale: "Snowy night... / firelight. / Cozy flames, / friendly games. / Lights go out-- / a scream! A shout!" Cool-colored illustrations embrace the spontaneous winter adventure.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Family Snaps series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. A young boy is uncomfortable around his elderly great-grandfather, but his mother cleverly explains how each of Poppy's quirks, such as failing memory and wrinkly hands, can be explained by a lifetime of love. With expressive illustrations providing some humor to keep the saccharine analogies from growing tiresome, the purposeful book could quell some young kids' fears of the elderly.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. During a school trip to the woods, Pipsie and her turtle go on a scavenger hunt (easily duplicated by readers at home). Seeking items such as "animal tracks" and "something crawling," they also investigate a lunchnapping. The mystery is slight, adding little to the collection of nature facts, but well-designed illustrations communicate both habitat details and the young naturalist's eagerness to explore.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 1-3 Critter Club series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. When Marion announces she signed the Critter Club up for the Quiz Bowl, timid Amy is nervous. But the girls practice hard for the competition--while also taking care of some rescued chickens--and readers will rejoice as Amy overcomes her stage fright to lead the team to victory. A satisfying entry in the sweet illustrated series ideal for animal-loving young readers.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 1-3 Meri's Mirror series. Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. Fourth-grade bookworm Meri Mercer receives an antique magic mirror for her birthday. The mirror lets her talk to characters from her favorite books; those characters offer Meri advice and insight as she navigates friendships and school dramas. Although too easily resolved, Meri's trials and tribulations ring true and will resonate with young chapter-book readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations match the text's breezy tone. Review covers these Meri's Mirror titles: Facing a Frenemy, Meri Mercer Doesn't Lie, Mostly, Tattletale Traitor, and Terrible Twin Mania.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Tracy Bishop. A little girl tries and gives up on biking, ballet, and karate. After sage advice from Mom, she has a change of heart: "and with my newly-opened mind, / decided that I'm never... / ...going to be the quitting kind." Though the message-y story isn't particularly exciting, humorous illustrated scenes and (so-so) rhymes with words such as potty and heinie provide amusing moments.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(2) PS Illustrated by Gavin Bishop. Mister Whistler sets off to visit his great-aunt, but the song in his head makes him misplace his train ticket. Garment by garment, he checks his pockets and dances his way out of his clothes, displaying virtuosic flexibility and sartorial flamboyance. This dressing, undressing, and dressing-again story is a vivacious display of Mahy's perfect timing and picture-book-plotting.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2013

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Gavin Bishop. The beguiling pair introduced in Snake and Lizard now share a burrow and are business partners, too. They bicker constantly; still, the outcomes are fair, reasonable, and often capped with a delightfully ironic twist. Their unobtrusively philosophical debates are nifty blends of fact, hearsay, and comic misconstruction. Bishop’s colorful spot art nicely reinforces the affectionate characterizations and the humor.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Gavin Bishop. From their first encounter, Snake and Lizard bicker. Yet, they soon find enough common ground that they move in together. In the book's fifteen episodes, the friends' repartee is so comical that readers will happily absorb the message about unlikely friendships. Bishop's art enlivens almost every spread of this attractive small volume, capturing each interaction with wit and affection.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Gavin Bishop. On New Year's, two brothers see a sparrow trapped inside a store and a sign on the door: "WILL REOPEN JANUARY 13." Neighbors, parents, and police all tell them the sparrow's plight is no big deal, but the two persist and finally get help from the publicity-hungry mayor. Cowley's text realistically captures the kids' alarm and the adults' nonchalance; Bishop's illustrations reflect the story's tension and lack of sentimentality.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander