(3) 4-6 Edge Books: Drawing Mash-Ups series. Illustrated by Alan Brown. Learn how to draw animals (cat, tortoise) and legendary monsters (minotaur, werewolf) that assume human or machine characteristics (gymnast cat, bread-baking werewolf). These how-to books include step-by-step instructional sketches for thirteen "mash-ups" each that progress from sketched shapes to detailed colored pictures. An introduction encourages creativity and experimentation and offers suggestions about different media to use including pastels or chalk. Reading list. Review covers these Edge Books: Drawing Mash-Ups titles: Draw Amazing Animal Mash-Ups and Draw Scary Monster Mash-Ups.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 You Choose: Fractured Fairy Tales series. Illustrated by Alan Brown. Fairy tales told as choose-your-path adventures may be an ideal match of form and genre. Readers addressed as "you" first select one of three scenarios (including fantasy, wacky humor, and sci-fi) and make narrative choices until reaching a happy, sad, or neutral ending. Serviceable black-and-white illustrations support the texts. Background about the source tale and critical thinking questions are included. Reading list. Review covers these You Choose: Fractured Fairy Tales titles: Rumpelstiltskin and Rapunzel.

Reviewer: Amy Bennett-Zendzian

(4) 4-6 Jonny Jakes Investigates series. Illustrated by Alan Brown. The mysterious undercover reporter of banned school newspaper The Woodford Word must conceal his identity. "Jonny Jakes" exposes an alien principal, who will do anything to block those snarky headlines (Hamburgers), and stops a punishment-happy ghost-principal from ruling the school (Ghoul). Despite the over-the-top situations and predictable outcomes, these first-person journal-style stories, dotted with (bland) spot art and occasional newspaper clippings, are entertaining. Review covers the following Jonny Jakes Investigates titles: The Hamburgers of Doom and The Old School Ghoul.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 4-6 Jonny Jakes Investigates series. Illustrated by Alan Brown. The mysterious undercover reporter of banned school newspaper The Woodford Word must conceal his identity. "Jonny Jakes" exposes an alien principal, who will do anything to block those snarky headlines (Hamburgers), and stops a punishment-happy ghost-principal from ruling the school (Ghoul). Despite the over-the-top situations and predictable outcomes, these first-person journal-style stories, dotted with (bland) spot art and occasional newspaper clippings, are entertaining. Review covers the following Jonny Jakes Investigates titles: The Hamburgers of Doom and The Old School Ghoul.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) K-3 Flintstones Explain Simple Machines series. Illustrated by Alan Brown. Fred Flintstone describes the basic workings and everyday uses of simple machines in these cartoon books. Small inset photos of modern real-world examples connect readers to sound factual material, but the text format--paragraph-long word bubbles of tin-eared dialogue ("something tells me today is going to be a great day for using pulleys") in small type--is cumbersome. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Flintstones Explain Simple Machines titles: Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Inclined Planes, Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Pulleys, and Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Wheels and Axles.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Flintstones Explain Simple Machines series. Illustrated by Alan Brown. Fred Flintstone describes the basic workings and everyday uses of simple machines in these cartoon books. Small inset photos of modern real-world examples connect readers to sound factual material, but the text format--paragraph-long word bubbles of tin-eared dialogue ("something tells me today is going to be a great day for using pulleys") in small type--is cumbersome. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Flintstones Explain Simple Machines titles: Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Inclined Planes, Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Pulleys, and Fred Flintstone's Adventures with Wheels and Axles.

Reviewer: Russell Perry