(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. Three generations love their "creaky old house" and wouldn't change a thing--until the front door knob falls off. That sets forth a chain of events leading to plans for a major renovation until the youngest child puts her pacifier to good use: "Well, I'll be," said Uncle Bob… / …Lizzie's gone and fixed that knob!" Detailed illustrations accompany the jaunty rhymed text.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. In this humorous take on the life of the ancient Greek philosopher, Diogenes the Cynic is portrayed as an actual dog (cynic means doglike). He travels to Athens and teaches the populace by performing "tricks," which illustrate his philosophies. Lighthearted cartoon illustrations reflect the story's tone; an afterword includes factual information about Diogenes's life and school of thought.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. In this third novel about Morgy, he goes to music camp to improve his trumpet skills. There Morgy despairs at his status of "promising beginner," deals with a bully, solves a mystery, and helps save the camp from being sold to a developer. As always, Morgy is an engaging character, and his trials and triumphs make for a rewarding read.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. A mock This Is Your Life TV episode introduces dragonfly Dahlia, "one tough little nymph." Host and narrator Bob Beetle, mystery guests from Dahlia's past (family members, a predator), and the studio audience all contribute to the reality-show humor while providing factual details. Miller's text begs to be read aloud, and Chesworth's cartoonlike scenes buzz with anthropomorphized insects.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. When hideously bratty Princess Justina Albertina demands a pet, her unfortunate nanny must go to the ends of the earth to find the perfect one. Though the writing lacks subtlety and the ending is mean-spirited, the watercolor, colored-pencil, and gouache illustrations tell a more entertaining story, as the nanny gains personal enrichment as a result of her journeys.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. When pirates capture Fluffy, a "pampered poodle," they laugh at his fancy clothes and silly name. Determined not to be thrown overboard, Fluffy outwits the captain, takes over the ship, and teaches the pirates that they can get much better loot by being "cute" than by being fierce. Lively watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations enhance this original tale told in snappy rhyme.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. In these three chapter books, Miami Jackson helps choose a gift for his teacher at the end of third grade (Straight), goes to baseball camp (Play), and gets sent to detention on the first day of fourth grade (Through). Chesworth's cartoon illustrations are as exaggerated as the lighthearted text; there's not much substance, but there's plenty of kid appeal. Review covers these Stepping Stone titles: Miami Gets It Straight, Miami Makes the Play, and Miami Sees It Through.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. In these three chapter books, Miami Jackson helps choose a gift for his teacher at the end of third grade (Straight), goes to baseball camp (Play), and gets sent to detention on the first day of fourth grade (Through). Chesworth's cartoon illustrations are as exaggerated as the lighthearted text; there's not much substance, but there's plenty of kid appeal. Review covers these Stepping Stone titles: Miami Gets It Straight, Miami Makes the Play, and Miami Sees It Through.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. In these three chapter books, Miami Jackson helps choose a gift for his teacher at the end of third grade (Straight), goes to baseball camp (Play), and gets sent to detention on the first day of fourth grade (Through). Chesworth's cartoon illustrations are as exaggerated as the lighthearted text; there's not much substance, but there's plenty of kid appeal. Review covers these Stepping Stone titles: Miami Gets It Straight, Miami Makes the Play, and Miami Sees It Through.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. In this colloquial monologue about steam-powered freight trains, circa 1926, a grandfatherly engineer takes a young friend to see his train, introduces his fellow railroad workers, and identifies the various freight cars. Kids will come away with an appreciation for this bygone mode of transport. Chesworth's watercolor and pencil illustrations have an inviting, kid-friendly quality--especially in the action sequences.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2004

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth & Michael Chesworth. Spanning sunrise to sunset, Pringle gives a partly poetic, partly factual account of a coastline environment; illustrations in pale earth tones and rich blues capture the drama of the ever-changing seascape. As the tide retreats, sea birds, mollusks, and beachcomber treasures are revealed. A page of scientific information about what is shown on each double-page spread is appended.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(4) 1-3 Road to Reading series. Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. Miami (Michael Andrew) earns detention on the first day of fourth grade, but he comes to appreciate his strict new teacher. While this chapter book, illustrated with spirited black-and-white pictures, is predictable and fourth-grader Miami comes across sounding more like a sophisticated middle schooler, the reading is easy and the characters are appealing.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 1-3 Road to Reading series. Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. Miami Jackson's archenemy, Destinee Tate, has followed him to baseball camp where she's campaigning for a single all-star team that includes both boys and girls. Meanwhile, Miami falls under the spell of an older bully. Fast moving and full of fun, this is great summertime reading. Chesworth's occasional black-and-white illustrations are inviting and humorous.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) 1-3 Road to Reading series. Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. This short novel deals with the final days of third grade and the conflicts that ensue when students try to choose a class gift for their teacher. The drama is in bold relief here--the kids use plenty of slang and the text is heavy on dialogue and exclamation points. Chesworth's cartoon style illustrations are equally exaggerated. There is not much substance, but there is plenty of kid appeal.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. Using an alphabetic format, this book takes readers on an imagined space flight to Mars. Cartoonlike illustrations show an eight-person multinational crew boarding the rocket, experiencing zero-gravity, living in the spacecraft, and exploring the planet. Basic information about space missions and Mars is conveyed in information boxes on each page. A "Mars A-B-Cyclopedia" at the end of the book offers more facts. Glos.

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(1) 1-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. When third-grader Morgy moves from wide-open, laid-back California to small-town, close-knit Massachusetts, he obviously has some adjustments to make. Lewis captures the disoriented Morgy's bewilderment with one of the lightest touches ever encountered in a new-kid-in-town story. A superbly realized regional novel that is nonetheless universal: second- and third-graders from all over will enjoy watching Morgy make his move.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2000

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. Emma hopes her science fair project will prove who are better, boys or girls; but when she and her partners (best friend Louise and, eventually, two male classmates) try to carry out experiments, they realize the issues are muddier than they thought. Cartoon drawings illustrate this light, funny skirmish of the sexes, which will leave readers reflecting on what it means to think and act scientifically.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. Although Mama says she doesn't want any birthday fuss, her daughter, a "take-charge kind of girl," plans a party with her slapdash aunt CeeCee and her nitpicking aunt Belle. Hilarious chaos reigns right up to the last minute when Daddy arrives with a very surprised Mama. Art nouveau style illustrations, using dialogue balloons, set the story in the roaring twenties.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 First Choice Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Michael Chesworth. Published spring 1998. When a storm knocks out the electricity, Chris and Erin can't figure out what to do without the television. At their grandfather's suggestion, they make up some funny programs and dramatize them for the rest of the family, realizing that they can have fun without TV. The easy format and cartoony illustrations will attract readers not put off by the predictable story.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth