(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jeff Ebbeler. Middle schooler Jimmy sets out to start his own kid-run publishing company; no matter what adult naysayers throw in his way, he's determined to "make books that make kids want to read more books." Short chapters full of (imaginary) robots and alien invasions, absurd adults, and exuberantly chaotic drawings keep this occasionally didactic fictional origin story of JIMMY (Patterson) Books moving at a swift pace.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Ebbeler. Bespectacled pea Arlo, preferring "to grow up and find out what I'll be" rather than getting turned into stir-fry or soup, rolls away from his pod and avoids garden inhabitants who'd like to eat him. He abruptly falls "fast asleep" until next spring, when he awakens as a pea vine. While the story line is forgettable, the personified fruits and vegetables add humor.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jeff Ebbeler. A boy and his grandparents lose power after lighting the Shabbat candles--but they nevertheless enjoy a holiday that includes a special meal, playing in the snow, and stargazing. When electricity is restored, the boy concludes that "even the lights needed a Shabbat rest." Accompanied by richly colored illustrations (that depict a particularly unattractive Nana), the story is bland but amiable.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) K-3 Fairy-Tale Superstars series. Illustrated by Jeff Ebbeler. Each book briefly states whether its subject is real and then summarizes legends about it ("In fairy tales, most princesses have long hair"). Though the books might serve as introductions for readers completely unfamiliar with folklore, they won't teach other readers very much that's new. The illustrations in Fairies and Princesses create a lighter atmosphere than in Dragons. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Fairy-Tale Superstars titles: The Truth About Princesses, The Truth About Fairies, and The Truth About Dragons.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax