(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. This history highlights individuals who have made notable contributions to performance magic. Each of the eight chapters concludes with instructions for one trick, such as the old "cups and balls" illusion. The readable text is enhanced by section inserts, black-and-white archival photos, and illustrations. The book's focus is scattered, but those fascinated by the subject may find this offering useful. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Julia Tyler

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. In this trilogy-ender (Missing on Superstition Mountain; Treasure on Superstition Mountain), Henry, Simon, Jack, and their friend Delilah follow clues left by adventurous Uncle Hank and learn the steep cost of taking gold from the sacred mountain: death! As Superstition Mountain exacts revenge against greedy treasure hunters, Broach's young adventurers cleanly tie together the series' mysteries, lauding adventure, courage, and risk-taking as the ultimate treasure.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. His mother gone to prison, Tony is sent to live with a great-uncle he's never met, a forest ranger who lives in the Sierra Nevadas with his search-and-rescue dog, Gabe. There's a good story here, but the verse-novel format (with narration by Tony and Gabe) isn't quite right, and the illustrations are at tonal odds with the text.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Two more very beginning readers feature likable ballerina kitten Mia. In Stage, she finds that a hurt leg doesn't keep her from playing a special role in the big recital. In Twirl, new classmate Sara's eccentricity prompts a lesson that "there are many ways to dance." Mia's sparkle and verve, center-stage in the illustrations, will engage little ballerinas learning to read. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Mia and the Girl with a Twirl and Mia Sets the Stage.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Two more very beginning readers feature likable ballerina kitten Mia. In Stage, she finds that a hurt leg doesn't keep her from playing a special role in the big recital. In Twirl, new classmate Sara's eccentricity prompts a lesson that "there are many ways to dance." Mia's sparkle and verve, center-stage in the illustrations, will engage little ballerinas learning to read. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Mia and the Girl with a Twirl and Mia Sets the Stage.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. Ballerina kitten Mia receives a nutcracker for Christmas. She doesn't understand the significance of the gift, so her grandfather relates the story of the famous ballet. Mia pictures her friends and family (and herself in the starring role, of course!) in the production as she listens. With warm, candy-hued illustrations and accessible (if prosaic) text, this is an agreeable introduction to The Nutcracker.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Ballerina kitten Mia begins taking jazz dance classes. She loves the new style but wishes that her plain black shoes were "as jazzy as dancing." With a little creativity and a lot of sparkles, Mia makes her shoes worthy of her exuberant new dance form. Brief sentences and repeated sight words make the slim story accessible. The pastel- and twirl-heavy illustrations add humor. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. Each with his or her own style and sensibility, eight children's authors plus Ann Martin herself contribute dog-centered stories. Several tales reflect the fear a pet owner feels when a dog goes missing, but there are no dead dogs here. Some authors illustrate their own stories, and Olga and Aleksey Ivanov illustrate the rest, catching the dogs' inherent humor and personality.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2012

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Dancing kitten Mia is back, this time teaching some beginning dancers the first three ballet positions. When the little ones have problems mastering the steps, Mia turns their mistakes into new moves. The simple story uses short sentences, while colorful illustrations add humor and reinforce the text. The title is misleading—the story isn't about toe shoes.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Mia the ballerina kitten is back in two easy-to-read stories: when a friend needs help practicing her solo, Mia comes to her rescue (Daisy); Mia's class sees her big sister Ava perform, but she feels left out when Ava doesn't watch her dance during a special teaching session afterward (Big Sister). Simple dance vocabulary and colorful, twirl-packed illustrations are equally pleasing. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Mia and the Big Sister Ballet and Mia and the Daisy Dance.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Dancing kitten Mia (Mia and the Too Big Tutu) stars in another ballet-themed story. When her dancing partner gets sick, Mia finds herself with two new partners and ends up in a ballet trio. Muted illustrations catch the movement of ballet and the expressions of dismay and happiness in the simple story. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 My Readers series. Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. Night owl Harry Cat's new lifestyle--as a celebrated actor--causes jealousy in homebody Tucker Mouse ("Harry is a star now...I have to let him go"). When Harry realizes Tucker's feelings, he quits the play to spend time with his friend. These aren't the Tucker and Harry that George Selden fans know, but the story, with its imitation-Garth-Williams illustrations, is mildly diverting.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 My Readers series. Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. In Rescue, Harry Cat helps Tucker Mouse escape from a shop (Chester Cricket doesn't appear in this story). Tucker becomes the manager of a bug band (whose noisy rehearsals originally drove him crazy) in Beetle. While Feldman's text and the Ivanovs' look-alike art aren't on par with Selden and Williams's original work, these are two perfectly pleasant easy-reader episodes based on beloved characters. Review covers these My Readers titles: Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Harry to the Rescue and Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Tucker's Beetle Band.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 My Readers series. Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. In Rescue, Harry Cat helps Tucker Mouse escape from a shop (Chester Cricket doesn't appear in this story). Tucker becomes the manager of a bug band (whose noisy rehearsals originally drove him crazy) in Beetle. While Feldman's text and the Ivanovs' look-alike art aren't on par with Selden and Williams's original work, these are two perfectly pleasant easy-reader episodes based on beloved characters. Review covers these My Readers titles: Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Harry to the Rescue and Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse: Tucker's Beetle Band.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Flappy, a collie, and Scrappy, who looks like a mutt, star in three short stories. In the first, Flappy, misunderstanding the farm animals' mouths-full-of-food greetings, thinks she's being made fun of; in the second, she tries to play catch; then Scrappy's in for a surprise on his birthday. The texts use gentle humor, and the illustrations have an eye-pleasing, pastoral sensibility.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Mia, a fetching kitten, wants to dance like her older sister. On her first day of ballet class she grabs sis's tutu by mistake and is tripped up, literally, by her "too big tutu"; she ultimately manages to land on her toes. The slim story features short, accessible sentences and appealing illustrations, if bad ballet class practice.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. In Earth Day, Nancy inadvertently disrupts her home life in an effort to protect the planet. In School, she has trouble coming up with one hundred "imaginative and fancy" things to share on the hundredth day of school. As always with this somewhat rote series, the tempest-in-a-teapot plots will entertain readers, as will the bedazzling Robin Preiss Glasser–impostor art. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Fancy Nancy: Every Day is Earth Day and Fancy Nancy: The 100th Day of School.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. In Friend, lonely pig Wilbur befriends spider Charlotte; in Prize, Charlotte schemes to help Wilbur win a ribbon at the fair. Even readers unfamiliar with White's novel or the recent film treatment may find these stories too slight to stand alone. But with their folksy prose and thoughtful illustrations, they don't stray too far from the original. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Wilbur Finds a Friend and Wilbur's Prize.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. In Friend, lonely pig Wilbur befriends spider Charlotte; in Prize, Charlotte schemes to help Wilbur win a ribbon at the fair. Even readers unfamiliar with White's novel or the recent film treatment may find these stories too slight to stand alone. But with their folksy prose and thoughtful illustrations, they don't stray too far from the original. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Wilbur Finds a Friend and Wilbur's Prize.

Reviewer: Nell Beram