(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Martin Matje. Anxious about not fitting in at his new school, Stuart hopes his magic cape of ties (Stuart's Cape) will help. Things get off to a rocky start (during show-and-tell, Stuart stands in front of the class in his underpants), but the magic cape comes to the rescue and Stuart is eventually a class hit. The story is disjointed at times, but the wacky drawings are entertaining.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(3) 1-3 Translated by Georges Moroz. Illustrated by Martin Matje. In the fourth book of the series, ink drinkers Odilon and his girlfriend Carmilla--vampire-like creatures who slurp the ink from books, experiencing the stories as they drink--are accidentally sucked into a fairy tale and become the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood characters. Sanvoisin's writing is simple, fast paced, and humorous, and Matje's quirky cartoon illustrations add to the drama.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Martin Matje. New to town, Stuart is worried he won't make any friends. To make the most of the days before school starts, he decides to have adventures. After he staples some ties together to make a cape ("adventures only happen to people with capes"), Stuart's imagination takes over. His toys become real, he can fly--anything is possible. The zany humor seems forced, but Stuart is an endearing character and the illustrations are engaging.

Reviewer: Lauren Rizzuto

(4) 1-3 Translated by Georges Moroz. Illustrated by Martin Matje. After learning their cemetery is being moved, Draculink (from The Ink Drinker) and his niece, Carmilla, must find a new home. Carmilla's boyfriend, Odilon, unwittingly finds the perfect place, the Library of the World, which is really Dracuville--a haven for ink drinkers. Sanvoisin's writing is unfocused and weak in spots, yet imaginative, and Matje's moody cartoon illustrations are deliciously spooky.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Martin Matje. Perrier, the pampered young pig ward of a Hollywood actress, pines away longing for another forbidden wallow in a mud puddle. Epiphany and a happy ending result from his discovery that his mistress puts on a mud mask every night. The situation is elegantly constructed and humorously over the top, while the refined, pink-and-chocolate illustrations add the perfect snooty touch.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 1-3 Translated by Georges Moroz. Illustrated by Martin Matje. Odilon, the victim of an ink drinking vampire, returns in this sequel to The Ink Drinker. This time he's looking for a companion to share his secret life with, and pursues the mysterious new girl at school. Although it's imaginative, much of the plot is a rehash of the first book, and the audience might be turned off by the romance theme. Matje's art is quirky, moody, and seductive.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Martin Matje. The old kid-wants-a-dog plot line gets fresh treatment (if you can suspend disbelief) in this breezy, conversational narrative about a stubborn girl who isn't satisfied with the stuffed poodle her parents give her, even when he comes to life and starts talking to her one night. The pair, whimsically depicted in minimalist ink and watercolor illustrations, walk to Paris, save each other's lives, and become fast friends--all before sunrise.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Martin Matje. Wallace Hoskins won't take off his fireman's hat. After his family notices that his legs are getting longer while the rest of him remains the same size, Wallace's mother consults the aged Nanny Heppleweather, who knows the problem's source and its unusual solution. Kids will enjoy the story's silliness, inventiveness, and amusing ink and watercolor illustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Martin Matje. Gershator's rhyming text asks, "What if it starts to snow? What do you do? Where do you go?" and a menagerie of animals responds in turn. The repetition may please some ears, and Matje's gouache and colored pencil artwork is rich in texture with pleasing compositions and bold, playful characters.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 Translated by Georges Moroz. Illustrated by Martin Matje. While stuck working in a bookstore, a boy who hates reading spies a vampire who sucks ink from old books. The boy becomes an "ink drinker" himself, learning to love books in a new way. Sanvoisin's writing (although fast paced and highly imaginative) is clumsy and the disappointing ending begs to be explored further. Matje's illustrations present a moody color scheme, aesthetic use of space, and quirky characters.

Reviewer: Mark Adam