(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer. In this fourth book (Skunked! etc.), the Tate family's prize dog, Ajax, gets quilled twice by a porcupine. Each time, nature- and animal-loving Calpurnia acts quickly to help him, even though the quill removal is difficult and painful for her to watch. The scary situation is softened by Calpurnia's bright first-person narration. Detailed black-and-white illustrations capture both the urgency and warmth of the story.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer. Industrious African American Cleo (Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire) is sure her new invention--special hairclips--will get attention from her businesswoman idol's "kidpreneurs" website. But while marketing her new idea, Cleo, who's adopted, struggles with wanting to unite with her birth parents. The true-to-life, at times humorous story mines complex identity issues (adoption, abandonment, race) nagging at the relatable protagonist.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer. This third entertaining chapter book retains the solid setting and believable characters of the earlier titles (Counting Sheep; Skunked!) but offers even more natural science. Calpurnia and her beloved grandfather rescue an injured owl, care for it, and release it into the wild. Generous spot art illustrates important plot points and supports the science.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer. In this second book (Skunked!), aspiring naturalist/veterinarian Callie is more immersed in her science and beginning to put her newfound skills into practice as she helps town veterinarian Dr. Pritzker with a lamb's difficult breech birth. Detailed black-and-white illustrations reinforce the historical setting and highlight action. Delicate leafy branches decorate the top of each page, subtly underscoring Callie's scientific interests.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer. Inspired by a female business mogul, industrious African American fifth-grader Cleo launches her own business (implausibly for a class project): pulling loose teeth with a Nerf gun for a percentage of Tooth Fairy earnings. Cleo is engaging, even if her passion for business doesn't feel natural. The story also includes some sentimental moments related to Cleo's being adopted.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer. This first entry in an engaging standalone series for younger readers features aspiring naturalist/veterinarian Callie Tate (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate) as more sister than scientist. Her one-year-younger brother, Travis, brings a baby skunk home. Callie's first-person narration adopts a tone of loving exasperation, and it reads like family lore with an extravagantly humorous ending. Generous black-and-white illustrations reinforce the turn-of-the-twentieth-century Texas setting and highlight action.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016