(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. In this Captain Awesome spinoff series, Super Turbo is Classroom C's hamster by day and a hero by night. When automatic pencil sharpeners are installed in classrooms, Turbo and his fellow classroom-pet superheroes unite to save Sunnyview Elementary from the villainous Pencil Pointers. Told in both prose and comic panels, this third chapter book is a frenetic but appealing superhero story.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Classroom C's hamster, Turbo, discovers he's not the only class pet who's also a superhero--Sunnyview Elementary is full of them! The Super Pet Superhero League defends Sunnyview from villains, including scheming rat Whiskerface and evil (or are they?) Flying Ninja Squirrels. Told in both prose and comic panels, these first installments in the Captain Awesome spinoff series are frenetic but appealing superhero adventures. Review covers these titles: Super Turbo Saves the Day and Super Turbo vs. the Flying Ninja Squirrels.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Classroom C's hamster, Turbo, discovers he's not the only class pet who's also a superhero--Sunnyview Elementary is full of them! The Super Pet Superhero League defends Sunnyview from villains, including scheming rat Whiskerface and evil (or are they?) Flying Ninja Squirrels. Told in both prose and comic panels, these first installments in the Captain Awesome spinoff series are frenetic but appealing superhero adventures. Review covers these titles: Super Turbo Saves the Day and Super Turbo vs. the Flying Ninja Squirrels.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Captain Awesome series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. Eugene and his friends in Ms. Beasley's class are pleased as punch with their newly decorated Easter eggs. When the eggs go missing, Eugene's alter-ego, Captain Awesome, and the Sunnyview Superhero Squad step up to solve the mystery. Though a bit meandering, the approachable, kid-friendly story with short, heavily illustrated chapters will please established series fans and young superhero enthusiasts.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) 1-3 Captain Awesome series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. Ms. Beasley's class, including Eugene and friends Charlie and Sally, tours a museum, and the guide's promise of treasure triggers the emergence of the Sunnyview Superhero Squad. Led by Captain Awesome (Eugene), the trio chases "clues" through galleries, identifies potential villains, and finally finds treasure. New readers and superhero fans won't be disturbed by the frenetic action. Frequent cartoons include several "by" Eugene.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Captain Awesome series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. In Evil, the Sunnyview Superhero Squad tries to free Eugene from a super-strict babysitter, and their intervention leads to a food fight. Hole-in-One finds the friends reluctantly attending nemesis Meredith's mini-golf birthday party. Despite Meredith's cheating, the kids unite to best a supervillain, and the mutual animosity lessens. Simplistic plots and excessive exclamations probably won't bother new readers. Cartoons include drawings "by" Eugene. Review covers these Captain Awesome titles: Captain Awesome Gets a Hole-in-One and Captain Awesome vs. the Evil Babysitter.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Captain Awesome series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. In Evil, the Sunnyview Superhero Squad tries to free Eugene from a super-strict babysitter, and their intervention leads to a food fight. Hole-in-One finds the friends reluctantly attending nemesis Meredith's mini-golf birthday party. Despite Meredith's cheating, the kids unite to best a supervillain, and the mutual animosity lessens. Simplistic plots and excessive exclamations probably won't bother new readers. Cartoons include drawings "by" Eugene. Review covers these Captain Awesome titles: Captain Awesome Gets a Hole-in-One and Captain Awesome vs. the Evil Babysitter.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Captain Awesome series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. A field trip to the zoo has longtime pals Eugene and Charlie and new friend Sally excited, especially about seeing elephants. When a large dog, a suspicious zoo guide, arch-enemy Meredith, and a seemingly empty elephant habitat threaten their goal, their alter-ego superheroes save the day. Newly independent readers probably won't mind the simplistic plot. Black-and-white cartoons include crude drawings attributed to Eugene.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Eugene McGillicudy works hard to tie for first place on the spelling test. His success leads to a confrontation with arch-enemy Meredith during a spelling bee, and Eugene must summon his alter ego, Captain Awesome. The story is slight, but a mystery superhero introduced at the end will pique readers' interest. Cartoon black-and-white illustrations appear with cruder drawings attributed to Eugene.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Captain Awesome series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. It's Halloween and Eugene and his buddy Charlie can't wait to trick-or-treat. The discovery of a particularly spooky house and a challenge from arch-enemy Meredith bring out their alter-ego superheroes. Just as the worst seems inevitable, a mystery superhero saves the day! New readers will root for the slight story's affable heroes. Black-and-white cartoons include cruder drawings attributed to Eugene.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Eugene's superhero alter ego, Captain Awesome, helps him start second grade at a new school, deal with bullies, handle his sister (a.k.a. Queen Stinkypants), make friends, and solve mysteries. Comic-book-style illustrations are punctuated by Eugene's own less-sophisticated doodles. Eugene's imaginative inner dialogue and his impulsive actions don't quite jibe, but chapter book readers will likely enjoy the hijinks. Review covers these Captain Awesome titles: Captain Awesome to the Rescue!, Captain Awesome and the New Kid, and Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Eugene's superhero alter ego, Captain Awesome, helps him start second grade at a new school, deal with bullies, handle his sister (a.k.a. Queen Stinkypants), make friends, and solve mysteries. Comic-book-style illustrations are punctuated by Eugene's own less-sophisticated doodles. Eugene's imaginative inner dialogue and his impulsive actions don't quite jibe, but chapter book readers will likely enjoy the hijinks. Review covers these Captain Awesome titles: Captain Awesome to the Rescue!, Captain Awesome and the New Kid, and Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Eugene McGillicudy (a.k.a. Captain Awesome) and sidekick Nacho Cheese Man continue their adventures while preparing for the second grade's holiday play (Wonderland) and during summer swim lessons (Dive). In each volume, Eugene loses--then regains--self-confidence. There are some unresolved, confusing confrontations, but Eugene's an apt hero for these wacky stories. Comic-book-style illustrations combine with cruder drawings attributed to the protagonist. Review covers these titles: Captain Awesome Save the Winter Wonderland and Captain Awesome Takes a Dive.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Eugene's superhero alter ego, Captain Awesome, helps him start second grade at a new school, deal with bullies, handle his sister (a.k.a. Queen Stinkypants), make friends, and solve mysteries. Comic-book-style illustrations are punctuated by Eugene's own less-sophisticated doodles. Eugene's imaginative inner dialogue and his impulsive actions don't quite jibe, but chapter book readers will likely enjoy the hijinks. Review covers these Captain Awesome titles: Captain Awesome to the Rescue!, Captain Awesome and the New Kid, and Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(2) 4-6 Chronicles of the First Invasion series. Illustrated by George O'Connor. Everyboy William, with his uncle Maynard and classmate Sophie, battles flesh-eating extraterrestrials who have kidnapped Sophie's parents. The intrepid heroes discover that the aliens are dying out...from chicken pox. Forget the aliens' nasty habit of devouring the world's population, and applaud this vessel of pure escapist fiction, complete with dandy special effects and no small measure of wish fulfillment.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2009

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by George O'Connor. Earth has been invaded. After his stepparents are eaten, William, his friend Sophie, and his uncle Maynard (who's also William's violin teacher) must rescue Sophie's parents and save the world. Even with aliens, kidnappings, and battles, the story's pace is relatively sedate, due to an overabundance of description. Fine-lined black-and-white drawings illustrate some pages.

Reviewer: Becky Levine