(3) K-3 Illustrated by Phil. Early morning on an unidentified northern lake, the narrator and another camper (presumably a sibling) wake before the others and go out in their canoe; they listen "to the laughter of a loon," spot "a moose on long gangly legs," and ultimately land a trout for the "best breakfast ever." Scratchy acrylic paintings on wood are perfectly matched to the quiet, descriptive free verse.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Friday Barnes Mysteries series. Illustrated by Phil Gosier. In the third installment (Friday Barnes, Girl Detective; Friday Barnes, Under Suspicion), brainy sleuth Friday and her sidekick, boarding-school roommate Melanie, uncover the identity of a campus thief, save a Norwegian princess, foil multiple cheating scams, and (of course) continue to obsess over frenemy classmate Ian. The appearance of Friday's clueless physicist parents adds humor and even more clever dialogue to the series.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) 4-6 Friday Barnes Mysteries series. Illustrated by Phil Gosier. Book four in this humorous mystery series picks right up following Big Trouble, with sleuth Friday deported to Switzerland and untangling various immigration snafus. She returns to save frenemy Ian from scandal and determine who is pranking the entire boarding school. Friday's quirky brain remains sharp in this hilarious romp, and the black-and-white cartoon illustrations continue to accentuate the caper's lighter side.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) 4-6 Star Wars: The Last Jedi series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Rose Tico and her older sister, Paige, help crew the Resistance bomber Hammer. During a recon spy mission to the Atterra system, local freedom fighters ask for their help, risking war with the powerful First Order. Wein's succinctly written story directly precedes The Last Jedi film and compellingly develops the siblings' bond, enhancing Rose's tragic backstory. Three black-and-white illustration spreads highlighting key moments are included.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Phil McAndrew. This clever book discusses whether Frankenstein's monster, vampires, bigfoot, zombies, werewolves, and sea monsters could really exist. Interweaving historical and current facts and stories with clearly explained science (in Frankenstein's case: genetic engineering, electricity, and the nervous system), Becker creates a wonderfully accessible, lively book. Loaded with sidebars, cartoon illustrations, diagrams, maps, and charts for kids to pore over. Ind.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Phil McAndrew. In this goofy graphic novel, Caveboy Dave and his cohort have reached their coming-of-age as hunters, but Dave has more ideas for inventions than he has muscles. Scatological humor and STEM concepts abound, and the kids achieve success--their way. The characters are familiar (the wimp, the overachieving girl, the golden boy), but entertaining dialogue and skillful illustrations keep the book feeling fresh.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Phil Gosier. Brilliant, quirky Friday has a knack for solving crimes, which comes in handy when she enrolls herself (as the "unexpected" youngest of five, she "largely raised herself") into an elite boarding school that is surprisingly teeming with petty crime. Friday's creative sleuthing and amusingly odd classmates are brought to life by angular black-and-white cartoon illustrations that nicely complement her humor and heart.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Phil Gosier. Super sleuth Friday (Friday Barnes, Girl Detective), still a misfit at fancy Highcrest Academy, is framed for a crime and solves increasingly bizarre ones while balancing her love/hate relationship with frenemy Ian. Comical, angular sketches of the spoiled students and ridiculous headmaster continue to be a main strength of the eccentric series. An intriguing cliffhanger ending sets up the next installment.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Franchise fans hungry for female heroes will relish Moving Target, in which Leia undertakes a decoy mission after the Rebel Alliance is ousted from Hoth. In Smuggler's Run, an old smuggler relates a story he's heard about Han Solo and Chewbacca (savvy fans will guess the man's identity). Occasional black-and-white, red-accented illustrations accompany the quick-paced tales featuring strongly developed characters. Review covers these Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens titles: Moving Target and Smuggler's Run.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Franchise fans hungry for female heroes will relish Moving Target, in which Leia undertakes a decoy mission after the Rebel Alliance is ousted from Hoth. In Smuggler's Run, an old smuggler relates a story he's heard about Han Solo and Chewbacca (savvy fans will guess the man's identity). Occasional black-and-white, red-accented illustrations accompany the quick-paced tales featuring strongly developed characters. Review covers these Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens titles: Moving Target and Smuggler's Run.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Phil Lesnie. At the start of this Australia-set story, shepherd Tom and his new wife, Cherry, are happy. Then Tom is sent to fight in WWI and killed. A stranger (presumably "the enemy") returns Tom's coat, which Cherry had made with wool from Tom's sheep; now she uses the material to make a toy lamb for Tom's baby. The gentle watercolors soften this bittersweet, somewhat sophisticated rhyming story.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Phil Wilson. Eleven brief profiles of prehistoric animals that coexisted with dinosaurs give information about the flying and swimming creatures' anatomies, possible behaviors, and habitats, as well as how to pronounce their satisfyingly long scientific names. The excellent illustrations capture the featured animals in exciting and realistic action as they swoop, dive, rise from the water, and capture prey.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Phil Huling. In this Spanish-language version of his Cactus Soup, Kimmel sets "Stone Soup" in revolutionary Mexico. When a group of soldiers comes to town, the inhabitants hide their food, but the clever captain tricks them into bringing out their snacks and having a party. The Spanish text is read-aloud ready, and the desert-hued watercolor and ink illustrations perfectly communicate mood and setting.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(2) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Phil Wilson. It was not a good day for the dinosaurs when an asteroid hit Earth. It's a good one for emergent readers, however, who get to relish the gruesome--yet factually accurate and realistic--death and destruction. Tyrannosaurus is incinerated, for example, and others are felled by burning rocks. The color illustrations pull no punches in matching the heightened drama of the text.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2006

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Phil Wilson. Every child knows about dinosaurs, but fewer know about prehistoric mammals like the hyracotherium or the macrauchenia. A brief factual introduction sets the scene, then short passages describe eleven creatures that evolved after the dinosaurs' demise (including Homo sapiens). Each double-page spread includes a pronunciation guide and presents interesting facts about the mammal. Full-color illustrations show these amazing creatures in action.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Phil Wilson. The life cycle of the Pteranodon, an ancient flying reptile, is described accurately and clearly in this fictionalization focusing on the perils faced by this now-extinct creature. Pteranodon is attacked by dinosaur and marine reptile predators but manages to survive to father his own offspring. Full-page, sharply etched illustrations provide vivid images of the animals and action.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Phil Huling. A fast-moving narrative rich in Spanish vocabulary and generous with opportunities for audience participation deftly sets "Stone Soup" in Mexico during the Revolution. Bright watercolors create a vibrant setting bursting with yellows, oranges, greens, and browns that reflect the countryside and the hot tempo of the final fiesta. Appended with a glossary of Spanish words.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2005

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Phil Huling. The basic plot follows Perrault's; however, the Hulings' retelling is set in Texas and is filled with country expressions spoken with a Southwestern twang. The sleek illustrations give Puss and the other characters a long, lean look. Cheekily reminiscent of Thomas Hart Benton (and once with a wink at Manet), the sophisticated art is an effective counterpoint to the down-home storytelling.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2002

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Phil Boatwright. An early-nineteenth-century family moves from New York to what is now central Ohio and struggles to make a home in the dense forest. The clear, informative text and evocative illustrations combine to provide lots of opportunities for discussion about life in a long-ago era.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn