(4) K-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. The early chapter book series about enthusiastic seven-year-old Sofia Martinez and her family is now available in Spanish (Spanish phrases were peppered throughout the previous English editions). Sofia's heart and cleverness is endearing but not really enough to raise the stakes in the lightweight stories. Bright color spot art captures Sofia's energy. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: A oscuras, Cantante súper estrella, and La receta secreta.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. The early chapter book series about enthusiastic seven-year-old Sofia Martinez and her family is now available in Spanish (Spanish phrases were peppered throughout the previous English editions). Sofia's heart and cleverness is endearing but not really enough to raise the stakes in the lightweight stories. Bright color spot art captures Sofia's energy. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: A oscuras, Cantante súper estrella, and La receta secreta.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. The early chapter book series about enthusiastic seven-year-old Sofia Martinez and her family is now available in Spanish (Spanish phrases were peppered throughout the previous English editions). Sofia's heart and cleverness is endearing but not really enough to raise the stakes in the lightweight stories. Bright color spot art captures Sofia's energy. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: A oscuras, Cantante súper estrella, and La receta secreta.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) K-3 Pop Classics series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Elliott and siblings hide their new extraterrestrial friend until he can find a way home(E.T.). A young Dana Scully and scaredy-cat friend Fox Mulder encounter aliens while backyard camping (X-Files). Nostalgic parents will most enjoy these bland pop-culture picture books, a retelling of the classic eighties film and a takeoff on characters from the nineties sci-fi show. Smith's slick art cartoonishly depicts the iconic characters. Review covers these Pop Classics titles: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The X-Files.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Pop Classics series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Elliott and siblings hide their new extraterrestrial friend until he can find a way home(E.T.). A young Dana Scully and scaredy-cat friend Fox Mulder encounter aliens while backyard camping (X-Files). Nostalgic parents will most enjoy these bland pop-culture picture books, a retelling of the classic eighties film and a takeoff on characters from the nineties sci-fi show. Smith's slick art cartoonishly depicts the iconic characters. Review covers these Pop Classics titles: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The X-Files.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kim Smith. In the town of Strictville, no fun is allowed. But when hundreds of puppies show up, all bets are off. The amusing digital illustrations feature the townspeople trying to get rid of the puppies by throwing them sticks and feeding them. Eventually, a young boy named Teddy demonstrates for everyone that puppies aren't scary but are, in fact, quite adorable and worth keeping around.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. In Sofia's large Hispanic family, even a mundane event--here building a time capsule (Abuela's) and shopping for school supplies (Shopping)--can cause excitement. Though the stories' initial scenarios are amusing, the light plots are low-stakes. The accessible English texts are peppered with Spanish words in pink type and amusingly illustrated. Discussion and writing prompts are appended. Glos. Review covers these Sofia Martinez titles: Abuela's Special Letters and Shopping Trip Trouble.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kim Smith. Hockey lover Jay Roberts lives in Parry Sound, Ontario, home of his hero, Bobby Orr. Jay is tested during his sixth-grade year by a bullying teammate and a saxophone he must somehow learn to play. Jay's first-person narration of trials and tribulations is appealing and humorous; his hockey skills and his struggles with the sax reassure readers that everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) PS Illustrated by Kim Smith. This rhyming story features a robot adult and child in a creative twist on the adult-wrangles-child bedtime ritual. "Still so energized and wired! / Little Bot--why aren't you tired? / Comb your circuits. / Brush your bolts. / Plug you in. / Recharge your volts." Entertaining digital illustrations showcase a brightly colored space-age household where even the pets are robots.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kim Smith. In a bouncy rhyming text, a new youth soccer team bombards their patient coach with questions and concerns, "Who's in? What now? Which side? / We chase the ball. We all... / collide." Digitally created cartoon illustrations display the season's satisfying progression, from bumbling little kids running the wrong way with bonked noses and loose shorts to a team of passing, kicking, scoring soccer players.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Seven-year-old Sofia's enthusiasm can have unexpected results for her Hispanic American family, such as when she won't stop singing (Superstar) or when she mistakes salt for sugar while cooking arroz con leche (Recipe). Smith's color illustrations make Sofia's energy endearing, but the stories are weakened when they are resolved too easily. Spanish phrases peppered liberally throughout (in pink font) are defined in glossaries. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Secret Recipe and Singing Superstar.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Seven-year-old Sofia's enthusiasm can have unexpected results for her Hispanic American family, such as when she won't stop singing (Superstar) or when she mistakes salt for sugar while cooking arroz con leche (Recipe). Smith's color illustrations make Sofia's energy endearing, but the stories are weakened when they are resolved too easily. Spanish phrases peppered liberally throughout (in pink font) are defined in glossaries. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Secret Recipe and Singing Superstar.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Whether Sofia is saving the day with the board games she packed for the (rainy) beach trip or finding a unique way to illuminate her family's house during a power outage, the young Hispanic American girl "always make[s] things interesting." Still, Sofia's spunk and cleverness aren't really enough to raise the stakes in these lightweight stories. Spanish phrases are peppered liberally throughout. Glos. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Beach Trip and Lights Out.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 1-3 Sofia Martinez series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Whether Sofia is saving the day with the board games she packed for the (rainy) beach trip or finding a unique way to illuminate her family's house during a power outage, the young Hispanic American girl "always make[s] things interesting." Still, Sofia's spunk and cleverness aren't really enough to raise the stakes in these lightweight stories. Spanish phrases are peppered liberally throughout. Glos. Review covers the following Sofia Martinez titles: The Beach Trip and Lights Out.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kim Smith. In this modern incarnation of the song, four grown siblings and their own families make their way to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Thanksgiving. They start on different modes of transportation, but obstacles lead to them all arriving in the same horse-drawn sleigh. Lively illustrations depict a genial, diverse family. Verses can be sung to the traditional tune; music not included.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kim Smith. A backpack-wearing cartoon boy invites readers to join him on a varied trip around the world, visiting friends in thirteen countries and partaking in bustling events such as Carnival and Botswana Day. Each spread shows a map with the country's animals and informative insets depicting the boy's host family; a flag; and scenes of food, architecture, or activities. A final spread reviews the trip.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) 1-3 Ghost and Max Monroe series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Mystery writer Rhoda Remington receives an ominous note. Once again it's up to Max and his bumbling, ghostly great-uncle Larry to save the day. Short chapters divided by subheadings propel the simple mystery plot filled with alliteratively titled characters and obvious clues. New chapter-book readers will appreciate the illustrations and easy-to-follow design, even if some outdated references fly over their heads.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 1-3 Ghost and Max Monroe series. Illustrated by Kim Smith. Max and his bumbling great-uncle Larry, a ghost, are back for another case--this one involving a giant veggie stolen from the fair. Chapters are subdivided with headings, and cartoonish black-and-white illustrations and large-font text are laid out nicely for new readers. Larry's frantic, easily distracted nature provides lots of laughs but sometimes interrupts the narrative flow of this accessible mystery.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kim Smith. AHHHHHHH!!! Did they have to try to shoehorn the classic holiday film into a picture book format? Actually, the result isn't bad. The writing, which describes the indoor adventures of young Kevin, whose family members forget him when they leave town a few days before Christmas, isn't much more imaginative than stage directions, but Smith captures the film's holiday-glossy mischief.

Reviewer: Nell Beram