(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bert Dodson. Loose, sometimes sloppy watercolors illustrate this text-heavy picture book describing Lincoln's reliance on and love for his horse, Old Bob. The long-winded but informative narrative emphasizes Old Abe's affection for animals, summarizes the important events of the Civil War, and ends with the assassinated president's funeral procession--a rider-less Old Bob "escorting his master on the final ride home."

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kathie Kelleher. Fu Manchu, a real-life escape artist, picks the lock on his enclosure and leads his fellow orangutans on a spree to the elephant pen. Zookeeper Jerry threatens to fire his staff until he discovers how Fu keeps doing it. The text, though occasionally infelicitous, is nonetheless highly engaging, and serviceable full-page illustrations portray Fu's exploits. An intriguing author's note considers ape intelligence.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) YA It's 1970 and Nicky, growing up in the Bronx, has come to see the world as "us" (the whites who live in his apartment complex) vs. "them" (hippies, Vietnam protestors, racial minorities). But when he discovers a secret about his new friend Lester, Nicky is forced to reevaluate his own prejudices. Although it can verge on preachy, this historical novel offers evocative details.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne. Two cartoon mice guide readers through the Hall of Human Origins at the American Museum of Natural History. Each overly crowded double-page spread features a brief explanation of topics such as evolution, DNA, and early humans. Readers who can navigate the dizzying array of diagrams, dialogue bubbles, and captioned photographs will learn some solid information. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Bert Dodson. In this gentle memoir, journalist Paine describes his exploits as a nine-year-old boy taking care of his pet pig in 1932 then-rural Brookline, Massachusetts (now a Boston suburb). While the tone tends toward instruction rather than entertainment, the slow, episodic pacing and pastoral viewpoint may, in the right hands, find an appreciative audience.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz