(3) K-3 Illustrated by Turine Tran. Pando, a massive aspen grove in Utah, is "one of the biggest / living things in the world." The forty-seven thousand trees on 106 acres are linked through their root system, which surfaces and produces "clone" trees. The spare free-verse text introduces readers to this natural wonder, estimated to be twelve thousand years old. Fox effectively provides context for the massive numbers (e.g. Pando's size and age) to aid in comprehension. Particular attention is paid to how human behavior has changed Pando's environment and is threatening the organism's survival. Matching the text's reverence, Tran's delicately rendered illustrations glow with rich browns, golds, and greens. A glossary, "How You Can Help," and a bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(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.

(3) 1-3 Ginger Green, Playdate Queen series. Illustrated by Jon Davis. In these early chapter books, fox Ginger handles playdate obstacles, including friends who don't play nice. Ginger navigates sticky social situations with grace by providing examples of fair play. One of Ginger's friends is described as "crazy," when rowdy or rule-breaking would have been a more apt description. Davis's monochromatic purple illustrations capture the energy and conflict of each playdate. Glos. Review covers these Ginger Green, Playdate Queen titles: The Clever Friend, The Crazy Friend, The Fancy Friend, and The Only Friend.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) 1-3 Ginger Green, Playdate Queen series. Illustrated by Jon Davis. In these early chapter books, fox Ginger handles playdate obstacles, including friends who don't play nice. Ginger navigates sticky social situations with grace by providing examples of fair play. One of Ginger's friends is described as "crazy," when rowdy or rule-breaking would have been a more apt description. Davis's monochromatic purple illustrations capture the energy and conflict of each playdate. Glos. Review covers these Ginger Green, Playdate Queen titles: The Clever Friend, The Crazy Friend, The Fancy Friend, and The Only Friend.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) K-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. The early chapter book series starring first grader Pedro (classmate of Manushkin's Katie Woo character) is now available in Spanish. Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Pedro titles: El club de los misterios de Pedro and El Golazo de Pedro.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) K-3 Pedro series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. The early chapter book series starring first grader Pedro (classmate of Manushkin's Katie Woo character) is now available in Spanish. Expressive full-color illustrations and wide leading will aid beginning readers, who should readily connect to Pedro's spunk and personality. Writing prompts and discussion questions are appended. Spanish texts not evaluated. Review covers these Pedro titles: El club de los misterios de Pedro and El Golazo de Pedro.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 1-3 Squishy Taylor series. Illustrated by Ben Wood. Squishy Taylor loves "weird stuff"--good thing there are plenty of weird goings-on in her apartment building. Each installment depicts Squishy and her "bonus sisters" attempting to solve a facile resident-related mystery. Moral conundrums (e.g., keeping secrets from parents, proving oneself to doubting adults) are lightly explored. The texts include generic spot art and random phrases in bold. Writing prompts and discussion questions appended. Glos. Review covers these Squishy Taylor titles: Squishy Taylor and a Question of Trust, Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters, Squishy Taylor and the Tunnel of Doom, and Squishy Taylor in Zero Gravity.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 1-3 Squishy Taylor series. Illustrated by Ben Wood. Squishy Taylor loves "weird stuff"--good thing there are plenty of weird goings-on in her apartment building. Each installment depicts Squishy and her "bonus sisters" attempting to solve a facile resident-related mystery. Moral conundrums (e.g., keeping secrets from parents, proving oneself to doubting adults) are lightly explored. The texts include generic spot art and random phrases in bold. Writing prompts and discussion questions appended. Glos. Review covers these Squishy Taylor titles: Squishy Taylor and a Question of Trust, Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters, Squishy Taylor and the Tunnel of Doom, and Squishy Taylor in Zero Gravity.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) K-3 Katie Woo's Joke Books series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Characters from Fran Manushkin's Katie Woo early chapter books appear in these volumes of mostly wordplay-based jokes. They include plenty of old groaners that will likely still be new to primary-aged budding comedians; it is also well suited to emerging readers, with copious (sometimes boldly colored) background space amid the cheery illustrations. "How to Tell a Joke" tips are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Katie Woo's Joke Books series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Characters from Fran Manushkin's Katie Woo early chapter books appear in these volumes of mostly wordplay-based jokes. They include plenty of old groaners that will likely still be new to primary-aged budding comedians; it is also well suited to emerging readers, with copious (sometimes boldly colored) background space amid the cheery illustrations. "How to Tell a Joke" tips are appended.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Curious Pearl, Science Girl 4D series. Illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin. On a weekend trip to the lake, Pearl and friends Sabina and Sal consider the ways in which light interacts with everyday materials. Readers can use the publisher's downloadable "4D app" to augment the information about sources of light, reflection, and color. Despite the frame story's awkward illustrations and dialogue, the kids' scientific-observation techniques are solid. A science activity is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Curious Pearl, Science Girl 4D series. Illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin. Pearl and friend Sal investigate earth science concepts related to the position of the sun and earth by making observations and modeling the geometry with a globe and light bulb. Despite the frame story's awkward illustrations and dialogue, the kids' scientific-observation techniques are solid. Readers can use the publisher's downloadable "4D app" to augment the information. A science activity is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 1-3 Curious McCarthy series. Illustrated by Mina Price. In these chapter books, a large family's chaos provides ample fodder for observant middle child Curious McCarthy, whether she's studying family "chemistry" after their father gets a temp job or investigating electricity during a blackout. A likable, footnote-using narrator and the charming family of abundant siblings outweigh the self-conscious writing and uneven digital illustrations. The books include extension activities and discussion questions. Reading list. Glos. review covers these Curious McCarthy titles: Curious McCarthy's Electric Ideas and Curious McCarthy's Family Chemistry.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 1-3 Curious McCarthy series. Illustrated by Mina Price. In these chapter books, a large family's chaos provides ample fodder for observant middle child Curious McCarthy, whether she's studying family "chemistry" after their father gets a temp job or investigating electricity during a blackout. A likable, footnote-using narrator and the charming family of abundant siblings outweigh the self-conscious writing and uneven digital illustrations. The books include extension activities and discussion questions. Reading list. Glos. review covers these Curious McCarthy titles: Curious McCarthy's Electric Ideas and Curious McCarthy's Family Chemistry.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) K-3 Seeking Refuge series. Illustrated by Salvador Maldonado. Each book offers a first-person account of a refugee child's separation from family due to hardship or war: Ali leaves Afghanistan with his grandma as his parents stay behind, while Juliane endures a painful separation from her mother in Zimbabwe before they leave the country together. Despite the odd, sometimes disjointed digital images, simple storytelling makes these texts relatable to young readers. Review covers these Seeking Refuge titles: Ali's Story and Juliane's Story.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Seeking Refuge series. Illustrated by Karl Hammond. Each book offers a first-person account of a refugee child's separation from family due to hardship or war: Ali leaves Afghanistan with his grandma as his parents stay behind, while Juliane endures a painful separation from her mother in Zimbabwe before they leave the country together. Despite the odd, sometimes disjointed digital images, simple storytelling makes these texts relatable to young readers. Review covers these Seeking Refuge titles: Ali's Story and Juliane's Story.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Elina Ellis. There's "constant tattling, all day long" by bird Miles (and classmates), so giraffe teacher Mrs. Snitcher starts a weeklong "tattle battle" to cure the problem. When his sister gets hurt at home, Miles finally learns the difference between tattling and helping. It's a slightly preachy but effective lesson for children needing guidance, and inviting white space juxtaposed with bright illustrations adds appeal.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(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