(3) K-3 Illustrated by Tonya Engel. One of Mexico's most beloved stories is treated both reverently and poetically in this retelling. Bernier-Grand's rich language captures the humility of the poor Aztec Juan Diego who witnessed apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in sixteenth-century Mexico. Engel's soft illustrations have a luminous feel perfectly suited to this religious miracle story.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(2) YA Viola and her family, having escaped their bleak, war-torn Sudanese village, finally settle in 2002 amidst a large Sudanese community in Portland, Maine. The free-form verse and repetitive symbolism tie this portion of Viola's life, tenuously, to her slowly receding connections to Sudan. Farish succeeds when exploring the clashes between African and American culture, yet Viola's attachment to Africa remains strong through the powerful imagery.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Mark Elliott. This joint biography parallels Jackie Robinson and Hank Greenberg--baseball players who both faced prejudice because Robinson was African American and Greenberg was Jewish. Beginning with their births, Fishman traces their careers until their fateful 1947 collision at first base, where Greenberg encouraged Robinson to ignore the heckling. Elliott's figurative art is handsome but stiff.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) YA Good girl Stella Chavez, who takes school seriously and helps her single mom care for their family, befriends the beautiful and beguiling Ruby Caroline, whose wild ways mark her as a "bad girl." Though both girls struggle with a variety of common problem-novel concerns, the author's thoughtful and nonjudgmental approach creates an engaging, authentic portrayal of female friendship.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) YA Faelin Chronicles series. Outcast twins Diello and Cynthe and two friends, a wolf pup and a goblin, travel to Embarthi, land of the Fae, to return the sword Eirian and find their sister. But after a treacherous trip, they uncover unexpected truths and must embark on yet another journey. The development of the twins' magical gifts, a rich setting, and swift-moving action keep this second book intriguing.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) YA One year after her mom's death, seventeen-year-old Anna goes on a Kerouac-inspired road trip with her best friend, Kat. The goal: find proof of God's love. As they encounter fanatic missionaries, an enraged grizzly bear, hippie boys, and wallet-stealing girls, Anna gradually begins to face her buried emotions and her feelings for Kat. The characters are honest and believable, and Hoole's writing is insightful and poignant.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) K-3 Illustrated by John Manders. Jack's father died of a broken heart after a giant stole his barbecue cookbook. Now Jack wants restitution. This Southwestern-fried "Jack and the Beanstalk" retelling expends so much effort on local (in this case, West Texas) flavor that it fails to serve a satisfying meal. Still, it's got regional appeal and is fun to read aloud. Manders's caricaturish illustrations add zing.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jaime Zollars. Noah wishes Mazel the dog could come along on his Shabbat walks with Grampa, but Grampa thinks he's too noisy. Finally he relents and concedes that "even a wiggly, jiggly, barking, bouncing dog" can find Shabbat peace. While Grampa's change of heart seems arbitrary, the book's playful text and endearing graphite/digital illustrations (Mazel is delightful) make it a good read-aloud choice.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. A spoiled little girl abandons her new doll, which then bounces from person to person before finally feeling wanted and loved. The simple language lends a touch of traditional storytelling to the narrative. Oil paintings in warm hues give the book a classic, old-fashioned feel. The story is just this side of nostalgic and manages to avoid schmaltz.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ilya Spirin. While hunting for food in the expansive Siberian forest a tiger mother is separated from her cub when a forest fire breaks out. London's lyrical narrative skillfully depicts the mother's (successful) search for her cub. Spirin's dark and expressive illustrations in watercolor, pastel, and gouache support this emotional tale. An author's note provides additional information on Siberian tigers.

Reviewer: Pearl Higgins

(4) K-3 Young vampire Asiago is excited for a trip to the beach, but he's sadly misinformed about what that might entail. Several mishaps (sunburn, a splinter, garlicky baked clams) lead Asiago to reluctantly conclude that a beach day is a bad idea for him; then his pals plan a nighttime visit. Plenty of vampire-centric gags in the text and cartoony colored-pencil illustrations bolster the slight story.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Gardening guinea pigs Nibbles and Posie find six caterpillars eating their dandelion crop. They keep them as pets--then they disappear from the jar. With some help, the pair solves the mystery (they're now butterflies). Kids already familiar with the phenomenon of metamorphosis may not sit for a second reading of this story, but the mixed-media illustrations are warm and expressive.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(2) K-3 Profiles of eight insects (and one spider) that make their own structures are presented. Each is introduced with a wonderfully close-up illustration and the question, "Where does it live?" Turn the page to see the organisms industriously building and maintaining their home. Detailed explanations on the construction techniques and purposes of the structures are interwoven with facts about each species' life cycles. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012

(2) YA In this Memento Nora sequel, Aiden, Winter, and Velvet realize that the corporation Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic will wipe out Hamilton's citizens' true memories and implant false ones to suppress independent thought and industry. The three combine their varied technological skills to thwart TFC's plot and protect their families. Written in alternating voices, this dystopic novel is quick, engaging, and colorful.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2012

(3) 1-3 In three chapters, an unlikely friendship develops between best friends, Sara and Louisa, and their odd neighbor Barry. They fight over a tire swing, have a giant snowball fight, and mourn the loss of a special tree. The vignettes are written and illustrated in a graphic-novel style, which will resonate with readers just ready for chapter books.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. Three short tales center on a spunky bunny family: the little bunnies must cope with a spilled berry pie on a trip to Grandma's; they're thrilled when baby bunny takes a first hop; and big sister must settle the younger ones down for their naps. The bouncy, playful language and energetic, humorous watercolor illustrations make these stories delightful read-alouds.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) K-3 Three mice visit a museum and observe various sculptures, appreciating shape, arrangement, dimensionality, and texture. Some sculptural terminology is introduced, and real works of art are examined--in particular, English sculptor Barbara Hepworth's Four Rectangles with Four Oblique Circles. The mice observe, sketch, and create shapes on their own. Instructions for creating paper shape sculptures and information about the featured pieces are appended.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Robert Casilla. Dolores "asks each boss to pay the workers enough money for shoes and books and medicine." Warren uses straightforward sentences to explain labor leader Huerta's efforts to help farm workers and their families get a better life. Casilla's watercolor and pastel illustrations are thoughtful--sometimes to a fault, given the over-dramatization of emotion in the characters' faces. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA Weepers series. After living more than three years in an underground bunker, Sherry and her father are forced to face the zombie-infested world to find food. Joshua saves Sherry and her family, introducing them to an aboveground sanctuary. The love story seems a bit rushed, but the final quarter of the book opens up a wide range of possibilities for a sequel.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) PS Illustrated by Violet Kim. A little monkey repeatedly affirms that today--April 22--is his birthday. The other jungle animals, knowing it to be Earth Day, don't believe him, instead relating, in jaunty rhyme, the special things to do for the planet. The misunderstanding is almost beside the point in this entertaining tale with lively mixed-media art, useful for Earth Day celebrations.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz