(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jason Ford. Earth narrates its life story (framed as the transcript of an audio interview), from the Big Bang to the present day. Lund writes in a chatty style, "as the universe grew, it cooled down, and stuff started to form." At almost two hundred pages, this heavily illustrated book includes a great deal of information; sidebars and color-coding help keep track of the passage of time and changes to Earth and its inhabitants. In the final sections, Earth calls on readers to take steps to help the planet and to protect its diversity of life. Back matter includes a pronunciation guide, list of further resources, and an index (unseen).

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Julie Benbassat. Over sixty unusually named animals are grouped by such descriptors as "magical," "fierce," and "delicious." In addition to the usual suspects (naked mole rat), plenty of less-well-known species--including the long-wattled umbrellabird and striped pyjama squid--broaden the book's appeal. Illustrations and photographs enliven the pages, which include solid information about each animal's habitat, behaviors, and physiology. Discussion about species naming protocol will be appreciated by interested readers. Conservation organization websites are listed; a glossary is appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Striking portraits of boys, ages four to nineteen, are paired with brief quotes from the subjects; the whole provides insight into the variety of ways (western) boys see and express themselves. Lack of information (beyond the quotes) about the individuals is disappointing, but the book's value comes from the expansive definition of boyhood.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) 4-6 Spy on History series. Illustrated by Scott Wegener. This novel, with occasional comics-style illustrations, covers the fascinating history of the Ghost Army: the group of American sound engineers and artists, including Sergeant Victor Dowd, that deceived the Germans in WWII by setting up elaborate fake tanks and troops. An attached envelope contains spycraft materials, which add extra hands-on appeal as readers solve a hidden mystery; historical note appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Cara Bean. Each of twenty familiar elements (helium, carbon, sodium, etc.) is explored in a chapter offering detailed information on its characteristics, discovery, uses, and relationships to other elements represented in the periodic table. Sidebars introduce additional general chemistry concepts, and appropriate activities allow readers to experiment. The final chapter covers a "Dirty Dozen" elements deadly to humans. Cartoonlike illustrations and a chipper narrative voice lighten the book's tone. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Spy on History series. Illustrated by Tony Cliff. This historical thriller--enhanced by engaging graphic novel–style illustrations and thoughtful design--tells the true story of Mary Bowser. An African American spy for the Union, Bowser worked as a maid in the home of Confederate president Jefferson Davis. A sealed envelope affixed to the book contains code-cracking tools readers can use to solve a mystery hidden within the text. Biographical and historical notes appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Meg Hunt. Nine fictional sixteen-year-old girls (all good friends) at camp share personal questions, experiences, health tips, and insecurities as their bodies, relationships, and emotions change. They gather their discoveries in "The Book," intended to be passed along to next summer's twelve-year-old campers. Anecdotes, notes, diagrams, doodles, and other marginalia accompany the informal text, which emphasizes self-acceptance and kindness.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Dramatic photos of real girls are paired with stirring quotes from each photo's subject that speak to her unique form of strength, frequently related to athletics, self-expression, confounding expectations, or overcoming adversity. The images are stirring and beautifully composed, the quotes intriguing and inspirational, but absent any context or information about the featured girls, the ultimate effect is somewhat hollow.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Laura Cornell. An Asian American teacher tells her diverse group of students about the items her immigrant great-grandmother brought to the U.S.; she invites each student to list the objects he or she would pack (and readers are invited to fill a pop-up suitcase at book's end). Curtis's sunny messages about immigration, identity, and familial roots buoy the unremarkable rhymes. Cornell's watercolors are filled with zany details.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Tom Mead. Supposed true stories of cryptids teach young readers to survive the North American wilderness. The twenty short tales of fearsome creatures inspired by American folklore read like the guidebook of an eccentric monster hunter. Johnson's snarky humor lightens the weird and genuinely scary stories; readers of all ages will cower at Mead's creepy glow-in-the-dark illustrations. An appendix contains "facts" about each creature.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(2) YA Kidd makes graphic design immediate and accessible to middle schoolers and up by posing questions and answering them in engaging ways. The first four chapters--"Form," "Typography," "Content," "Concept"--tackle design essentials and some advanced ideas. The final chapter presents "10 Design Projects." The book's inside back cover provides resources including websites, museums, and design organizations.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(3) YA Illustrated by Frank Stockton. The decline of fish populations, due to overfishing, pollution, and global warming, is a major environmental concern. Kurlansky digs deeply and engagingly into the history and science of the issue and provides important recommendations for sustainable fishing (the scientific terminology is very occasionally imprecise). Each chapter ends with a comic that imagines the impact of fish extinctions over a human's lifetime. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 In this unabashed tribute to all things cow, Boynton packs her pages with bovine stories, jokes, limericks, hidden cow pictures, comics, poems, and songs (including "It Had to Be Moo"). Offbeat silliness infuses the volume, overflowing with an abundance of cow wordplay and "udder absurdity." Boynton fans won't be disappointed by her trademark style and quirkiness here on full display.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) YA This engaging title challenges readers to follow a timeline of scientific discovery, first by learning and then by doing. From the Stone Age and the creation of tools to the present-day study of the Big Bang theory, this thorough introduction presents the whys, whos, and hows of innovation, followed by scientific experiments for hands-on learning. Budding scientists will enjoy this clever offering.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) 4-6 This goofy, creative collection of "twimericks" is an attempt to put tongue twisters and limericks together. It achieves some success, though extra syllables disrupt the rhythm of many of the poems. Despite that, all are silly, funny, and will entertain young readers and tongue-twister reciters. Brooks's zany illustrations add to the enjoyment.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) 4-6 Photographs by Mary Dowdle. This comprehensive volume offers a wide array of information, ranging from the technical aspects of performance (warming up, vocal projection, and faking combat and kisses) to establishing and maintaining an acting career (which includes getting an agent and finding work). Filled with black-and-white photos of, and commentary from, young actors, the book has a kid-friendly appeal. Unfortunately, most of the photos are murky. Bib.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) PS Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre. Powered by Super Milk and sometimes transported by the cow who jumps over the moon, this charmingly childlike superhero comes to the aid of fussy babies and their distraught parents everywhere. The board book's winning premise is illustrated by friendly cartoons, which depict Supercat performing such greatly appreciated feats as lifting a couch over his head to find a missing blankie.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann