(4) PS Illustrated by Chris Saunders. Declarative statements ("God's great love for you is...perfect") offers reassurance, if not much substance, about the breadth and depth of God's love. The spare text--usually just a phrase on each spread--is set against Saunders's luminous, saturated paintings depicting a girl and a dove navigating a variety of landscapes and spiritual states.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(2) PS Words by Linda Zuckerman. A selection of Freeman's illustrations (unpublished prior to the original edition's publication) is given surprising coherence and unity by the theme of the simple, ingenuous rhymed text. "What do you see when you look outside? / A pigeon / Some penguins / The world so wide." Freeman's spontaneity, gentle humor, and freshness of color are all on display.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: June, 1980

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Vero Leland has never been a normal boy, but the discovery that he is a guardian-angel-in-training only makes him feel more like an outcast. He must begin angel school while trying to balance his one earthly life. Molinari injects a hero quest into a fresh setting in this fast-paced but sometimes didactic tale, book one in a series.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) PS Illustrated by Jane Chapman. The animals on Noah's ark have trouble sleeping with a storm raging, so they, one pair at a time, join Noah in his bed. When the skunks spray the whole bunch, they return to their straw and Noah sings them to sleep. The book adds little new to the familiar story or the bedtime-book genre, but both the rhymes and illustrations are pleasant.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) YA The trip to Lake Geneva was supposed to be a carefree vacation for Cooper, Hiro, Gordy, and Lunk (Code of Silence; Back Before Dark). No mysteries. No trouble. Then the group witnesses what might be a murder, and suddenly they are sucked back into another dangerous adventure. The story, though suffering from a sluggish pace and some didacticism, builds in intensity and stakes.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Game Face series. Eighth grader Chase's hard work pays off when he is pulled up to play on the varsity football team with his best friend, Tripp. But when Tripp blacks out during a game, Chase is torn between reporting the concussion and risking his friendship. This series-opener plods along at points and its dialogue is stiff, but the action picks up during the football scenes.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Unpopular science-geek middle schooler Howard Boward decides to literally make a new friend, creating a loyal monster from "wonder putty," animal hair, and a jolt of electricity. Trouble follows when the popular kids want their own "Franklin Stine." The offbeat humor and Franklin's genuine kindness elevate the story's message of valuing friendship over popularity.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 After her parents die unexpectedly, twelve-year-old Andi moves to rural Ohio to live with her aunt in Andi's father's childhood home. Andi finds a chest with her own name on it filled with Depression-era baby clothing. Her quest to uncover information about the baby connects her with her family, her heritage, and her new neighbors in this quiet but steadily paced mystery.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(3) K-3 Next Door series. Illustrated by Gene Barretta. When five unruly pirates buy the farm next door, the narrator observes that, while her mom is appalled, her dad helps them unload their trunks, fix their boat, etc. An author's note explains that the Bible verse "Love your neighbor as yourself" guides this story, but Fretz preaches quietly. The illustrations are unspectacular but capture some of the story's broad comedy. Glos.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Sisters in All Seasons series. After years of angst and adjustment, stepsisters Diana and Stephanie are finally growing closer. Their sisterly bond serves them well as they face greater challenges: a grandmother's illness, a brother's car accident, and parents' marital troubles. Although these concluding volumes continue to suffer from clunky dialogue, Kline's continued, consistently realistic attention to the emotional details of this blended family is admirable. Review covers these Sisters in All Seasons titles: Season of Change and Winter's Tide.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(4) 4-6 Sisters in All Seasons series. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(4) 4-6 Self-proclaimed "unwanted and misunderstood" orphan Wilma Sue finds herself embroiled in a series of mishaps at her new foster home. Two offbeat spinster sisters take in Wilma Sue and encourage her imagination through cake-baking and chicken-coop-tending. Though the ending is somewhat saccharine, this is a satisfyingly quirky tale of finding magic in unexpected places and the power of hope and acceptance.

Reviewer: Lauren Kim

(4) YA In this sequel to Code of Silence, Gordy is kidnapped and his friends Hiro, Cooper, and Lunk decide to take his rescue into their own hands. While the suspense is vitiated by an excess of description and a slow pace, Shoemaker raises interesting questions about law and morality as the friends find themselves resorting to dubious means to catch the criminal.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(4) K-3 Performed and narrated by Rebecca St. James. Vojtech pairs luminous but sentimental illustrations with the lyrics to the old English Christmas carol in this picture book/CD package. Donkey, cow, sheep, camel, and dove all sport satisfied expressions, proud of their part in welcoming the baby Jesus. Rebecca St. James’s recording includes spoken narration of the carol, a musical rendition, and an additional song; sheet music is included.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Sisters in All Seasons series. Stepsisters return for another adventure in blended family vacationing, here on a Grand Cayman cruise. An insensitive cousin threatens Diana and Stephanie's tentative bond, and all three girls court trouble when they find a smuggled iguana on board. Animal hijinks and familial tensions wrap up tidily with plenty of lessons learned: an entertaining and gently moral addition to the series.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(4) 4-6 Sisters in All Seasons series. Stepsisters Diana and Stephanie couldn't be more different. Flung together on vacations with their newlywed parents, the new siblings must figure out their relationship while dealing with drama about animals in the area. Although the dialogue is often too stiff and the plots overly moralistic, the character development of the two girls as individuals facing a difficult transition is well done. Review covers these Sisters in All Seasons titles: Summer of the Wolves and Wild Horse Spring.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Sisters in All Seasons series. Stepsisters Diana and Stephanie couldn't be more different. Flung together on vacations with their newlywed parents, the new siblings must figure out their relationship while dealing with drama about animals in the area. Although the dialogue is often too stiff and the plots overly moralistic, the character development of the two girls as individuals facing a difficult transition is well done. Review covers these Sisters in All Seasons titles: Summer of the Wolves and Wild Horse Spring.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jago. Over one hundred daily devotions for children are presented on handsomely illustrated spreads, each one elucidating a biblical passage with conversational text and child-friendly images. Christian families may find this to be a helpful tool to teach children simple wisdoms such as "if Jesus can calm a storm on a lake, he can calm the storm in your heart."

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Commentary by Rick Warren. The Protestant version of the Lord's Prayer is illustrated with vibrantly colored, elaborate (and somewhat fussy) paintings featuring children of many races. The pictures include expected religious images such as rainbows, lions, lambs, and doves. Mega-church leader Rick Warren provides an introduction. This is a rather unimaginative but pleasant enough addition to religion collections.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Gretchen Moore. These fourteen prayers offer a child different ways to talk to God about things he or she is thankful for and to ask for His care and blessings. Two of the pieces were written by Hopkins; most are from anonymous sources. Cheery but unremarkable illustrations show children of different ethnicities, most with mouths open in delight.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth