(3) K-3 Buzz and Fly Guy are excited to embark on a school field trip, only to find out they're visiting a fly swatter factory. Readers will appreciate the hilarity that naturally ensues when the gregarious fly encounters his arch nemesis: Super Swatter 6000. Easy-to-read font, simple vocabulary, and a humorous story line provide ample entertainment for emergent readers.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) 4-6 Clockwork Dark series. In this installment, set at the Chicago World's Fair, the characters seek to destroy the Magog and his evil machine. As each person overcomes his or her own "black clockworks," they build the strength and resolve to defeat the villain together. Bemis continues to unite Southern folklore and steampunk fantasy as readers are carried along on a journey of suspense and intrigue.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) K-3 Charismatic and humorously overconfident dog Max Spaniel brings readers along to his dog show where Max does anything but bark, shake hands, and roll over: "There are many dogs in the show, but there is only one me." Zippy jokes and wild-and-crazy illustrations will make readers root for the wacky pup.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) 4-6 Epic Adventures series. This series touches on various historical adventures, from the mountainous treks up Everest, K2, McKinley, and Eiger (Climbs) to the explorations of Magellan, Cook, and Chichester (Voyages). Informative and accessible, each book contains archival images, detailed maps, and poster-size foldout pages that, in turn, add interest and variation to the texts. Glos., ind. Review covers these Epic Adventures titles: Epic Climbs and Epic Voyages.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) 4-6 Invisible Order series. In this Rise of the Darklings sequel, Emily and her friends are transported back to 1666 London. Hoping to prevent the Great Fire--as well as the looming conflagration between fey and humans--Emily allies herself with key historical figures who are members of the Invisible Order. At times the plot threads are too complicated with details, stalling momentum.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) YA People's History series. This informative and entertaining volume recounts the history of American teenagerdom. Originally considered to be "young vagabonds," American teens defined the culture of their times, from the 1920s Jazz Age to the Digital Age of the 1980s and 1990s. The text celebrates the vulnerability and passions of America's youth and its ability to implement change. Well-chosen photographs enhance the presentation. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) YA Lucky Z's poetry journal reveals snapshots of his life--his mother's cancer death, his soldier father's breakdown, a drag-racing accident that leaves the teen in a wheelchair, a bully's attack, etc. The writing is highly imagistic, with a few of the poems bordering on incomprehensible. Some readers may feel for Lucky Z, but others will be alienated from his fiercely hermetic world.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) 4-6 Epic Adventures series. This series touches on various historical adventures, from the mountainous treks up Everest, K2, McKinley, and Eiger (Climbs) to the explorations of Magellan, Cook, and Chichester (Voyages). Informative and accessible, each book contains archival images, detailed maps, and poster-size foldout pages that, in turn, add interest and variation to the texts. Glos., ind. Review covers these Epic Adventures titles: Epic Climbs and Epic Voyages.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) 4-6 I Survived series. Illustrated by Scott Dawson. The book begins on a terrible Monday in August, 2005, with eleven-year-old Barry Tucker clinging to a tree as Hurricane Katrina ravages New Orleans. The text then backs up to tell of Barry's family's attempt to escape the city and how everyone weathered the storm. Accessible writing and fast pacing will appeal to reluctant readers. Shadowy black-and-white illustrations enhance the story.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) PS Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. A young frog explores the wonders of his world in Thompson's parent-centered tale. Although Junior seeks out the farthest stars, he always returns home, knowing that no matter how far he explores, his mother will always be there waiting for him. There's some spark to the rhymes, and Cordell's illustrations don't take themselves too seriously; otherwise, it's all just reassurance for moms.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) YA A yacht-wreck leaves Enid and her peers fighting for their lives in the middle of the ocean. Under threat of shark attack, Enid learns about the importance of trusting others. She also grapples with the shortcomings of her parents' relationship and its negative effects on her outlooks on love, loyalty, and friendship. Enid's voice is disarmingly honest and at times quite funny.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) K-3 One evening, just before bedtime, Pelly and her dog, Mr. Harrison, discover that the bathtub has become a rocket ship. With great excitement, the two climb aboard and venture to the moon. They encounter an alien who introduces them to the wonders of living in space--moon-pie-making, gravity-leaping, and star-catching, all of which are shown in imaginative mixed-media illustrations.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jim McMullan. A farmer decides to "spring-clean" his animals. He successfully washes the horses, ducks, and cows, but meets resistance at the pigpen. Voicing their sentiment on mud-written signs, the pigs, shown in McMullan's sassy watercolor illustrations, defy the farmer's attempts at bathing. Through the use of rhyme and clever pig-centric puns, Wilson creates an amusing standoff between farmer and hogs.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(3) 4-6 Clockwork Dark series. This sequel to The Nine Pound Hammer continues the story of Ray, a Rambler; his sister Sally, a seer; and siren Jolie. They're searching for the Wolf Tree--source of the human spirit and key to destroying the Darkness overtaking the American Great Plains. Interweaving American tall tale, Native American folklore, and elements of steampunk, Bemis presents another engaging story of spirituality and intrigue.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 Imagining the Future series. Technological advancements in communication, transportation, and housing are touched on in these slight but interesting texts. Photographs from the past and the present provide a visual compare-and-contrast element, revealing, in most cases, the immense progress that has been made. Questions about what the future may hold (some are insightful, some filler) provide imaginative scenarios for readers to ponder. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Imagining the Future titles: Getting Around in the Past, Present, and Future, Houses of the Past, Present, and Future, and Staying in Touch in the Past, Present, and Future

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 Imagining the Future series. Technological advancements in communication, transportation, and housing are touched on in these slight but interesting texts. Photographs from the past and the present provide a visual compare-and-contrast element, revealing, in most cases, the immense progress that has been made. Questions about what the future may hold (some are insightful, some filler) provide imaginative scenarios for readers to ponder. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Imagining the Future titles: Getting Around in the Past, Present, and Future, Houses of the Past, Present, and Future, and Staying in Touch in the Past, Present, and Future

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 Imagining the Future series. From baseball to dolls, kites, books, and playgrounds, this slight but interesting text about the history of games and hobbies reveals the continually adapting nature of play. Photographs from the past and present provide a visual compare-and-contrast element. Questions about what the future may hold (some are insightful, some filler) provide imaginative scenarios for readers to ponder. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 Imagining the Future series. This slight text reveals past challenges and present-day advantages of various aspects of education, from buses to desks to homework. Photographs from the past and present provide a visual compare-and-contrast element. Questions about what the future may hold (some are insightful, some filler) provide imaginative scenarios for readers to ponder. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 Imagining the Future series. Technological advancements in communication, transportation, and housing are touched on in these slight but interesting texts. Photographs from the past and the present provide a visual compare-and-contrast element, revealing, in most cases, the immense progress that has been made. Questions about what the future may hold (some are insightful, some filler) provide imaginative scenarios for readers to ponder. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Imagining the Future titles: Getting Around in the Past, Present, and Future, Houses of the Past, Present, and Future, and Staying in Touch in the Past, Present, and Future

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn

(4) K-3 Imagining the Future series. From doctors to teachers to firefighters and more, this slight text reveals past challenges and present-day advantages resulting from the steady growth and continued development of technology. Photographs from the past and present provide a visual compare-and-contrast element. Questions about what the future may hold (some are insightful, some filler) provide imaginative scenarios for readers to ponder. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Ashleigh Finn