(3) 1-3 Goofballs series. Illustrated by Colleen Madden. In their latest case, Goofball detectives Jeff, Brian, Kelly, and Mara must solve a spooky case so the town's first bookstore can open in a supposedly haunted old mansion. Despite the fright-fraught mission, the crew's trademark goofiness breaks the tension as the kids work to crack the case. Lively black-and-white illustrations mirror the lightheartedness of the wordplay- and pun-heavy text.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Stephanie Yue. When a plot to expose the mouse world threatens Operation Cool It, the plan to reverse climate change hatched in Mousenet, Megan and Uncle Fred take the whole colony on a wild road trip to save their efforts. The premise remains overblown, but this sequel's plot moves along at a quick clip and endearing new characters are introduced. Soft black-and-white illustrations add to the whimsy.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Susan Mitchell. In this sequel to Daisy's Perfect Word, the delightful Daisy puts her love of words to work to replace her nickname ("Lazy Daisy") with a positive alliterative one. Simple sentences and organic inclusion of words and their definitions will help young readers develop their literacy skills. Pencil spot illustrations complement the good-natured text, and helpful word lists from the story are appended.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by O'Kif. Plucky, super-smart, pint-size giant Muncle Trogg returns in a silly adventure that tries his wits. To get his community to take the rumbles under Mount Grumble--and his new role as a ten-year-old Wise Man--seriously, he teams up with his Smalling friend, Emily, to show them a sign that the volcanic mountain will blow. Line sketches punctuate the wackiness of this fantastical world.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) 4-6 Quirky game-maker Luigi Lemoncello has created the ultimate game for a lock-in at the town's new library. Kyle and his friends and classmates must solve literary and logic puzzles to escape the coolest library ever in this charming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory–esque tale. Clever and filled with humorous puns, the narrative subtly reveals the real winners and losers.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Last Dogs series. Illustrated by Allen Douglas. In this second book in the series, Labrador retriever Max, dachshund Rocky, and Yorkie Gizmo pursue new leads into the humans' disappearance and befriend a casino boat full of dogs. The exposition-heavy narrative provides some answers to the central mystery, but the dogs' dialogue suffers from clichés. Black-and-white illustrations of the action contribute to the storytelling.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) YA This trilogy ender comes to a heartbreaking but satisfying conclusion. Now Risen, Amelia can be seen among the living but cannot touch anything, not even boyfriend Joshua. When her long-tormenting demons present her with a choice--join them or Josh dies--Amelia understands that true love requires self-sacrifice. As before, sexual tension thrums through the supernatural tale.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 After his broken foot heals, it's time for Rufus (Guinea Dog) to return to school, and he's the center of attention thanks to stories about his guinea-pig-who-acts-like-a-dog, Fido. Of course, that attention and the friendship of weird-girl Lurena are the last things Rufus wants. Rufus's funny voice and his relatable struggle with self-confidence may win over readers in this thin sequel.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) K-3 Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Bored and lonely on a winter day, Ant seeks the companionship of friend Honey Bee, who just wants to be left alone. The three chapters tap into the timeless emotions of childhood in the same spirit as Frog and Toad do. Both the gouache, acrylic, and pencil illustrations and the humorous, endearing text feature delightful details and gags for new readers to spot.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) YA Likable, wry teen Margo finds a magical ring that summons genie Oliver, who grants her three wishes--but in a twist, he can expand upon them based on what she is thinking. When Margo learns that a rival shape-shifting genie is after Oliver, she determines to save his life. This enjoyable if contrived read offers humor, romance, drama, and a cliffhanger ending.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) PS Illustrated by Jana Christy. A boy and girl live out a year and engage in stereotypical seasonal activities. Simple statements and cheerful warm-toned pictures sum up each month: "time for tricks and treats," "time for the beach," and the like. The book's subtle message--though the weather changes, their friendship does not--is sweet; there's no story here, but it works as a concept book.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) PS Bunny Chester decorates six eggs in different colors and hides them for his friends; they each find their egg and come together for an Easter surprise. Mostly a lesson on colors of the rainbow, there's very little tension in the slim plot, but young readers will enjoy spotting the eggs, cleverly camouflaged in their hiding spots. The homey collage illustrations have impressive dimension.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) YA This companion novel to A Certain Slant of Light examines Jenny and Billy's relationship--both the ethereal and the corporeal. As the two struggle to make sense of their lives after spirits Helen and James borrowed their bodies, Helen complicates things by trying to reconnect with Jenny. Whitcomb's ghostly love story reworks the first book's themes, but fans may welcome this second visitation.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Max Flash series. Illustrated by Ned Woodman. Max Flash, a budding escape artist and magician, is put into the field for the Department for Extraordinary Activity. Using his talents, Max pulls off incredible missions in a virtual reality world, outer space, the deep sea, and at the site of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. Slick, active black-and-white illustrations match the spirit of the frenetically high-octane, fast-paced prose. Review covers these Max Flash titles: Game On, Grave Danger, In Deep, and Supersonic.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Max Flash series. Illustrated by Ned Woodman. Max Flash, a budding escape artist and magician, is put into the field for the Department for Extraordinary Activity. Using his talents, Max pulls off incredible missions in a virtual reality world, outer space, the deep sea, and at the site of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. Slick, active black-and-white illustrations match the spirit of the frenetically high-octane, fast-paced prose. Review covers these Max Flash titles: Game On, Grave Danger, In Deep, and Supersonic.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Max Flash series. Illustrated by Ned Woodman. Max Flash, a budding escape artist and magician, is put into the field for the Department for Extraordinary Activity. Using his talents, Max pulls off incredible missions in a virtual reality world, outer space, the deep sea, and at the site of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. Slick, active black-and-white illustrations match the spirit of the frenetically high-octane, fast-paced prose. Review covers these Max Flash titles: Game On, Grave Danger, In Deep, and Supersonic.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) 4-6 Max Flash series. Illustrated by Ned Woodman. Max Flash, a budding escape artist and magician, is put into the field for the Department for Extraordinary Activity. Using his talents, Max pulls off incredible missions in a virtual reality world, outer space, the deep sea, and at the site of an ancient Egyptian pyramid. Slick, active black-and-white illustrations match the spirit of the frenetically high-octane, fast-paced prose. Review covers these Max Flash titles: Game On, Grave Danger, In Deep, and Supersonic.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) PS Peppa Pig and her family and friends are preparing for Christmas. When Santa arrives, he discovers that he's lost his list, but Peppa and brother George help him get the right presents to their friends. The anticlimactic but accessible plot and slick digital illustrations will appeal mostly to fans of the Peppa Pig television show on which this book is based.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(3) 1-3 Goofballs series. Illustrated by Colleen Madden. Jeff, Mara, Kelly, and Brian--the Goofballs--are a crew of child detectives. In this first installment, they're tasked with finding rich kid Randall Crandall's missing pony, Thunder. Silliness and puns abound as they use deductive logic to crack the case. The characters' varied personalities each contribute to the appeal of the wacky gang. Madden's spot art enlivens the easy-to-read chapter book.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff

(4) K-3 The Berenstain Bear family is visiting Gramps and Gran for Christmas. The narrative paints a warm, nostalgic picture of the holiday, with caroling, tree trimming, cooking and baking, and more. Five pages with song lyrics and craft ideas interrupt the narrative throughout. The familiar illustrations bring the characters and purposeful story to life.

Reviewer: Brittany Schlorff