(3) K-3 Beginner Books series. This compendium includes five P. D. Eastman classics from the 1960s and 1970s and a Fred and Ted story similarly written and illustrated by the artist's son. The easy-to-read texts feature short sentences and simple vocabulary, which make them accessible to new readers. The recognizable illustrations extend the stories' humor.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Fly Guy joins Buzz and his parents on a trip and quickly discovers the hotel's restaurant. He decides to take a bath in a customer's bowl of soup, which sets off a chaotic string of events resulting in all the restaurant's diners needing baths, too. Readers will enjoy the usual hilarious hijinks, easy-to-read chapters, and cartoony illustrations of bug-eyed characters.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 DC Super-Pets series. "'Using my incredible shrinking ray, I've kenneled canines from around the galaxy!'" These action-packed stories, told in three chapters, combine the right amount of humor and comic-book hyperbole to entice animal-loving reluctant readers with the superhero bug. Each book begins with a two-page introduction to the "starring" creatures and their origin information. The colorful cartoon art pairs well with the exclamation-point-heavy good-versus-evil texts. Review covers these DC Super-Pets titles: Starro and the Space Dolphins, The Amazing Mini-Mutts, and Super-Pets Showdown.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 I Am a Reader! series. Illustrated by Josée Masse. This collection of stories follows Frog and his friends as he meets--and loses--new friend Flower (a flower), soars on the back of a seagull, and needs his friends' help falling asleep. New readers will appreciate the easy-to-read sentences in the accessible stories, while Masse's breezy illustrations bring to life the cute animal characters in their whimsical pond-side home.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Henry Cole. Katy Duck meets her new neighbor, dog Ralph, and is disappointed that he likes cars and airplanes and "things that go fast" more than dancing. Together the new friends discover that their passions are even more fun when combined. Lively characters and bright color-washed backgrounds make Cole's illustrations a perfect match for Capucilli's bouncy, easy-to-read text.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 Heidi Heckelbeck series. Illustrated by Priscilla Burris. Heidi's nemesis Melanie dresses as a witch for Halloween, and Heidi, a real witch, decides to dress as Melanie in retaliation (Disguise). After everyone at school compliments her friend Lucy's new glasses, Heidi schemes to get a pair herself (Glasses). While the black-and-white illustrations are charming and the texts are peppered with kid-friendly jokes, Heidi's problems are too easily resolved. Review covers these Heidi Heckelbeck titles: Heidi Heckelbeck in Disguise and Heidi Heckelbeck Gets Glasses.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 Heidi Heckelbeck series. Illustrated by Priscilla Burris. Heidi's nemesis Melanie dresses as a witch for Halloween, and Heidi, a real witch, decides to dress as Melanie in retaliation (Disguise). After everyone at school compliments her friend Lucy's new glasses, Heidi schemes to get a pair herself (Glasses). While the black-and-white illustrations are charming and the texts are peppered with kid-friendly jokes, Heidi's problems are too easily resolved. Review covers these Heidi Heckelbeck titles: Heidi Heckelbeck in Disguise and Heidi Heckelbeck Gets Glasses.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Amanda Haley. Daniel's third-grade class is hatching chicks for a science project, and in a twist of luck, he brings home all five. When Daniel and his siblings discover one chicken, Peepers, is really a rooster (which are illegal to keep), they create the Secret Chicken Society and devise various solutions to save him. Sporadic playful illustrations add to this enjoyable chapter book. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 Mermaid Tales series. Shelly and Echo are excited about their class trip to see a pod of humpback whales. But Kiki is afraid of whales and doesn't want to tell her friends. When Kiki meets a friendly baby whale, she discovers that whales aren't so scary after all. This third installment suffers from mechanical dialogue, but inviting black-and-white illustrations showcase the lively ocean setting. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 Mermaid Tales series. Illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. In Trouble, mermaids Shelly and Echo are excited for their school year at Trident Academy, but an argument and an intrusive classmate test their friendship. In Battle, Echo is invited to Pearl's birthday party but Shelly isn't; she must decide how best to handle the situation. While the dialogue in these first series installments falls flat, the black-and-white illustrations are charming. Glos. Review covers these Mermaid Tales titles: Battle of the Best Friends and Trouble at Trident Academy.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) 1-3 Mermaid Tales series. Illustrated by Tatevik Avakyan. In Trouble, mermaids Shelly and Echo are excited for their school year at Trident Academy, but an argument and an intrusive classmate test their friendship. In Battle, Echo is invited to Pearl's birthday party but Shelly isn't; she must decide how best to handle the situation. While the dialogue in these first series installments falls flat, the black-and-white illustrations are charming. Glos. Review covers these Mermaid Tales titles: Battle of the Best Friends and Trouble at Trident Academy.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Brandon Dornam. In their second story, the Willow kids (Hamster Magic) try to solve the family's broken-down lawn mower problem with the help of a mower that's been rusting in their shed. But they quickly learn that it possesses magical powers--and an insatiable appetite for grass. "Mowey" drags the kids, sometimes literally, through funny backyard hijinks, depicted in Dorman's energetic drawings.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Norm, a "regular kid," has trouble fitting in with the monstrous students and faculty at his new school. But after he correctly answers all of the questions on his spelling test, the only student to do so, the other students decide he's as odd as they are. The story isn't strong, but readers may giggle at the goofy-looking bug-eyed monsters.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. These easy-to-read books discuss the stages of development, dietary habits, and habitat of the jumping spider and Monarch butterfly. Bright, close-up photographs and kid-friendly text, presented as observations in a child's notebook, make the information accessible. Text boxes with questions and facts encourage further insight and thinking. Related activities are included in the "Science Lab" section. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Diaries: Life Cycles titles: A Butterfly's Life and A Spider's Life.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. These easy-to-read books discuss the stages of development, dietary habits, and habitat of the jumping spider and Monarch butterfly. Bright, close-up photographs and kid-friendly text, presented as observations in a child's notebook, make the information accessible. Text boxes with questions and facts encourage further insight and thinking. Related activities are included in the "Science Lab" section. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Diaries: Life Cycles titles: A Butterfly's Life and A Spider's Life.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. Reader-friendly pages make it easy to understand the stages of development, diet, and habitat of the leopard frog and California mountain king snake. Information is presented as observations in a child's notebook. Detailed photos plus sidebars with additional facts and questions further engage the reader in critical thinking. Related activities are included in the "Science Lab" section. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Diaries: Life Cycles titles: A Frog's Life and A Snake's Life.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. This book provides readers with information on the developmental stages and habitat of kangaroos. Facts are presented as notes in a child's observation notebook. The attention-grabbing photos, simple vocabulary, and sidebars with additional facts and questions make this an engaging and approachable book. A related activity is included in the "Science Lab" section. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(3) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. Reader-friendly pages make it easy to understand the stages of development, diet, and habitat of the leopard frog and California mountain king snake. Information is presented as observations in a child's notebook. Detailed photos plus sidebars with additional facts and questions further engage the reader in critical thinking. Related activities are included in the "Science Lab" section. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Animal Diaries: Life Cycles titles: A Frog's Life and A Snake's Life.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. Reader-friendly pages make it easy to understand the stages of development, diet, and habitat of northern cardinals. Presented as observations in a child's notebook, the information is supported by engaging close-up photos, text boxes, and questions to encourage further thinking. The fictional narrator is unnecessary, but overall this is an adequate introduction. Related activities are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. Easily accessible pages offer an overview of panther chameleons' stages of development, diet, and habitat. Presented as observations in a child's notebook, the information is supported by engaging close-up photos, text boxes, and questions to encourage further thinking. The fictional narrator is unnecessary, but overall this is an adequate introduction to an animal found only on Madagascar. Related activities are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski