(4) K-3 I Like to Read series. This beginning reader follows a mouse as he searches for food in a bustling metropolis, evades predators, and ultimately takes the subway carrying his prize: an enormous slice of pizza. Garland's pencil and digital illustrations have an odd plastic-like quality, but they successfully support the sight word–filled text. New readers may find humor in this spunky rodent's trek across a garbage-strewn city.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(3) PS In the follow-up to Little Kunoichi: The Ninja Girl, readers join Little Kunoichi's best friend, Chibi Samurai, on his quest to find a pet. Both Ishida's text and vibrant illustrations contain references to Japanese culture; there's also plenty of humor as the friends encounter many creatures, real and fantastic, and eventually learn not to overlook small "treasures" (like the humble stag beetle). Japan-related facts appended.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(4) K-3 Illustrated by George Ermos. Rhyming text tells the story of a young knight who befriends a dragon when they discover their mutual love of baking. Though bound by a rule to fight each other, the friends discover a culinary loophole that sparks change in their kingdom. The rhymes are occasionally a mouthful, but the vibrant, Disney-esque digital illustrations of desserts and dragons will hold young readers' attention.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Brian Lies. Rat Malcolm (Malcolm at Midnight) belongs to McKenna Elementary's Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that solves the school's problems at night. When the school board threatens to close McKenna, Malcolm turns to the mysterious "Striped Shadow" and an old enemy to save his beloved community. This combination of animal fantasy, school story, and mystery integrates interesting animal facts into an engaging narrative.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Stephanie Yue. Human Megan works alongside Mousenet, an underground society of intelligent mice committed to saving the planet. When they learn that lumber company Loggocorp plans to cut down an ancient rainforest, the friends investigate who really has ownership rights to the rainforest in hopes of saving it from destruction. This third series entry is a rollicking, Rescuers-like adventure with an environmental message.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(3) YA Silver Trilogy series. Translated by Anthea Bell. Liv's mother drags Liv, her sister Mia, and nanny Lottie to London to settle down with a new British beau whose son is mixed up with a spooky society that meets in a cemetery. Why do Grayson, his friends, and their graveyard keep showing up in Liv's dreams, and who's this "Chosen One"? This engaging supernatural mystery offers believable characters and sharp prose.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(4) K-3 In Shiverhawk Hall's nursery, portraits of well-behaved children are "seen and not heard." At night, however, these model children creep out of their portraits and wreak havoc all through "the big old house." The rhyming text and engaging illustrations are a hoot, even if the story isn't fully formed. Note the dog, cat, and mouse that appear in every double-page spread.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(4) K-3 Fairy Tales Today series. Illustrated by Becka Moor. Cinderella, an inventor's daughter, builds housework robots so she can focus on her invention: techno-slippers that make "her feet move perfectly." Her smooth dance moves save the toy factory where her father works and leave her stepmother to do the cleaning. This folktale re-imagining offers a modern heroine who takes charge. While they don't extend the text much, the illustrations are amusing.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(4) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old Trenton lives in Cove, an underground city that outlaws creativity, but he yearns to improve the technology his community needs to survive. When Trenton meets feisty Kallista, they begin to build a mysterious machine and learn the truth about Cove's origins. This dystopian novel doesn't go anywhere different, but middle-grade readers new to the genre may enjoy the ride.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Karl Kwasny. This second Nightmares! book is unsettling, spooky, and silly. With the help of his herbalist stepmother and charming but annoying little brother, Charlie Laird must discover what is causing local folks to act like zombies. And it's up to him to restore balance in the dream realms. Both settings--small-town Cypress Creek and the nightmarish Netherworld--are well realized, as are Charlie's struggles to juggle friendship, family, and heroism.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(4) K-3 Fairy Tales Today series. Illustrated by Erica Jane Waters. In this recasting of Andersen's tale, dance class bully Emma always gets her way until a new student promises her a magnificent tutu visible only to "amazing dancers." Of course, no one wants to admit they can't see the tutu. While true to the story's origins, Emma doesn't get to redeem herself, which is unfortunate in this context. Friendly illustrations play out the drama.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart