(2) 4-6 Wait, Paul Bunyan wasn't born in Maine and cradled in the Bay of Fundy before making his way to Minnesota's north woods with Babe, his blue ox? It turns out his legend was promulgated in a Red River Lumber Company marketing campaign as a way to promote both the timber industry and, according to an introduction by Lee Francis IV (Pueblo of Laguna), "the common colonial theme of settling various lands and regions that once belonged to Indigenous peoples to make way for 'American civilization.'" This caution paves the way for the graphic-format tale, which imagines a train making its way through Minnesota's winter in 1914, stopped in its tracks by an accident up ahead. The passengers while away the time with stories. Red River's advertising manager delights many with his tales of Paul Bunyan (who looks, in the scratchy ink-and-watercolor panels, a lot like the storyteller in buffalo plaid). The yarns have some detractors, who make note of the clear-cut forests and the displacement of Native peoples--and Van Sciver gives them the last word, effectively complicating the folk-her narrative for both characters and readers. The book concludes with essays by Indigenous contributors Deondre Smiles (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) and the book's coauthor and illustrator Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota), and a map of the region from a Native perspective. It's a busy, thoughtful presentation that will leave readers with much to ponder about the making of this strand of the American mythos.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(4) 4-6 When TV-obsessed Annie's best friend Savannah--who's not only popular, pretty, and smart, but talented, too--wins a starring role in a local web show, their friendship is suddenly at risk. Annie is jealous, and not even her habit of making up commercials for imaginary made-for-TV products brings her joy. An amiable if typical growing-up narrative is interspersed with Annie's humorous television ads.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) 4-6 News Literacy series. In these brief, textbook-like overviews of media literacy, coverage is largely anodyne. Still, the topics have become increasingly important, and this series offers a good jumping-off point for upper-elementary students to think critically about what they read and see in the news, advertisements, and on social media. Each text includes well-considered assignments for further research, thought, and discussion. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these News Literacy titles: Advertising Overload, The Fake News Phenomenon, How Journalists Work, Uncovering Bias in the News, Why News Matters, and Your Personalized Internet.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 First Facts: All About Media series. These volumes provide very basic (sometimes confusing or incomplete) information about various print- and digital media and research methods. Source gives examples (e.g., books, internet, primary sources) while the meatier Opinions helps readers become critical consumers ("Ask questions to figure out the media maker's purpose"). Helpful sidebars appear throughout, and stock photos show kids working in the library and elsewhere. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: All About Media titles: Fact, Fiction, and Opinions and What's Your Source?

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jennifer L. Meyer. Industrious African American Cleo (Cleo Edison Oliver, Playground Millionaire) is sure her new invention--special hairclips--will get attention from her businesswoman idol's "kidpreneurs" website. But while marketing her new idea, Cleo, who's adopted, struggles with wanting to unite with her birth parents. The true-to-life, at times humorous story mines complex identity issues (adoption, abandonment, race) nagging at the relatable protagonist.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What Is Digital Citizenship? series. Each volume addresses middle-grade kids directly, suggesting practical moves (skim websites to determine usefulness), warnings (never plagiarize), and critical thinking (what is the website's purpose: to inform or advertise?). Cautions about personal safety, appropriate language and sites, spam, and other issues are firm but not frightening. Color photos show kids using computers, laptops, and smartphones alone and with adults. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Searchlight Books: What Is Digital Citizenship? titles: Digital Safety Smarts, Smart Internet Surfing, Smart Online Communication, and Smart Online Searching.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) YA Info Wise series. In this useful series, the orderly stages in working through a middle-school research project are covered, with many examples to clarify the process for beginners. From narrowing a topic, forming a thesis, judging relevant and trustworthy sources, and understanding advertising bias to avoiding plagiarism in writing the final report, common student concerns are addressed. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Info Wise titles: Analyze and Define the Assignment, Assess and Select Your Sources, Identify and Evaluate Advertising, Research and Synthesize Your Facts, and Write and Revise Your Project.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Inside Elections series. This series examines political issues that are pertinent to an informed citizenry participating in a democracy. Each book covers some phase of the voting process and provides adequate information for a basic understanding of the selected topic. Inserts present pros and cons of viewpoints held by opposition groups. The dense texts are illustrated with small photographs and charts. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Inside Elections titles: Media, Special Interests, Voters, and Political Parties.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 On the Radar: Street Style series. Edgy topics with "pros and cons" will provoke discussion. The daring art represents whimsical self-expression in a variety of wacky forms. The chaotic page design may challenge some readers. The many flavors of hip "street style" include branding (like Coke and Apple), street art, tattoos, piercings, and spray paintings. Is it attractive? Is it legal? Readers can judge for themselves. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these On the Radar: Street Style titles: Cool Brands, Graffiti Culture, Body Decoration, and Street Art.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) YA Getting the Message series. These brief overviews of the development of advertising and political propaganda outline the roles each plays in society. The use and misuse of political messages and advertisements and how they are designed to influence voters and consumers are also discussed. Vignettes present topics related to the lackluster texts. Photographs, sidebars, and inserts extend the information. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Getting the Message titles: Advertisements and Political Messages and Propaganda.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA Antidepressants series. This coherent series relates the basics about depression. It spotlights personal experiences, sometimes in the form of formulaically written running narratives (e.g., in Advertising, teenager Annette considers using antidepressants to help cope with her mother's death) and often accompanied by stiff staged photos. Each spread features a sidebar, chart, or photo to help break up the text. There are eight other fall 2006 books in the series. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Antidepressants titles: Antidepressants and Advertising, Antidepressants and Social Anxiety, Antidepressants and Suicide, The History of Depression, and "Natural" Alternatives to Antidepressants.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) YA High school junior Jordie learns more than marketing techniques during her internship at a small, quirky advertising agency. Jordie's colleagues--the "creatives"--help her put together a sixteen-step ad campaign to successfully sell herself to school heartthrob Vaughan. The office setting provides a twist on familiar scenarios, although some scenes (for example, a company outing to Victoria's Secret) are cartoonishly over-the-top.

Reviewer: Marika Hoe

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Michael Cho. This entertaining, informative, and even insightful guide to media (television, the music industry, magazines, comic books, newspapers, video games, and the Internet), how it's made, and how to critically analyze it is narrated by cartoon character Max McLoon. While amusing, some of the many pop culture references and puns ("Art director Hal Vetica," "The Gnome Chompski Show") may go over readers' heads. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 1-3 Simply Sarah series. Illustrated by Marcy Ramsey. In this enjoyable book, Sarah Simpson longs to be unique. After she tries eating squid and wearing jingle bells to school, Sarah still feels ordinary. But together with her friend Peter, Sarah becomes empowered when she helps draw in much needed customers to another friend's family restaurant. Black-and-white illustrations accompany the text.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(4) K-3 Dial Easy-to-Read series. Illustrated by Hideko Takahashi. After Mr. and Mrs. Beans adopt a dachshund from an animal shelter, they find that a dog food commercial is being cast and think that little Hotdog would be just right for it. Hotdog worms his way into the casting director's heart, and despite the thin story, he'll charm readers, too. The acrylic art gives all the auditioning dogs plenty of personality.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) YA Media Wise series. Well-designed pages are unfortunately marred by bland, textbook-like writing that is likely to turn off most readers interested in the topic. Not all terms are defined in the glossary, and those new to the subject may have a hard time deciphering their meaning from the text. The book does provide a good breakdown of the different jobs available in advertising and tips on getting into the field. Addresses, reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(3) YA Teen Issues series. In an effort to define their slippery subject, the authors provide compelling examples of the ways that propaganda can be used for good (e.g., to stop pregnant women from smoking), or for ill (e.g., to fuel hate campaigns). This trenchant exposé will encourage critical thinking by the most reluctant reader. Scattered throughout are muddy black-and-white propagandist images. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA This overview, which rapidly covers three hundred years of social history in less than one hundred pages, traces the symbiotic relationship between American culture and advertising. Illustrated with entertaining examples of print ads, the clear text looks at the influence of advertising in everything from joining the military to selling cars and soap--and shows how advertisers can both fill and create public needs. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) YA Issues in Focus series. Historical background, legal issues, and differing points of view about the merits of advertising and drug testing are presented in able, and often engaging, prose. The tone of each book is evenhanded, but their authors are clearly in favor of one side (that advertising is problematic, and that current drug testing is not effective). Black-and-white photographs are included. Advertising has a glossary. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Jackie C. Horne

(3) YA A fascinating look at how journalists, advertisers, and television producers frequently use fabrications, metaphors, and emotional appeals to manipulate public response. The text, which is illustrated with black-and-white photos, draws cogent examples from history and the contemporary media. The busy graphics, which include enlarged typefaces, are unnecessary, but do not detract from the content of the book. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta