(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Game Face series. Eighth grader Chase's hard work pays off when he is pulled up to play on the varsity football team with his best friend, Tripp. But when Tripp blacks out during a game, Chase is torn between reporting the concussion and risking his friendship. This series-opener plods along at points and its dialogue is stiff, but the action picks up during the football scenes.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. Murawski details her experiences photographing butterflies. Her intimate study of passion vine butterflies in particular leads readers to a broader understanding and appreciation of these creatures. Detailed information, including sidebars (e.g., "How to attract butterflies") and "Facts at a Glance," will intrigue budding lepidopterists. Crisp photographs of these vibrantly colored creatures add appeal. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. Skerry details his experiences photographing manatees. His intimate study of the animals leads readers to a broader understanding and appreciation of these creatures. Detailed information, including sidebars (e.g., "How is a manatee like a mermaid?") and "Facts at a Glance" will intrigue budding marine biologists. Crisp photographs--such as pictures of Skerry's eleven-year-old daughter swimming with manatees--add appeal. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. The astonishing underwater adventures of two National Geographic explorers are presented in journal-like text and close-up photographs of sharks. First-person narration of their worldwide search captures the excitement of this work while revealing details about shark behavior and life cycles. Sidebars provide relevant factual information (e.g. "How not to get eaten by a shark"); appended material includes informative "Facts at a Glance." Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Changing Face of Modern Families series. These well-meaning but bland volumes attempt to debunk the myth of a standardized American family, focusing on such issues as adoption, gay parents, and interfaith and mixed-race marriages. Facts and opinions are provided from various professionals in addition to individuals' personal accounts. "What Do You Think?" questions invite discussion. There are eight other fall 2009 books in this series. Reading list, website. Bib., ind. Review covers these Changing Face of Modern Families titles: Gay & Lesbian Parents, Multiracial Families, Adoptive Parents, Blended Families, Teen Parents, and What Is a Family?

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(4) 4-6 Changing Face of Modern Families series. These well-meaning but bland volumes attempt to debunk the myth of a standardized American family, focusing on such issues as adoption, gay parents, and interfaith and mixed-race marriages. Facts and opinions are provided from various professionals in addition to individuals' personal accounts. "What Do You Think?" questions invite discussion. There are eight other fall 2009 books in this series. Reading list, website. Bib., ind. Review covers these Changing Face of Modern Families titles: Gay & Lesbian Parents, Multiracial Families, Adoptive Parents, Blended Families, Teen Parents, and What Is a Family?

Reviewer: Christina Dorr

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. Husband and wife field researchers detail, in journal-like text, their experiences attempting to "come face to face with a leopard." Their close study of Legadema, one particularly curious creature, leads them to a broader understanding of the species. Crisp photos and detailed information, including sidebars and "Facts at a Glance," will intrigue young naturalists. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. With Elizabeth Carney. These journal-like photographic volumes are presented by teams of National Geographic explorers. Vibrant close-ups of orangutans, gorillas, or wild horses draw readers into an appreciation of the lives and behaviors of these elusive creatures. Additional details are revealed in sidebars and appended "Facts at a Glance" sections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Face to Face with Animals titles: Face to Face with Orangutans, Face to Face with Wild Horses, and Face to Face with Gorillas.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. With Elizabeth Carney. These journal-like photographic volumes are presented by teams of National Geographic explorers. Vibrant close-ups of orangutans, gorillas, or wild horses draw readers into an appreciation of the lives and behaviors of these elusive creatures. Additional details are revealed in sidebars and appended "Facts at a Glance" sections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Face to Face with Animals titles: Face to Face with Orangutans, Face to Face with Wild Horses, and Face to Face with Gorillas.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. A husband and wife team of National Geographic researchers sail aboard the Golden Fleece to South Georgia to study penguins. Their journal-like narrative emphasizes the beauty, variety, and adaptations of penguins; wildlife conservation and care-taking of the animals' environment are also touched on. Crisp photos and detailed information, including sidebars and "Facts at a Glance," will intrigue young naturalists. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 4-6 Face to Face with Animals series. With Elizabeth Carney. These journal-like photographic volumes are presented by teams of National Geographic explorers. Vibrant close-ups of orangutans, gorillas, or wild horses draw readers into an appreciation of the lives and behaviors of these elusive creatures. Additional details are revealed in sidebars and appended "Facts at a Glance" sections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Face to Face with Animals titles: Face to Face with Orangutans, Face to Face with Wild Horses, and Face to Face with Gorillas.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 Changing Face of Modern Families series. These well-meaning but bland volumes attempt to debunk the myth of a standardized American family, focusing on such issues as adoption, gay parents, and interfaith and mixed-race marriages. Facts and opinions are provided from various professionals in addition to individuals' personal accounts. "What Do You Think?" questions invite discussion. There are eight other fall 2009 books in this series. Reading list, website. Bib., ind. Review covers these Changing Face of Modern Families titles: Gay & Lesbian Parents, Multiracial Families, Adoptive Parents, Blended Families, Teen Parents, and What Is a Family?

Reviewer: Christina Dorr