(2) YA Intent on saving his family farm during the Great Depression, sixteen-year-old Joe arrives in Chicago to work and send money home. Thanks to the cousin he's staying with, he has two jobs lined up. One is working in the kitchen of a hotel. The other involves taking French classes at a local church; collecting his wealthy classmates' names, addresses, and travel dates; and passing the information along to criminals who plan to rob the homes while their occupants are vacationing abroad. Despite his reservations, Joe goes along with the scheme and is drawn inexorably into a web of lies, deceit, blackmail, and murder. With elements of noir, the plot is further complicated by a love triangle: Eddie makes deliveries to the hotel, Raymond is in his French class, and Joe becomes romantically involved with both. As trouble catches up to Joe, he's forced to flee Chicago, but he's reluctant to leave the queer community he's found and finds little solace in the idea of returning home. Klise deftly manages to balance a number of elements in Joe's first-person narration: his gradual transition from wide-eyed innocence toward criminal activity, the complicated motivations of secondary characters, convincing dialogue, and an aura of danger and suspense. The historical setting and secretly queer characters may appeal to fans of Lo's Last Night at the Telegraph Club (rev. 3/21). An author's note gives brief historical background and suggestions for further reading.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Marjolaine Perreten. Pauvre Pauline! The eldest of three (soon to be four) children in a lively bilingual (French/English) household, she needs a reprieve from the family chaos. Cozy setting details such as family photos and comfy, rounded forms make her home feel like a loving one in Perreten's busy paneled cartoon-style ink drawings, but Pauline longs for a place that's "just mine." She finds sanctuary in a closet under the stairs. "Here, I have my cushions, my books by the ­Countess of Ségur, my cacti, my glass marble, and above all...silence!" Inspired by her books, she imagines fantastic adventures but grows lonesome and worries that no one realizes where she is. Instead of immediately joining her noisy family, Pauline concocts a plan to hop aboard a ship to visit her grandmother in France. Before she can stow away, however, her mother invites her to work in the garden. The flowers will bloom in the hues of the French tricolor, but it's her mother's undivided attention that truly entices Pauline to feel that she's in the right place after all.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ryan Andrews. This unique, interactive second-person narrative casts the reader as a character trying to escape from a fantastical world populated by, among others, an evil queen and her robot minions, an enormous dung beetle, and a French-speaking stoat. The wordplay-heavy adventures follow one another rapid-fire without much character development. Still, humorous characters and clever activities such as word scrambles and drawing prompts should keep readers engaged and entertained.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 1-3 Sprout Street Neighbors series. In this third installment, the six animal friends from 24 Sprout Street decide to visit Paris together. The homebodies need encouraging; the impetuous need reining in; but eventually everyone has an unforgettable time. The stories are offbeat, and while the setting may be unfamiliar, the mutual support and love among the friends will keep young readers grounded. Includes a glossary of French words and phrases.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) PS Baby bear Peter's sister lists all the things she can do that Peter can't yet (including speak French); she's hopeful that he will catch up to her by his first birthday. The colorful gouache illustrations are friendly, and the story is suitable for children adjusting to a new baby. French phrases are used throughout. Glos.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) 4-6 On her French-class trip to Montreal, eighth-grader Kat Roberts sees dead people, which isn't uncommon for her these days. When her secret crush turns out to have supernatural powers as well, the two join forces to help the ghosts to the other side. In this satisfying fourth series entry, Kimmel's depiction of tentative (and innocent) first love is especially sweet.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) PS Illustrated by Susan Jeffers. In this reissue the peppy Westie gets a lesson in obedience and language from the new French neighbors and their well-behaved Scottish terrier. The lighthearted comedy of manners doesn't hold many surprises but ends on a companionable note. McDuff is comfortably his old expressive self, especially in Jeffers's unadorned illustrations, many of which provide a terrier's-eye view. Glos.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2002

(3) K-3 In a lively book that will entertain even those with little interest in crêpes or France, Suzette the crêpe-seller provides a tour of Paris, a lesson in crêpe-making, and an introduction to a few French words. Mixed-media illustrations include small, intriguing details in the backgrounds and large, colorful pictures of Suzette's customers in the foreground. Glos.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(3) PS Illustrated by Nick Sharratt. A large, colorful format with clear and lively pictures presents a category of words in French and English on each spread ("What's in the park?" shows swing, bench, dog, etc.), while questions in word balloons prompt adults to use the book interactively with children. Nearly two hundred words are presented pictorially while the last three pages provide a pronunciation guide and list each word with its meaning and transliteration.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(2) PS Illustrated by Susan Jeffers. In this tame fifth installment to the series, the peppy Westie gets a lesson in obedience and language from the new French neighbors and their well-behaved Scottish terrier. The lighthearted comedy of manners doesn't hold many surprises but ends on a companionable note. McDuff is comfortably his old expressive self, especially in Jeffers's unadorned illustrations, many of which provide a terrier's-eye-view. Glos.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2002