(3) K-3 Hoot & Olive series. Olive's stuffed owl Hoot has to coax her into going on adventures: "I will be brave enough for both of us." But when Hoot gets hurt, it's Olive's turn to be brave and get them both home. Voss illustrates this satisfying tale of friendship using an appealing combination of small sepia sketches and larger color paintings from a variety of dramatic perspectives.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Dear Molly, Dear Olive series. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Through emails and snail-mail, Molly and Olive (pen pals who've never met) sort through day-to-day hiccups. The girls have alternating streaks of good luck and misfortune in Magic; both face friendship problems in Trouble. The chapter books are sweet, though at times heavy-handed with their lessons. Black-and-white drawings bring the girls' misadventures to life. Discussion and writing prompts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Dear Molly, Dear Olive titles: Molly Discovers Magic and Molly Meets Trouble.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 1-3 Olive & Beatrix series. A new chapter-book series features twins Olive, who's into science, and Beatrix, a witch. In Not-So-Itty-Bitty, Beatrix casts a spell that makes average-size spiders giant. In Moldy Blob, the twins' competing science fair projects release a ravenous slime blob in school. By combining their talents, the sisters save the day. Heavily illustrated with cartoon art, these two installments are slight but entertaining. Review covers these Olive & Beatrix titles: The Not-So Itty-Bitty Spiders and The Super-Smelly Moldy Blob.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) 1-3 Olive & Beatrix series. A new chapter-book series features twins Olive, who's into science, and Beatrix, a witch. In Not-So-Itty-Bitty, Beatrix casts a spell that makes average-size spiders giant. In Moldy Blob, the twins' competing science fair projects release a ravenous slime blob in school. By combining their talents, the sisters save the day. Heavily illustrated with cartoon art, these two installments are slight but entertaining. Review covers these Olive & Beatrix titles: The Not-So Itty-Bitty Spiders and The Super-Smelly Moldy Blob.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear