(2) 4-6 In the tiny town of Aldermere in the midst of California's redwood forest, magic is a given. It makes life unpredictable--an unlabeled door may lead anywhere, for one thing--but for Finley, it offers a way to forget her anxieties. Whisper a memory into a cup of magical tea, drink the tea, and instantly that memory is gone and she's calm and confident. So when the tea shop closes because of an accident, Fin sneaks in and makes her own tea, inadvertently creating Teafin, her "evil doppelgänger," from her used tea leaves. When a rash of petty crimes disturbs the town, she's sure Teafin is the culprit and vows to stop her. Not all of Lloyd-Jones's sentences pull their weight in this lengthy tale, but the inventiveness and charm of its magical details balance that out. Aside from its interest in Fin's suppressed traumatic memories (the theme behind the doppelgänger), the novel celebrates the regional. Dogberries, thimbleberries, huckleberries, salmonberries, and blackberries are sold at the Foragers' Market, giving more than a nod to wild fare and sustainable living; indeed, the town's dilemma about preserving its magic is very much the thorny issue of conservation and protection. Lloyd-Jones provides a measure of humor, too. "Aren't you evil?" one character asks Teafin. "I'm just uninhibited," Teafin declares.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(3) 4-6 National Parks series. This series takes readers on pleasant tours through individual national parks. Each book's second-person text has a guidebook-like tone, offering tips and tricks for getting the most out of a visit. The volumes are filled with fascinating facts, vivid photographs of natural wonders and animals visitors might encounter, and keyed maps. Additional fast facts are appended. There are six other spring 2018 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these National Parks titles: Welcome to Redwood National and State Parks, Welcome to Yosemite National Park, Welcome to Denali National Park and Preserve, Welcome to Glacier National Park, Welcome to Grand Teton National Park, and Welcome to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Susan Swan. Pearson balances scientific detail and sensory description to imagine the lifespan of the world's tallest tree, a coast redwood. Forest sounds both natural ("creak!") and unnatural ("whir!") abound. Though jarringly slick, Swan's digital collages capture the textures of the dense forest; readers may particularly enjoy spotting the semi-hidden wildlife throughout. Back matter includes redwood facts that expand on the poetic text. Bib.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter