(3) K-3 Illustrated by Marta Kissi. In this autobiographical account, sixth grader Tapper struggled with feelings of nervousness about speaking up in class and noticed many female classmates felt the same way. So she proposed a Girl Scout patch and pledge called "Raise Your Hand" to encourage girls everywhere to speak up. Kissi's bright, expressive illustrations bring additional warmth to this motivational tale of female empowerment.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) 4-6 After moving to a remote Colorado town, Arlo joins the Rangers scouting troop and learns about the hidden magic of nearby Long Woods. Arlo builds confidence and friendships through the Rangers, but when supernatural phenomena strike, he and his troop must work together to make it back home. This intriguing combination of traditional scouting story and supernatural mystery lays the groundwork for future adventures.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) K-3 Young scout Gertie encounters a hungry brown bear in the woods and sees an opportunity: "If I help you, I'll earn my Wildlife Buddy Merit Badge, so let's find you some lunch." The bear is the perfect straight man for Gertie, who would win a bossiness competition against Lucy van Pelt. The comics-style art captures their humorous exchanges and eventual mutual appreciation.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Brooklyn Allen. This third novel based on the popular Lumberjanes comics finds the girls preparing for a theatrical festival at their summer camp for "Hardcore Lady-Types." But song-loving Ripley is distracted by a rescue mission related to a mysterious egg she found. Monochromatic red illustrations, snappy feminist-focused dialogue, fantasy elements, and colorful characters keep the plot rocketing forward. As usual, friendship and individuality are important overarching themes.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Brooklyn Allen. This second novel based on the Lumberjanes comics has the five Roanoke-cabin scouts competing in Galaxy Wars at their feminist-themed summer camp. Meanwhile, introspective aspiring scientist Jo ponders a big decision. A fast pace, snappy dialogue, and lots of girl-empowering wordplay characterize this entertaining series in which friendship refreshingly rules the day. Blue monochromatic illustrations (by the original series' artist) are included.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Aurélie Grand. In this chapter-book graphic novel, Jay hopes to find Bigfoot on the Junior Ranger campout, even though his troopmates tease him for believing. Meanwhile, Sass, a female Sasquatch adopted by bears who forbid her to go near humans, anonymously pranks (somewhat dim-witted) Jay until a brief but meaningful encounter. The humor is amusing, and the visual storytelling is accessible to young readers.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(4) K-3 Mouse Math series. Illustrated by Deborah Melmon. Mouse siblings Wanda and Albert have various adventures with their friends. Each purposeful story serves to illustrate a math concept--patterns (Bravo), adding doubles (Doubles the Fun), counting money (Helps Out), and counting and skip counting (Where's Albert?); some allow more variety of examples than others. The cheerful mice are illustrated in softly colored, well-delineated art. Two pages of "fun activities" are appended. Review covers these Mouse Math titles: Bravo, Albert!, Albert Doubles the Fun, Albert Helps Out, and Where's Albert?.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 1-3 In their second outing, bird friends Speed Bump and Slingshot get into absurd shenanigans on a Bird Scouts scavenger hunt inside a curious place called "the mall," where they become trapped overnight. This graphic novel/chapter book hybrid explores themes of bravery, friendship, and accomplishing goals. The story's silly vibe is supported by slapstick black-and-white illustrations, which reward careful observation.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) 1-3 Nervous Violet and energetic Tigerlily eagerly start Acorn Scouts. In book one, their stern scoutmaster has the mice plant a garden for their "Sow It and Grow It" badge; next, the scouts earn their "Make a Difference" badge cleaning up the park and saving a cat. These sweetly humorous chapter books feature endearing characters and delightful grayscale illustrations. "Mouse Scout Handbook" inserts included. Review covers the following titles: Mouse Scouts and Mouse Scouts Make a Difference.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 1-3 Nervous Violet and energetic Tigerlily eagerly start Acorn Scouts. In book one, their stern scoutmaster has the mice plant a garden for their "Sow It and Grow It" badge; next, the scouts earn their "Make a Difference" badge cleaning up the park and saving a cat. These sweetly humorous chapter books feature endearing characters and delightful grayscale illustrations. "Mouse Scout Handbook" inserts included. Review covers the following titles: Mouse Scouts and Mouse Scouts Make a Difference.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 1-3 Mouse Scouts series. Energetic Tigerlily, shy Violet, and the other Mouse Scouts work as a team to earn the "Camp Out" badge (and find their lost scout leader) on their first-ever camping expedition. Short chapters are interspersed with amusing illustrations and excerpts from the Mouse Scout Handbook. With sweet and funny characters, not-too-scary danger, and whimsical mouse inventions, this third installment will thrill series fans and newbies alike.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 1-3 Katie Woo series. Illustrated by Tammie Lyon. In Scout, Katie resents a scouting partner who out-treasure-hunts her. In Mother's Day, Katie scrambles to find a gift for her mom. Each transitional chapter book provides practice in reading words and sentences that are a step beyond the basics, followed by discussion questions, writing prompts, and an activity. As usual for this series, the illustrations depict welcome diversity among the characters. Glos. Review covers these Katie Woo titles: Katie's Happy Mother's Day and Katie Woo, Super Scout.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Robert Eberz. Text by Laura Driscoll. Lovable, frazzled cat Splat is a good problem-solver, whether he is mopping up a giant ice cream disaster (I Scream) or saving the day with his preparedness on a Cat Scouts trip (Hotshot). Occasional internal rhymes within the simple texts will help new readers through the fairly slim stories. Energetic, humorous illustrations by Eberz (in Scotton's style) always steal the show. Review covers the following I Can Read Book titles: Splat the Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream and Splat the Cat and the Hotshot.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 1-3 Accused of always quitting, young witch Salem joins the Squirrel Scouts, and with her cat Whammy's help (and unusual luck), she wins top cookie seller. Salem chooses a camping trip as her troop's prize, but her unstable spells--and Bigfoot--turn the trip into a chaotic adventure. This third graphic novel's black-and-white illustrations with energetic orange accents are as funny as ever.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) 4-6 Skilled geocacher Ollie, who recently helped his friend recover stolen art in Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking, is trying to stay out of trouble until the media circus dies down. But at Wilderness Scout camp on the Boston Harbor Islands, a mystery involving lost pirate treasure lands in his lap. A lively adventure with amiable characters and a vivid setting.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 In the tongue-in-cheek follow-up to Tea Rex, Cordelia and her fellow scout, along with their dinosaur pals, tout the attributes of camping outdoors: fresh air, exercise, and sticking together. Humorous grainy-textured illustrations show the real story as the troupe skirts poison ivy, handles a beehive, engages in questionable fire safety practices, and more.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(2) 4-6 A gang of feral hogs is thundering toward Bayou Tourterelle, delirious at the prospect of wild sugarcane; raccoon Swamp Scouts Bingo and J'miah are ready for them. A human drama unfolds, too, as Chap Brayburn and his mother try to save the bayou from being turned into a theme park. Appelt's folksy romp includes a multitude of oddball characters--and a touch of magic.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2013

(3) YA Bonnie, a Scottish fourteen-year-old living in Thailand during the Vietnam War, sets off on the Amelia Earhart Cadet camping trip. But the cadets become stranded on a desolate island; their flighty chaperone loses it, girls die, and Bonnie must provide the group with strength to persevere. Tense first-person narration candidly relays horrific experiences and moral quandaries in this anxiously suspenseful survival story.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 After damaging his father's sailboat, Jeremy needs money. There's five hundred dollars for the taking if he can win the Windjammer Whirl, a model sailboat race for the Cupcake Cadets. So Jeremy and his best friend try to act like girls and join the all-female troop. With a light touch, this humorous diversionary read reveals much about gender roles, stereotyping, and individuality.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(4) K-3 Green Light Readers series. Adapted by Karen Barss. Talking dog Martha helps broker a compromise for the town's fireworks display; discovers who is making scary sounds while camping out; and finds missing Valentine card supplies. These three brief adaptations of episodes from the PBS series, while somewhat diverting for more confident beginning readers, are as glossy (and ultimately forgettable) as the cartoon representation of Meddaugh's trademark characters. Review covers these Green Light Readers titles: Martha Speaks: Fireworks for All, Martha Speaks: Martha Camps Out, and Martha Speaks: Thief of Hearts.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow