(3) 1-3 Hotel Strange series. Illustrated by Katherine Ferrier. The woodland creatures of Hotel Strange are settling in for the winter...until ghosts take away their friend Mr. Snarf. A hot-air balloon trip over the clouds and into the Land of Ghosts ensues. Fourth in the French-import series, the imaginative, quirky story is told through colorful comic panels. A recipe is included.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo series explores the history behind paranormal phenomena and why some people believe in them and others believe they're fantasy or hoaxes; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. Each slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bolt: Strange...but True? titles: Area 51, Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, Vampires, and Werewolves.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo volume explores the historical and modern fascination with the lost city, and why some believe Atlantis existed and why others think it's a myth; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. The slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo series explores the history behind paranormal phenomena and why some people believe in them and others believe they're fantasy or hoaxes; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. Each slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bolt: Strange...but True? titles: Area 51, Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, Vampires, and Werewolves.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) YA Strange series. During Winship Academy's science expo, someone is dealing drugs and the student body's African American president is gored by deer antlers. Benny and Virginia's investigation leads them to disturbing discoveries, both personal and societal (involving Atlanta race relations). The sleuths' relationship deepens in subtle, authentic ways in this more-convincing but still over-the-top mystery following We Know It Was You (later titled Strange Truth).

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo series explores the history behind paranormal phenomena and why some people believe in them and others believe they're fantasy or hoaxes; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. Each slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bolt: Strange...but True? titles: Area 51, Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, Vampires, and Werewolves.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo series explores the history behind paranormal phenomena and why some people believe in them and others believe they're fantasy or hoaxes; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. Each slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bolt: Strange...but True? titles: Area 51, Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, Vampires, and Werewolves.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) K-3 Bolt: Strange...but True? series. This hi-lo series explores the history behind paranormal phenomena and why some people believe in them and others believe they're fantasy or hoaxes; ultimately, readers are asked to decide for themselves. Each slight discussion is illustrated with a jarring mix of photos and computer renderings and includes a short "Believe It or Not?" quiz. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Bolt: Strange...but True? titles: Area 51, Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, Vampires, and Werewolves.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(3) 1-3 Hotel Strange series. Illustrated by Katherine Ferrier. In Wake Up, forest creatures surprise Hotel Strange's eccentric proprietors, who haven't yet prepared the lodge for their springtime visitors because of enduring wintry weather; where could Mr. Spring be? Sapphire's Trail finds the characters embroiled in a mystery that interrupts the hotel's music festival. These colorful, imaginative picture-book-size comics from France are filled with quirky characters; each includes a recipe. Review covers these Hotel Strange titles: On the Sapphire's Trail and Wake Up, Spring.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) 1-3 Hotel Strange series. When mushroom forest creatures mistake hotel resident Kiki for their king, Hotel Strange temporarily becomes a palace. The idiosyncratic innkeepers eventually locate the real Mushroom King and prevent termite-like pests from destroying the hotel. Third in the offbeat French-import series, the silly story's bright comic panels bring the antics and the woodland setting to colorful life. A cake recipe is included.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(3) 1-3 Hotel Strange series. Illustrated by Katherine Ferrier. In Wake Up, forest creatures surprise Hotel Strange's eccentric proprietors, who haven't yet prepared the lodge for their springtime visitors because of enduring wintry weather; where could Mr. Spring be? Sapphire's Trail finds the characters embroiled in a mystery that interrupts the hotel's music festival. These colorful, imaginative picture-book-size comics from France are filled with quirky characters; each includes a recipe. Review covers these Hotel Strange titles: On the Sapphire's Trail and Wake Up, Spring.

Reviewer: Lauren Causey

(4) 4-6 Life in Strange Places series. This series of books explores microscopic organisms, some of which live in familiar environments, others in more unusual ones (e.g., the human body, oceans, deserts, Antarctica, caves). Short and flashy text is accompanied by captioned photos outlined in circles, to resemble the view through a microscope. These overviews, while hectic, are generally informative. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Life in Strange Places titles: Dark Secrets, Diminutive Drifters, Extraterrestrial Life, Extremophiles, Itty Gritty Critters, The Zoo on You.]

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) 4-6 Life in Strange Places series. This series of books explores microscopic organisms, some of which live in familiar environments, others in more unusual ones (e.g., the human body, oceans, deserts, Antarctica, caves). Short and flashy text is accompanied by captioned photos outlined in circles, to resemble the view through a microscope. These overviews, while hectic, are generally informative. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Life in Strange Places titles: Dark Secrets, Diminutive Drifters, Extraterrestrial Life, Extremophiles, Itty Gritty Critters, The Zoo on You.]

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) 4-6 Life in Strange Places series. This series of books explores microscopic organisms, some of which live in familiar environments, others in more unusual ones (e.g., the human body, oceans, deserts, Antarctica, caves). Short and flashy text is accompanied by captioned photos outlined in circles, to resemble the view through a microscope. These overviews, while hectic, are generally informative. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Life in Strange Places titles: Dark Secrets, Diminutive Drifters, Extraterrestrial Life, Extremophiles, Itty Gritty Critters, The Zoo on You.]

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) 4-6 Life in Strange Places series. This series of books explores microscopic organisms, some of which live in familiar environments, others in more unusual ones (e.g., the human body, oceans, deserts, Antarctica, caves). Short and flashy text is accompanied by captioned photos outlined in circles, to resemble the view through a microscope. These overviews, while hectic, are generally informative. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Life in Strange Places titles: Dark Secrets, Diminutive Drifters, Extraterrestrial Life, Extremophiles, Itty Gritty Critters, The Zoo on You.]

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) 4-6 Life in Strange Places series. This series of books explores microscopic organisms, some of which live in familiar environments, others in more unusual ones (e.g., the human body, oceans, deserts, Antarctica, caves). Short and flashy text is accompanied by captioned photos outlined in circles, to resemble the view through a microscope. These overviews, while hectic, are generally informative. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Life in Strange Places titles: Dark Secrets, Diminutive Drifters, Extraterrestrial Life, Extremophiles, Itty Gritty Critters, The Zoo on You.]

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) 4-6 Life in Strange Places series. This series of books explores microscopic organisms, some of which live in familiar environments, others in more unusual ones (e.g., the human body, oceans, deserts, Antarctica, caves). Short and flashy text is accompanied by captioned photos outlined in circles, to resemble the view through a microscope. These overviews, while hectic, are generally informative. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Life in Strange Places titles: Dark Secrets, Diminutive Drifters, Extraterrestrial Life, Extremophiles, Itty Gritty Critters, The Zoo on You.]

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire