(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Roberts. In this Prince and the Pauper reimagining, a pig's accidental discovery that he can masquerade as the human prince provides the perfect opportunity to indulge his sweet tooth via the royal kitchen. The discovery of Pignatius's trick infuriates the palace staff, but the prince is delighted to have a double. Bently's rollicking rhymes match Roberts's lively illustrations filled with culinary delights and witty details.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Sarah Watts. When their teacher, Mr. Quisling, begins a furtive book quest that results in fires around San Francisco, puzzle aficionados Emily and James (Book Scavenger) try to discover who's setting the fires, while simultaneously solving a Mark Twain–related "unbreakable code" to find treasure. Cryptographers and mystery lovers will enjoy following the clues as the smart plot and whom-to-trust character development keeps readers guessing.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Becky Thatcher is determined to remember her deceased brother by having the adventures he should have had. She finds that Tom Sawyer is a tattletale, but his brother, Sid, is a kindred spirit; their exploits unfold with mischief and fun. Lawson, with her storyteller's ear for language, is respectful of Twain's classic as she tells alternate stories of St. Petersburg, Missouri.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel Miyares. After his wife's death, Samuel Clemens became reclusive, with pet cat Bambino his only welcome company. Based on a true story, this fictionalized account of Bambino's disappearance (and return) is as much about finding joy after grief as it is about the famous author. The dark colors and sharp angles of the art match the somber tone of the story. Bib.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Barry Blitt. This picture book biography, covering Twain's varied adventures, from riverboating to writing to performing (as well as his markedly sad last years), complicates the narrative by having Huck ("You don't know about me, without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer") tell the story. Soft-hued, often humorous watercolor and ink art helps readers navigate the text.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Thirteen-year-old Susy Clemens's biography of her father informs this account covering both biographer and biographee. Kerley details Susy's process of writing about and observing her father, using primary sources and inserting seven small facsimiles of Susy's journal pages into the book. Fotheringham's muted palette and large, sturdy illustrations provide discreet counterpoint to a complicated design. Timeline.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2010

(3) YA Social Issues in Literature series. These collections of short essays and excerpts from longer works are divided into three sections: background on the authors, critical discussions, and contemporary thematic materials. Drawing from different disciplines and points of view, each volume provides a varied selection of genuinely useful resources, making decent starting points for student research. Reading list, timeline. Bib., ind. Review covers these Social Issues in Literature titles: Peer Pressure in Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War, Violence in William Golding's Lord of the Flies, and Race in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) YA World Writers series. While Twain was best known for his humor and wit, Caravantes shows in this enjoyable biography that his life was marked by tragedy, financial worries, and artistic difficulties. The text is solid and sheds new light on this well-known subject. The portrayal will make readers want to experience Twain's writing directly. Occasional photographs break up the pages. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot

(2) YA Twain's early years, adventurous travels, writing career, and popularity as a lecturer are examined in this biography. The text explores how his experiences informed his writing, with particular emphasis on "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Fleischman, an accomplished humorist himself, keeps the tone light through narrative wit and judicious use of Twain's sayings. Archival photographs are handsomely showcased on sepia-toned wallpaper. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2008

(4) YA Authors of Banned Books series. Students researching book banning will appreciate this series that reviews historical censorship, provides each author's biography, summarizes the writer's most frequently banned books, and considers current issues related to the author's most famous titles. Several of the same sidebars and stock photos are repeated across volumes, giving the research a cookie-cutter quality. Discussion questions and lists of works are appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Authors of Banned Books titles: John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, and Madeleine L'Engle.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 MacLeod takes an informal approach, casually (and speciously) calling Twain by his first name; a cartoon Mark pops up on the pages to share bits of information. The left-hand text pages are dense with small type. Facing pages include an apt selection of quotations and collages of captioned primary source documents (e.g., Twain's notes on Huckleberry Finn). Timeline. Ind.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(4) YA Understanding Literature series. This series explores the biographical and historical factors that influenced these authors. Each book includes a detailed synopsis of the subject's life and his selected works. Though dry, the books will provide a solid background for readers seeking a deeper understanding of literary classics. Some sidebars and photographs help break up the text. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Understanding Literature titles: A Student's Guide to Jack London, A Student's Guide to Mark Twain, and A Student's Guide to Tennessee Williams.

Reviewer: Allison Cole

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. Anderson's picture book biography provides an appealing sketch of the colorful life of Samuel Clemens. Written in affectionate prose, the text makes clear connections between Clemens's experiences and his writing. While Andreasen's illustrations exude a warmth that matches the tone of the text, they aren't quite lively enough to capture the exploits of one of America's most famous writers.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) K-3 Brown nicely paces Sam Clemens's boyhood escapades as an adventure story that turns into a descriptive biography as Sam grows older. Soft watercolors create a temporal metaphor through changing hues that metaphorically parallel Sam's early life as if it were played out over the course of a day. Author's note included. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(4) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Childhood of Famous Americans series. Illustrated by Frank Habbas. Each of the books in this series intended for emerging readers fictionalizes a childhood episode from the life of a notable historical figure. Earhart, which is divided into chapters and intended for proficient readers, is longer and more detailed (and includes more exclamation points) than the other titles. Illustrated with cartoony color art, the books provide adequate introductions. Timeline. [Review covers these Ready-to-Read titles: Mark Twain at Work!, Thomas Edison to the Rescue!, Sacagawea and the Bravest Deed, and Amelia Earhart.]

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) YA A & E Biography series. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Creative Lives series. Suitable for report writers, the books in this series depict their subjects as sometimes flawed individuals with realistic hopes and fears. Sidebars provide quotations and historical context. Photographs and illustrations enliven the text, but the busy page design is distracting. Each book includes a timeline. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Coco Chanel.]

Reviewer: Kathleen Smith

(3) YA Historical American Biographies series. These effective, if formulaic, biographies are well documented with chapter notes. Information boxes supplement the main texts (for instance, a reference to Mark Twain seeing a Pony Express rider is accompanied by a sidebar that provides a brief overview of the Express). Unexceptional black-and-white photos illustrate the lucidly written books. Time lines are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ronald Himler. Ross includes some literary analysis, with a particular focus on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in this biography that describes Twain's character as well as achievements and failures. The text is entertaining and accessible but uses some fictional dialogue and includes no documentation for many of the quotations. Himler's sketches aptly convey a sense of Samuel Clemens's life and times. The bibliography includes almost all adult titles.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) K-3 This biography of Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain is in equal parts a paean to his beloved steamboats and an account of their short-lived reign on the mighty Mississippi. It parallels the steamboats' rise and fall with Clemens's life from youth to steamboat pilot to celebrated author. Maps, diagrams, and bibliographies incorporated into the intricate illustrations add to an unusual and interesting take on two revered American institutions. Bib.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin