(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Iain McIntosh. In this latest story about the School Ship Tobermory, students and teachers head to Australia, where they plan to take place in a sailing race. Adventures ensue, including running out of water three days from land, encountering deadly crocodiles, and rescuing a stranded boy. Smith's tone is engaging throughout, and the interplay among the characters feels authentic. McIntosh's expressive pen-and-ink illustrations heighten the drama.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) K-3 Captain Mouse faces "big waves and watery perils" on her adventure-filled sailing expedition to visit her brother. Luckily, friends Frog and Dragonfly are ready to answer her post-shipwreck cries for help. In a mainly seafoam and blue palette, the illustrations zoom in on the captain and her walnut-shell boat, before the wider perspective of the final spread reveals the humorously puddle-size "sea."

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(2) PS Little Pig's (Little Pig Joins the Band) older siblings are going to sailing camp; he reluctantly stays behind, learning to tie knots. His grandfathers bring him a toy boat, which keeps him entertained all week. Friendly watercolors capture the hustle-and-bustle of a large family, Little Pig's initial loneliness, and summer days spent knee-deep in a (beautifully evoked) pooled-up stream. A profusion of speech bubbles adds drama, immediacy, and humor.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim. Back for a third summer with their aunt on Cape Cod (The Brightest Stars of Summer; The Forget-Me-Not Summer), sisters Marigold, Zinnia, and Lily immerse themselves in preparations for the town's tricentennial. Their activity-filled days have the girls exploring their own talents, dealing with budding romantic relationships, and struggling to get along and support one another. A welcome addition to this family-focused series.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Églantine Ceulemans. In these offbeat British imports, Pug lives a very spoiled life with equally pampered Lady Miranda. In Captain, they attend a party on a lake, and (water-averse) Pug gets lost and must find his way back to Lady Miranda. The prissy pair's misadventure is on horseback in Cowboy. Color-accented illustrations with a vintage feel make the most of comedic moments. Review covers these titles: Captain Pug and Cowboy Pug.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) YA Escape: Survive series. Teens face natural disasters and evildoers in standalone survival stories. Gloria braves the harsh Arizona desert after an airplane crash (Crash); two frenemies lost at sea overcome the elements and modern-day pirates (Skies); an American church youth group escapes a volcanic eruption and flees Congolese rebels (Wind). The hi-lo narratives are accessible, but the melodramas become tiresome. There are three other fall 2017 books in this series. Review covers these titles: The Evil Wind, Crash, and Red Skies.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vin Vogel. Two vacationing boys rent a sailboat, get lost, and are shipwrecked in a storm. Tightly wound Bob worries while laidback Joss goes with the flow. Details in the cartoonlike illustrations (as well as handy GPS coordinates) eventually confirm that they've landed on their original resort island. Humor stems from the situation, the boys' opposite approaches to life, and their lively dialogue.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Iain McIntosh. The sequel to School Ship Tobermory follows the diverse international boarding-school ship as it sails from Scotland to the Caribbean. The children befriend and help a local boy and all work together to thwart modern-day pirates. Bullies and bad guys exist at sea and on land in the rollicking sailing adventure reminiscent of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(1) PS As in Fire Engine No. 9, Austin live-streams an intense rescue mission: Rescue Squad No. 9's helicopter and boat crews race into a storm to find a stranded kid sailor and a Dalmatian. Dynamic illustrations and forceful text ("S O S / MAYDAY! / MAYDAY! / MAYDAY!"), skillfully incorporated in a propulsive, left-to-right design, telegraph the situation's urgency. Practical, helpful "Water Smart" tips are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(3) K-3 Signal flags, the phonetic alphabet, Morse code, and semaphore are introduced and then explained in detail from A to Z; each flag appears on a double-sided page. With its clean, well-thought-out design; bold colors; and strong graphic illustrations, the book will appeal to boat lovers and code- and language enthusiasts alike. Further information is appended. Websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(2) 4-6 Chris, his "daredevil" uncle, and another boy, Frank, sail down the Alaskan coastline. The boat sinks, Uncle Jack with it, and the boys are left to survive in a rugged world, facing grizzly bears, wolves, and their own prickly relationship. Lawrence's muscular prose is a pleasure to read for the sheer enjoyment of active verbs and lively similes. An emotionally engaging and heart-pounding read.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2016

(3) 4-6 After an earthquake and tsunami kills his grandparents in Japan, biracial Kai is sent to live with female cousin Jet's family in Astoria, Oregon. Aspiring bar pilot Jet and Kai, whose Obā-san taught him to make boats, enter a geocaching hunt/sailing regatta. With some exploration of biracial/bicultural identity, Parry focuses on the cousins' friendship and the exciting competition. Extensive back matter included. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Nathan Durfee. When her best friend Bess moves away, Claire becomes the only girl in her Chesapeake Bay–island elementary school. Letters to Bess trace the tribulations and eventual triumphs of Claire's fifth-grade year, from eating lunch alone every day to winning the junior regatta. Claire is a feisty and sympathetic heroine; the voice is lively and the pace quick in this engaging epistolary novel.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 4-6 This adaptation of Tougias's adult book will thrill readers who relish survival stories. A vicious, unexpected storm capsizes a sailboat, nearly destroys the life raft to which three men cling, and threatens the lives of the coast guardsmen sent to rescue them. Tougias describes their peril and courage in exhilarating detail. An insert with photos and maps helps landlubbers comprehend the true events.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) 4-6 True Stories, Real People series. Each short, inspiring biography is divided into four or five chapters written in an objective, unpretentious manner. Quotation sources are fastidiously footnoted and listed in the back matter. Navigation is easy thanks to clean layouts and a simple color scheme (orange photo captions, navy call-out boxes). Great for school assignments and engaging enough for pleasure reading. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following True Stories, Real People titles: Alia Muhammad Baker, Aron Ralston, Malala Yousafzai, Abby Sunderland, and Bethany Hamilton.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) YA After fourteen years of sunlight, Marin, her twin brother Kana, and their fellow islanders prepare to leave ahead of the impending fourteen-year night. But when their friend Line goes missing, Marin and Kana search for him and all three are left behind; they soon discover something dangerous emerging from the woods. Creditable suspense and a strange, lush world distinguish this offbeat fantasy.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) K-3 Tales of the Time Dragon series. In another accessible time-travel story (Days of the Knights), while researching clipper ships, Lily and Joe are yet again sucked into their computer, this time to the year 1851 where they join their friend Red (a time-traveling dragon) on a sea voyage. Lily and Joe learn about navigation, battling storms, and sailing. More information about clipper ships rounds out the book. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 4-6 An improbable accident drops Timothy and Jessamyn's sailboat into the storm sewers underneath New York City. The two middle schoolers enjoy their impromptu adventure until they encounter a dangerous criminal enterprise. Though creative and adventurous, the story is interrupted by short, unnecessary history lessons about different areas of the city, and unexplained nautical terms are used frequently.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series. Illustrated by Adam Stower. Ben, Jill, and Robert continue their efforts to save their school from demolition by unsavory corporate forces. Clements deftly weaves setting and plot, but copious series re-capping drags the pacing down, and references to historical battles are almost too subtle. Stower festoons his pen-and-ink drawings with splashes of green, mixing modern characters with an old-fashioned mystery look.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) K-3 Xtreme Races series. These books deal with four of the nation's most popular and time-honored racing events. They relate the history and uniqueness of each competition, give specifics of each race, and briefly touch on important participants, including some animal champions in Derby and Iditarod. Color photographs vary in quality and there are some poor design choices; "Xtreme Fact" inserts add compelling details. Glos., ind. Review covers these Xtreme Races titles: America's Cup, Indianapolis 500, Iditarod, and Kentucky Derby.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg