(2) 4-6 Marsh's affecting historical novel, inspired by her own family's story, describes the social and political backdrop of the Holodomor, a famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s and was covered up by the Soviets (Ukraine was a republic of the USSR at the time). It opens by introducing Matthew, a present-day, screen-obsessed thirteen-year-old living in New Jersey, "basically under house arrest" during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been asked to help Nadiya, his hundred-year-old great-grandmother, to sort through her belongings; in so doing he starts to piece together the Lomachenko family story. Matthew's chapters alternate with those of Mila, a Young Pioneer living in 1930s Kyiv under the watchful eye of her doting widowed father (and Papa Stalin), and of Nadiya's cousin Helen in Depression-era Brooklyn. The harsh realities of the Stalin regime--where citizens could be declared "class enemies," evicted from their homes, and sent to labor colonies for any perceived anti-Party infraction--come to light. The horrors of state-sanctioned starvation and the desperation of would-be refugees are palpable and disturbing to read, but they are made palatable because the experiences are filtered through the viewpoints and sensibilities of young people caught up in the disaster. The multiple voices come together to bear witness and remind us that history is a collection of stories, "and it matters enormously who gets to tell them." A compelling and timely look at the historically complex and fraught relationship between Ukraine and Russia.

Reviewer: Luann Toth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Maris Wicks. Mary Anning (1799–1847) loved "treasure hunting" with her father and brother along the storm-pounded cliffs of their seaside English hometown, Lyme Regis. The treasures were fossilized shell and bone "curios" they'd sell to tourists. After their father died, her brother discovered what he thought was a giant crocodile head, but it was Mary, at just thirteen, who painstakingly uncovered the entire body. The skeleton (which she thought looked like a dragon) made newspaper headlines before being sold and displayed in a museum and named an "ichthyosaur" (fish lizard). During her lifetime, self-taught Anning discovered five additional extinct creatures, including two species of plesiosaurs. Though she rarely received proper credit at the time, today she is considered the "mother of paleontology." Marsh's mainly upbeat, child-centered text is complemented by Wicks's (Primates, rev. 5/13; Astronauts, rev. 5/20) comic illustration style. Bold pencil outlines and vibrant, digitally colored hues almost pop off the page. Wicks incorporates a few graphic-novel staples--dynamic character expressions, sound effects, and speech bubbles--to add playful touches to the story. Also noteworthy are the recurring luminescent drawings outlined in white that denote Anning's imaginings, whether of extinct creatures she hopes to (or does) discover or of her deceased father watching over her. Back matter includes more details about Anning's life, quick facts about "Mary's dragons" (also creatively featured on the endpapers), information on "How to Become a Paleontologist," and a selected bibliography.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. Here readers meet the original American political odd couple: Samuel Adams, the serious and staunch patriot, and John Hancock, the vain dilettante drawn into the revolution through self-interest. Using a compare-and-contrast structure throughout, and with occasional illuminating quotes, Marsh shows the sharp differences between the two. She presents these men at pivotal chronological points in American history, and by doing so distills much information into small, manageable, and memorable chunks. Despite their differences, the two find common ground when together they unite the colonists around the revolutionary cause. In an afterword, the author notes that the historical lens presented by the available resources reflects a white, male perspective on the past and neglects the circumstances of women, Native peoples, and African Americans. ­Fotheringham, however, acknowledges one such marginalized ­segment of the population in an illustration showing Hancock reading a newspaper, annoyed by Britain's demands, and being served a pot of tea by an African American servant. Hancock remarks, "I will not be a slave"; deadpan, the servant raises an eyebrow at the reader. The digitally rendered illustrations reveal, in the facial expressions of other historical figures, much about their personalities as well as creating the historical landscape. Appended with source notes, multiple end notes, a timeline, a bibliography, websites, and a list of historical places open to ­visitors.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(3) YA In 2015 Belgium, Syrian refugee Ahmed hides in the wine cellar of the house where American Max and his family are staying for a year; eventually, Max and new Belgian friends hatch a scheme on Ahmed's behalf. In third-person narration that alternates between the two boys, Marsh delivers a suspenseful but hopeful story of young people helping each other in a very difficult situation.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Florence Weiser. "Sebastian knows he's a good-looking fox." So why can't he take a decent selfie? He tries wearing snazzy accessories and using different backgrounds (the moon, Hollywood), to no avail. It takes a photobomb by Sebastian's best buddy to expose what's been missing. The art, which has the look of marker drawings, enhances the wit in this wily plug for friendship.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ana Gómez. This cheerful summer-camp story centers on the subtle difference between a buddy and a friend. The blond-ponytailed narrator is initially enthusiastic about showing new camper Dragon the ropes as his assigned buddy, but several mishaps leave them both feeling excluded until Dragon proves himself as a camper and a friend. The kindhearted red dragon towers over expressive-faced human kids in the busy illustrations.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. As a political editorialist, the outspoken and opinionated immigrant Paine (1737–1809) wrote compellingly of the political situation in the American colonies, culminating with his magnum opus, Common Sense. Marsh's clear prose style and short, declarative sentences allow readers to follow events easily. Making the point that words matter, Fotheringham flings hand-lettered words, phrases, and written documents across the pages marking turning points in Paine's life. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Brief chapters introduce newly independent readers to some aspects of the structure, function, and history surrounding Egyptian pyramids. The final chapter ("Still Exploring") effectively highlights recent theories and scientific techniques currently being applied in archaeology. Images of artifacts, photographs of tomb sites, and computer-generated maps, all captioned, introduce readers to myriad sources of historical evidence. "Egypt Word" boxes highlight key vocabulary. Glos.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Twelve-year-old orphan Mary can hardly believe her luck when she is adopted by Madame Zolotaya. Then Mary discovers Madame Zolotaya's true identity: Baba Yaga, that old crone from Russian folklore known for eating children. Instead of fearing her, Mary decides to ask Baba Yaga to teach her magic. Plucky Mary is a heroine to root for; figures from Russian folklore pop up throughout.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2016

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Readers series. Stunning photographs and a simple text leveled for "reading independently" make this engaging nonfiction for young readers. The things bees produce for people, their work as pollinators, and their social lives in hives are shown in eye-catching detail. Boxes featuring definitions and jokes are interspersed throughout. Safety tips, a quiz, and a photo glossary complete the information-rich presentation.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 National Geographic Kids Readers series. Stunning photographs and a simple "Level 1" text with a good amount of information make this engaging nonfiction for new readers. Swimming, eating, hatching, or walking, the photos help explain behaviors and adaptive features of many turtles or tortoises. Boxes featuring definitions and jokes are interspersed throughout the book. A photo identification quiz at the end further encourages detailed observation. Glos.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This level-one reader features brief chapters, an accessible text, and lots of colorful, captioned photos. In addition to introducing nonfiction-book conventions, this title offers clear information about giraffes' habitat, physical adaptations, diet, and behaviors. Word definition boxes and a few jokes are interspersed throughout. A quiz and a photo glossary complete the presentation.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This colorful early reader combines scientific information and funny jokes to highlight the differences between alligators and crocodiles. Playful chapter titles introduce topics such as diet, physical attributes, and habitats. Attention-grabbing photos are paired with simple sentences to make these books accessible and enjoyable for emergent readers. Fun facts and a quiz encouraging memory recall and further thinking are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Brief chapters introduce newly independent readers to the titular subjects. Ugly highlights several animals' quirky physical adaptations. Coral includes some more nuanced information on reefs (e.g., a labeled diagram of reef zones). Bright photos, labeled and at times captioned, clarify textual content, while boxes featuring definitions and jokes increase the books' approachability. A quiz and picture glossary are appended. Review covers the following National Geographic Readers titles: Ugly Animals and Coral Reefs.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Brief chapters (most with two or three sentences per page) introduce early readers to red pandas' habitat, behaviors, and physical adaptations and characteristics. Bright captioned photos provide visual resting points and elaborate on textual content. Boxes featuring definitions and jokes are interspersed throughout, and a photo identification game and picture glossary are appended.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. This collection comprises four previously published beginning readers: Sea Otters, Manatees, Sea Turtles, and Weird Sea Creatures. Simple sentences, a few corny jokes, and well-captioned full-page photos support young readers. Boxed definitions and picture glossaries help with the sometimes challenging vocabulary in the leveled text. Quizzes and suggested activities are included.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These solid leveled readers about the title animals feature simple, clear sentences; attractive, well-labeled photographs; and strong organization. The layouts are energetic, and new readers will especially appreciate the inclusion of jokes. A picture puzzle concludes Koalas, and a "Stump Your Parents" quiz wraps up Manatees; both include a table of contents and a photo glossary. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Koalas and Manatees.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. These solid leveled readers about the title animals feature simple, clear sentences; attractive, well-labeled photographs; and strong organization. The layouts are energetic, and new readers will especially appreciate the inclusion of jokes. A picture puzzle concludes Koalas, and a "Stump Your Parents" quiz wraps up Manatees; both include a table of contents and a photo glossary. Review covers these National Geographic Readers titles: Koalas and Manatees.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Easy-to-read text and format uses interesting facts in a structured way to introduce owls to new readers. Section titles are clear and encourage use of the table of contents. Vocabulary words are defined in "bird boxes" and a picture glossary. Close-up, vivid, well-labeled photographs fill each page. A few jokes are scattered throughout; there is a quiz at the end.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 National Geographic Readers series. Easy-to-read text and format uses interesting facts in a structured way to introduce sea otters to new readers. Section titles are clear and encourage use of the table of contents. Vocabulary words are defined in "otter word" boxes and a picture glossary. Close-up, vivid, well-labeled photographs fill each page. A few jokes are scattered throughout; there is a quiz at the end.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth