(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old June, an accomplished viola player; her little sister, Maybelle; and their mom land in Huey House, a family shelter in the Bronx, after they lose their apartment. There June meets Tyrell, a boy who loves listening to classical music and is a three-year resident of the shelter. Glaser (The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street rev. 11/17, and sequels) writes with warmth and understanding about the complexities of family housing instability. Chapters alternate between June's and Tyrell's points of view. Tyrell offers June a new community, and June brings music to Tyrell. The drama unfolds as the mayor's proposed policy for ending homelessness actually threatens the children's safety net, and the protagonists work together to convince the mayor to rethink her plan. With sympathetic characters, a satisfying ending, and young people who take strong action to help themselves and others, the novel is readable and engaging and provides a valuable glimpse into a complicated social issue.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 Arnold presents an accessible and relatable immigration story, engagingly interwoven with magic. Holding the hope of her family on her shoulders, ten-year-old Gabrielle is determined to be on her best behavior when she leaves her home in Haiti for the "heaven" of America, moving in with her uncle and his family in Brooklyn. However, she realizes that life in the U.S. is not as magical as she had anticipated: her English is limited, her hair doesn't flow like it does for the girls on TV, and her clothing stands out. All she wants is to be a regular American girl. Seeing her desire to fit in, an evil witch, Lady Lydia, offers Gabrielle a deal. The witch will grant her three wishes, but, with each wish, ­Gabrielle will lose some "small, insignificant" thing--a strand of hair, a sock. Although that seems like a harmless exchange, Gabrielle soon realizes that her desire to be "­American" will cost her much more than she'd bargained for, and she must decide how much she is willing to lose in order to belong. Although the pacing is somewhat uneven at the end, the book presents an engrossing story of self-acceptance and ­self-discovery and will appeal to readers who enjoyed Callender's Hurricane Child (rev. 5/18).

Reviewer: S. R. Toliver | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) YA Illustrated by Rovina Cai. Elliott's (Bull, rev. 3/17; Voices, rev. 3/19) poetry is by nature taut with intensity, an effect he achieves in part through his skill with verbal rhythms, rhyme, and formal poetic structures; in part through his gimlet-eyed focus on human passion, expressed through multiple voices. He brings all this to his verse-novel interpretation of the Grimms' tale "The Seven Ravens," with poetry so propulsive that it seems to cry out for oral performance. Changed into ravens in a fit of their father's rage, seven brothers are transformed back into humans through their only sister's stalwart determination. In Elliott's retelling, one boy, Robyn, retains his wings (a variant of the Grimms' "The Six Swans"), at home "between humanity / and bird." Instead of feeling bad for being "sensitive" and "girlish and slender," unlike his boisterous brothers (humorously, all named Jack), Robyn now embraces his hybrid self--just one example of how this work is rich for discussion. Thus, once again, Elliott delves into the nuanced force of human passion (though he gives ravens' interesting propensities shorter shrift). Interspersed ­ink-and-brush illustrations accentuate the dark feathers and flight of the tale's magic.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by John Herzog. "Clarinet and Trumpet were friends from the first note." The relationship hits a sour note, however, when Clarinet meets Oboe: "Woodwinds should stick together." Sad Trumpet eventually "slid[es] in with" Trombone; French horn and Tuba join them, while Flute and Bassoon back up the woodwinds. A discordant music-room rumble ensues until cool Saxaphone--a brass woodwind--swings in, reminding everyone that playing in harmony sounds best. With an upbeat message about friendship, this pun- and onomatopoeia-filled story is a lively introduction to instruments. The cheery digital illustrations have a retro-cartoon vibe.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) PS Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. A direct-address text demands the reader's attention with the query: "Are you tired of being treated like a little kid?" Who isn't! A brown-skinned South Asian "little kid" in pigtails believes that all she needs to do to be taken seriously is to dress herself in a "colorful, twinkly, silky sari." The offstage narrator walks the girl through the steps of folding and pleating it and putting it on, but nothing goes (or looks) as it should. The petticoat and pleats aren't quite right; a hole appears in the fabric. Instead of obsessing over those faults, the girl loads each of her appendages with bangle bracelets and dons sparkly high-heeled sandals, all borrowed from her unsuspecting mother. As the narrator exhorts her to "go show...your glamorous grown-up look" to her family, the girl starts to teeter on her high heels. A page-turn reveals her careening into an extended family gathering; food, drink, and sandals fly through the air. Illustrations employ a colorful palette that pays homage to richly hued sari fabrics, contrasting a sari's elegance with the girl's clumsy earnestness. Her understanding family takes her youthful missteps with a healthy dose of humor, assuring readers that maybe being a "little kid' isn't so bad after all.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gilbert Ford. This curated collection of transportation advancements begins in eighteenth-century France with the invention of the hot-air balloon. Kirkfield steers readers through a chronological tour of eight more innovations such as the steam locomotive, liquid-fuel-propelled rocket, and folding wheelchair. A chapter about Raye Montague, a Black female engineer who pioneered computer-generated ship design, is notable among the mostly white men featured. The narrative emphasizes inventors' perseverance and ability to learn from mistakes. Copious cartoon illustrations help set the time period, add humor, and break up the narrative. A timeline from 8000 BCE to 2012 CE runs from the front endpapers to the back. A list of related websites, a bibliography, and an index are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ken Lamug. Zia, a brown-skinned girl with a huge afro puff and an expansive imagination, discovers a hole in her pocket. Then the hole moves to the ground and enlarges, and Zia falls in. ("She might have been afraid except that this was an imaginary hole, so it could only be as scary as she allowed, which was, in this case, not scary at all. 'I hate scary stories,' said Zia.") Wearing overalls that are transformed from drab brown to vibrant red and yellow when she travels from her sepia-toned world to one of full color, Zia creates her own fantastical adventures, always centering the hole. She fills it with water and uses a bow-tie-wearing worm to catch a regal-looking fish; she then declares the hole a swimming hole and cannonballs in, among other exploits. Throughout, Zia and her ingenious imagination remain in complete control. Lamug's innovative and zany colorful illustrations, created with "pencil, paper and some computer magic," exude joy and endless possibilities, portraying Zia in perpetual motion. The continuity of the backgrounds within this circular tale often suggests that Zia hasn't traveled far, but given that her overalls stay colorful at the end of the story, it's clear that her creative adventures have changed everything. A trip you won't want to miss with a kid who can take you anywhere. Pair with Barnett and Klassen's Sam & Dave Dig a Hole (rev. 11/14).

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(1) K-3 El Toro & Friends series. Illustrated by Raúl the Third & Elaine Bay. This easy-reader spinoff series dives into lucha libre action with the fantastical cast from the author's ¡Vamos! picture books (beginning with ¡Vamos!: Let's Go to the Market, rev. 3/20). In Training Day, Kooky Dooky, the ever-peppy and loony rooster, is determined to prepare El Toro for his big match against The Wall (who is undefeated), but El Toro wants to linger in bed and snooze. Eventually Kooky lures El Toro out of bed and all around town, where he chases chickens, smashes piñatas, and "helps las abuelitas cross the street," sharpening his senses, speed, and patience while basking in the motivational cheers from the town's surreal-looking creatures. Tag Team finds El Toro and his tag-team partner, La Oink Oink, the morning after their exhilarating win against the evil duo Donny Dollars and Bald Águila, unable to savor triumph's afterglow because El Coliseo is a spectacular mess. With boom box amped, El Toro and La Oink Oink bust out their lucha moves, battling sticky floors and clogged toilets and getting the job done. Simple sentences and recognizable--yet entirely fresh and original--plot structures set up young readers for accomplishment. Visual and linguistic whirls and twirls match the fast-paced tempo of lucha libre, serving up dazzling Chicano English and details such as El Toro's "teléfono watch-o," the "Punk Nopal" graffiti tag on a bathroom wall, and the revving lowrider onomatopoeia "RRREEOW!" of La Oink Oink's tricked-out ranfla. This pizzazz echoes throughout the chillante palette of matte violet, teal, and orange hues, animating the dynamic motion lines in comic-book-style drawings, rewarding attentive eyes and ears with endless detail and inside jokes. Review covers these El Toro & Friends titles: Tag Team and Training Day.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(1) K-3 El Toro & Friends series. Illustrated by Raúl the Third & Elaine Bay. This easy-reader spinoff series dives into lucha libre action with the fantastical cast from the author's ¡Vamos! picture books (beginning with ¡Vamos!: Let's Go to the Market, rev. 3/20). In Training Day, Kooky Dooky, the ever-peppy and loony rooster, is determined to prepare El Toro for his big match against The Wall (who is undefeated), but El Toro wants to linger in bed and snooze. Eventually Kooky lures El Toro out of bed and all around town, where he chases chickens, smashes piñatas, and "helps las abuelitas cross the street," sharpening his senses, speed, and patience while basking in the motivational cheers from the town's surreal-looking creatures. Tag Team finds El Toro and his tag-team partner, La Oink Oink, the morning after their exhilarating win against the evil duo Donny Dollars and Bald Águila, unable to savor triumph's afterglow because El Coliseo is a spectacular mess. With boom box amped, El Toro and La Oink Oink bust out their lucha moves, battling sticky floors and clogged toilets and getting the job done. Simple sentences and recognizable--yet entirely fresh and original--plot structures set up young readers for accomplishment. Visual and linguistic whirls and twirls match the fast-paced tempo of lucha libre, serving up dazzling Chicano English and details such as El Toro's "teléfono watch-o," the "Punk Nopal" graffiti tag on a bathroom wall, and the revving lowrider onomatopoeia "RRREEOW!" of La Oink Oink's tricked-out ranfla. This pizzazz echoes throughout the chillante palette of matte violet, teal, and orange hues, animating the dynamic motion lines in comic-book-style drawings, rewarding attentive eyes and ears with endless detail and inside jokes. Review covers these El Toro & Friends titles: Tag Team and Training Day.

Reviewer: Lettycia Terrones | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(2) K-3 This humorous and informative book's prickly main character is tired of being misidentified. "Rabbit?...I'm no Flopsy, Mopsy, or Cottontail. I'm a hare. H-A-R-E, hare!" Over the course of the brief, punchy (literally), dialogue-driven story, readers learn some differences between the two related species: for example, hares are larger: "Bigger ears, bigger feet. Check out my toes!" While relating this information to a ground squirrel--whom Hare rudely misnames "Chipmunk"--the self-obsessed leporid completely misses the fact that a predator is stalking them both. No matter; our pugnacious protagonist knocks out "Jackal" (really a coyote, as Chippie reveals) and moseys off into the sunset. No lessons were learned, or character flaws overcome, but readers should get some basic species knowledge and a few laughs. The Sonoran Desert–set digital spreads feature sandy-hued foregrounds, with plenty of wide-open sky. The main characters are outlined in strong black, with an appended search-and-find game challenging viewers to identify additional creatures in the book. A "Similar but Not the Same" page gives brief info about other oft-mistaken pairs: frogs and toads, turtles and tortoises, javelinas and hogs, and more.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Diana Sudyka. In what is in essence a nonfiction early-chapter-book in verse, a young girl moves to a new home. She's lonely, but when she explores the garden, she observes a small treefrog. With no friends, she adopts the treefrog as a surrogate companion and searches for it every day. An expository note placed in the lower right-hand corner of every double-page spread expands each sighting by providing scientific facts about the treefrog's habitat and life cycle. Sidman's narrative, composed of a series of short poems, relates the girl's story of discovering and contemplating the frog, and of eventually finding a human friend who is also happy to observe nature. Sudyka's watercolors showcase the settings and give life to the metaphors--the changing seasons; the rich jewel tones of the frog's surroundings; the treefrog clinging to a leaf, or "snug saddle"; and the quiet pleasures of sharing nature. The language in these poems is simple but not ­simplistic: "I hope you are / somewhere / safe / ­Treefrog // holding on tight / with those grippy toes / riding your / snug saddle of leaves." Each entry crafts a single episode; together the poems construct a clear narrative arc. Appended with a four-part discussion, nicely organized with pertinent headings, about treefrogs and their survival. Altogether lovely.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2021

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jack Teagle. Fans of the authors' Wow in the World podcast will recognize their narrative enthusiasm and energy in this overview. Here they introduce different body systems (e.g., nervous and reproductive) and parts (eyes, skin, bones) with a good dose of humor. Each section is packed with trivia, history, physiology, world records (most stretchy skin, loudest burp), and other tidbits of knowledge. The cartoonlike illustrations incorporate comic panels, spot illustrations, and small photos in a busy but accessible design. A Mad Libs-style "Thank-You Letter to Your Body" encourages readers to appreciate the only body they've got. A glossary, reading list, QR codes for Wow in the World episodes, and an index are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Allan Drummond. Before Dr. Ludwig Guttmann (1899–1980), there was no treatment for a broken spine; paraplegics were deemed incurable and usually died in a matter of weeks. With clarity and immediacy, ­Alexander tells a riveting story. She ­follows Guttmann, a German Jewish ­neurologist, as he flees Nazi Germany; finds a new home in Oxford, England, where, denied a medical position, he does extensive research on the human nervous system; and finally, near the end of WWII, is assigned to a spinal unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he begins implementing a radical new plan of treatment for soldiers with spinal injuries. He gets them out of full-body casts, then sitting up, then out of bed, then doing strengthening exercises, and then--most radical of all--playing competitive team sports. From here, Alexander describes how Guttmann's annual competition, the Stoke Mandeville Games, first held in 1948 with only sixteen participants, grew into the international Paralympic Games, "the third-largest sporting event in the world." Throughout, Alexander conveys the force of Guttmann's commanding personality as well as his fierce drive and determination not just to heal his patients but to change public perception of disabilities and disabled people. A mix of period photographs, charts, and lively and engaging pen-and-watercolor-wash illustrations by Drummond adds even more interest and appeal. Alexander concludes her account, powerfully, with brief biographies of accomplished disabled athletes competing today in sports ranging from sled hockey to wheelchair basketball to cycling. Appended with a timeline, an extensive biography, source notes, and an index (unseen).

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Maya is seeing things, or so she thinks, as weird creatures start appearing in her Chicago neighborhood. Add to that her dreams about a scary shadow-man, and Maya has cause for concern. That concern turns to outright fear when her father, who guards the veil between dimensions, is kidnapped by the Lord of the Shadows, the scary man in her dreams. Maya and her friends, Frankie and Eli, set off on a quest to find Maya's missing dad, face their fears, and contend with powers and worlds they never knew existed. This story features well-executed world-building; complex characters in a diverse cast (Frankie has two mothers, the school principal uses inclusive pronouns); loving, supportive families; and a tight-knit community within a large city. Maya's adventure is steeped in West African mythology, as she learns that she is part orisha and must quickly learn the ropes of the mystical world. Readers, too, are introduced to the world of West African culture, folklore, and spirituality, with nuance about the binaries of good and evil. A welcome addition to middle-grade fantasy centering Black characters, the story is a page-turning ride that will leave readers eager for more.

Reviewer: Monique Harris | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) PS Illustrated by Salley Mavor. "My bed rocks on the water. / My bed sways in the breeze. / My bed's beneath a curtain. / My bed's aloft in trees." A gently rhyming text accompanies exquisitely crafted illustrations, taking listeners on a lulling bedtime journey around the world. Each double-page spread features a different locale (twelve in all); a short paragraph in smaller type follows the brief main text and offers one or two facts about a country, region, or culture: "In warm, humid parts of the world, such as India, finely woven netting prevents mosquito bites, even when one is sleeping with the windows wide open." In an endnote, Mavor (A Pocketful of Posies, rev. 11/10, winner of the 2011 Boston Globe–Horn Book Picture Book Award) discusses the research that informed her hand-stitched illustrations and provides insight into her labor-intensive artistic technique. The mesmerizing scenes--made from "fabric, beads, wire, and yarn on embroidered fabric backgrounds"--incorporate patterns and details relevant to each location, including the Netherlands, Brazil, Afghanistan, Ghana, Canada, and Japan. Bond's (Out of the Woods, rev. 9/15) spare text is a pleasing contrast to the elaborate illustrations. While the book's premise is introducing differences in sleep customs among cultures, young listeners will drift off with a sense that no matter where we lay our heads, we are more alike than not.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) 4-6 Also by members of the staff of the New York Times. Illustrated by various artists. Among the social justice movements at the core of American history is women's suffrage. In this commemoration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, the authors have brought ­previously unsung heroines to the forefront. Women of various races, nationalities, and sexual orientations are celebrated for their contributions to the suffrage movement, even as many fought to be recognized as U.S. citizens. Their stories are woven into the key moments of the suffrage movement, beginning with the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, held in upstate New York close to the ­Haudenosaunee/Iroquois community (who had long embraced women in voting and leadership positions). Care is taken to detail the work of all the women profiled, including when, exactly, they themselves secured the right to vote (for example, due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese American women were not allowed to vote until 1943). Careful to avoid a "happily ever after" message, the book reminds readers that "the battle over who is fully included in American democracy continues." Eye-catching illustrations by various artists bolster these stories of activism and perseverance, including a double-page spread presenting the timeline of women's suffrage as a board game, complete with twists and turns. The back matter comprises an authors' note; suffragist "playing cards"; a comparison chart of women in government leadership positions, from 1920 to 2020; and an (unseen) bibliography and index. There are no source notes indicated in the galley. See also How Women Won the Vote and Lifting as We Climb, reviewed on pages 111 and 115.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(2) YA Chee follows up her successful fantasy trilogy (The Reader and sequels) with this very different work of historical fiction, drawing on her personal family and cultural history for a story of World War II. Beginning in March 1942, three months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, fourteen young people--all but one from San Francisco's Japantown--chronicle, in interlinked stories, their lives over the course of the next three years. Their first-person, present-tense narratives depict a multiplicity of thoughts, feelings, and experiences, particularly regarding the unjust treatment of Japanese American citizens before, during, and after incarceration in internment camps. The result is slightly disorienting as characters come and go, but the overall effect is nuanced and kaleidoscopic. Gaman is a Japanese word for endurance, a dignified response to adversity; it's a characteristic most of these young adults exhibit in one form or another: "The ability to hold your pain and bitterness inside you and not let them destroy you. To make something beautiful through your anger, or with your anger, and neither erase it nor let it define you. To suffer. And to rage. And to persevere." Various graphic elements connect the story to its historical period (drawings, photographs, maps, postcards, telegrams, and newspaper articles), while the author's note grounds it in Chee's extensive research and family experience.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(2) YA Sixteen-year-old Violet Choudhury is a cheerleader; the best friend of Meryl, a popular iconoclast; and a daughter who never knew her dead mother and barely sees her largely absent father. She's also one of the few people of color in Meadowdale, Illinois, and (as her mother was) a member of the Aiedeo, a group of East Indian warrior queens. When her mean-girl classmate, head cheerleader Naomi, is murdered, the Aiedeo give Violet an ultimatum--catch Naomi's killer or become a ghost. This supernatural thriller presents a main character caught in-between--between India and America, between popular and invisible, between Aiedeo and ordinary. Though the Aiedeo and their purpose could have been better explored, Das creates a credible and complex portrait of the challenges of being a teen girl. Both the supernatural and realistic components have much to say about patriarchy and its impact on young women, and while some lessons feel less than gracefully integrated, the elements about judging others too quickly ring true.

Reviewer: Christina L. Dobbs | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(2) K-3 Ablaze with warmth and wonder, Denos's (Windows, rev. 11/17) latest picture book is a story of intergalactic friendship and cosmic wishes. Eridani, a human girl "made of blood and bones" is best friends with Acamar, "more of a constellation than a boy...made of space and stars." Every evening, the two friends share questions and longings. Eridani wonders about flying and comets while Acamar wonders about sunsets and sand. Sparked by curiosity, they wish upon each other--and experience something that is altogether magical. Simultaneously symmetrical and surprising, the text sparkles with alliteration ("Eridani's shiver became a shimmer") and earnest dialogue between the two friends. Rich with texture and movement, the full-bleed illustrations (rendered in watercolor, ink, pencil, and digital collage) sweep over the pages, creating stunning nightscapes that explode with astronomical energy and twinkle with luminous and incandescent constellations. Stellar cool-hued night skies and dotted milky-white galactic constellations effectively contrast with the warmth of Earth and its glowing pink sunsets, flowering emerald vines, and golden candlelit classrooms. An author's note explaining the story's scientific inspiration provides readers with a surprise about the characters' names. Ethereal and evocative (if lengthy), it's the tale of a sincere, starry, and steadfast friendship.

Reviewer: Emmie Stuart | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. Retired sea captain Swashby (captain of the ship El Recluso) loved the sea, but he does not like people. When a bubbly girl and her grandmother move in next door to his house on the beach, Swashby rebuffs their friendly overtures, convinced that neighbors are "nosy, a nuisance, annoying," even though he can't resist grouchily offering advice on proper sand-castle construction and such. Swashby writes the pair messages in the sand, which the sea "fiddled with, just a little bit" to change their meanings from menacing to inviting; for instance, the tide erases most of the letters in his message "Please go away" so that it reads "Play." But when the sea meddles with the girl's sand castle, she plunges into the water, and Swashby doesn't hesitate to dive in after her. After that, he joins the girl and her grandmother for tea, ice cream, lobster, and s'mores, finally accepting that neighbors "could be fun, and friends, and...family." Illustrations home in on facial expressions, Swashby's intricately detailed facial hair, and the girl's nonstop activity, while the text features delightful alliteration and seafaring puns. Readers yearning for the beach will appreciate this feel-good story about a curmudgeon who is coaxed out of his shell and into an unlikely friendship.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020