(1) K-3 It’s been a long wait for this fifth book in the early-reader series (the most recent was Ling & Ting: Together in All Weather, rev. 1/16), but this entry arrives just in time for Lunar New Year—a subject author-illustrator Lin has previously covered in picture-book and novel form. Indeed, twins Ling and Ting can be seen consulting Lin’s book Bringing In the New Year—a fun-to-spot meta-moment for fans. Like the newly independent readers of this book, the young sisters are on their own, with no adult help required: Lin’s vibrantly colored illustrations show them as they clean the house, co-write a two-line poem, fill a bowl with oranges, make lion costumes, and perform a lion dance. As always in this series, humor is the big draw, with punny jokes (“What do dragons like to eat during Lunar New Year?” “Fire-CRACKERS!”) and silly situations well engineered to tickle the target audience. The unique personalities of each sister add to the comedy: practical Ling begins the poem on a serious note (“The old crane steps outside my window, so near”) while goofy Ting reliably lightens things up (“Hey, New Year, come inside this door right here”). Readers encountering these twins for the first (or fifth) time are most definitely “two times lucky.”

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2026

(2) K-3 In the second installment of this comics series for new readers (Cool Buds: To the Rescue!), the Cool Buds—an Arctic fox, Atlantic puffin, Arctic hare, and harbor seal—find a treasure map in a bottle on the beach. After the fox prepares anacks, the quartet sets off on a quest. Thick borders on clearly delineated panels work with the movement of the characters to guide readers through the story. Clean compositions in blues and greens with pops of yellow and orange focus on action and details important to the plot, allowing novice readers to concentrate on decoding words that may be less familiar (rubies, delicious, quest). The friends follow the map to Dog Rock and find another map that leads them to Big Stump. They find a third map, they picnic, nap, and then follow the trail to Square Rock. While the characters don’t have much individuality, their amiable collective personality, occasional species-specific dialogue (the puffin’s “feathers crossed,” the seal’s “flipping out”), and the undeniable fun of following a treasure map give the book enough emotional energy to work. After visions of diamonds, pearls, and goblets (not goblins, the seal clarifies), our heroes find a box with a ping-pong set, which turns out to be all they needed to cap off the “best treasure hunt ever,” in an offering whose sunny spirit warms its snowy Arctic setting.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2026

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Meyers. In the latest book in the series, the mystery surrounds how one dog aptly named Houdini is able to leave Dog Days daycare. King and some other dogs at the facility are discussing the tricks they can do when Houdini disappears. He’s later returned by a neighbor. When Kayla comes back, she and King work together to solve the case using deductive reasoning. There is just enough suspense to keep readers engaged, and the plentiful digital illustrations provide important clues.

Reviewer: Marva Anne Hinton

(1) K-3 I Like to Read: Comics series. Emberley's familiar pink-and-green-pajama-wearing creature (see Let's Go!, rev. 1/23, and others) returns for another imaginative early-reader-comic mini-adventure, this time with a parent in tow. It's bedtime, and after selecting a story (one that alludes to the author's father, Ed Emberley's, Go Away, Big Green Monster!), the pair is interrupted by a blackout. When the flashlight's batteries begin to die, the parent takes the next logical step: climb an impossibly long ladder to gather stars from the night sky. But there are unintended consequences: namely, a sobbing moon afraid of the now-pitch-black night. In a joyful double-page spread, parent and child selflessly release a murmuration of bird-like stars back into the sky, once again leaving themselves in the dark. Cleverly, the parent coaxes the child up to the apartment's roof to enjoy the illumination of the returned stars, allowing the pair to share their long-awaited bedtime story. Emberley's strict adherence to whimsical kid-logic, along with the little creature's repeated declarations ("Too dark!" / "Too bright!"), read as respectful of children's fears, while the ever-changing panel configurations and layouts add complexity to the reading experience. Special attention is given to the manipulation of color to produce lighting effects throughout the book from sources as varied as stars, flashlights, windows, and the moon. Imaginative play brightens up bedtime rituals in this funny and sincere comic perfectly pitched for emerging readers.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(2) K-3 I Like to Read series. Geisel honoree Meisel (for I See a Cat and See Me Run) tells an amusing story of sibling rivalry in cartoons and minimalist speech-bubble dialogue. Before the main text begins, the younger sibling previews the story line with the shout, “I WANT IT!” On the title page, the smiling older sibling saunters in carrying a box overflowing with toys: “Mine.” In just those four words and two images, readers will understand the power dynamic. Meisel’s jaunty pen-and-ink drawings zero in on the plot, while the text maximizes the repetition of simple words. The older sibling plays with vehicles and a superhero action figure in a series of spot illustrations: “Go. Goal. Here I go. Go, go, go.” When the younger sib starts playing with a car the older one isn’t using (“Beep”), the older sibling jumps in (“Mine”). They scuffle over a blue dragon and a stuffed bunny (“I WANT IT. I WANT IT. I WANT IT”) before reaching a compromise. Meisel packs an impressive amount of activity and emotion into a handful of speech bubbles and images in this enjoyable beginning reader.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2025

(2) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. A rhythmic, repetitive text and cartoon illustrations anchor this jovial outing for kids beginning to dig into reading. "The tunneler tunnels in the tunnel." In a spread that shows what's happening both above and below the ground, a penguin laboriously digs its way up into a garden where "the gardener gardens in the garden." Then Penguin pops up on a farm where "the farmer farms on the farm." Pattern established, Rex builds anticipation and offers less-confident readers practice with similar letter combinations and sounds. Spreads are packed with detail (the myriad objects Penguin encounters may bring to mind Barnett and Klassen's Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, rev. 11/14), and readers will notice Penguin delivering sheets of orange paper adorned with yellow stars. What are those about? Gentle humor gives children more to appreciate, particularly when Penguin surfaces in inopportune spots, such as a bank vault. Each page-turn deepens the sense of community as readers see characters sharing hot dogs at a barbecue, cheering at a baseball game, and shopping for groceries. It's no surprise when at book's end everyone who's been invited by the orange papers gathers while the "rocker rocks on the rock" and the "dancers dance at the dance." Clever, entertaining fun.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) K-3 Little Mouse is playing Supermouse when Mama says it's time for bed: "Even Supermice have to sleep." The affable protagonist settles into bed without complaint, Mama turns off the light...and then Little Mouse notices that the closet door is open. Smith's (long-awaited) sequel to his 2010 Geisel Honor winner, Little Mouse Gets Ready, employs a cartoon format to tell the story. The bulk of the text appears in a handful of speech bubbles at the beginning and end, when the two main characters interact. The middle, when Little Mouse reckons with the cat-shaped shadow in the closet, is told with fewer words; the panels here are dominated by deep blues and violets. This palette stands in contrast to the cheerful, light-filled panels that bookend Little Mouse's dark night of the soul, in which mother and child's affectionate gazes and gentle interactions telegraph security. In the dark, Little Mouse is believably frightened, but readers will feel safe as the mouse creeps out of bed and confronts the "monster" in the closet. Little Mouse screams, Mama comes running, everyone chuckles over a misunderstanding, and Little Mouse is tucked safely into bed once more. A satisfying romp for new readers building their own confidence.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. A squid and friends—a turtle, pufferfish, and crab—snag some clothes hanging off the side of a small boat in this kooky, distinctive book for early readers. The buoyant text relies on one-syllable words and a poetic use of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition in phrases and short sentences that have a Seussian cadence. "Four friends, one boat. Two socks, one coat." Pages awash in dappled shades of turquoise, aqua, peach, and raspberry reflect the playful mood as the wide-eyed ocean creatures try on clothes and bicker over who gets the flip-flops. Geisel honoree Windness (for Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends) seamlessly incorporates speech bubbles into the text, adding a layer of complexity and interest while also keeping the low-stakes plot sashaying along. When Squid gets upset, disaster strikes: "I inked!" The friends have just figured out how to work the ink stains into their evolving sense of style when along comes the kid from the boat: "Give my clothes back!" Negotiations ensue, a pair of underwear's early appearance pays off, and the sea creatures put on a parade. A coda with the kid sporting a marine-modified outfit ties the bow on this amusing offering.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 I Like to Read: Comics series. Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. This comics-style beginning reader offers a sci-fi take on sibling rivalry. Artist Lucy and inventor Nera live on the moon in separate halves of the same large house. One day the sisters, who “don’t get along,” both set their sights on picking the same Moon Blossom (Lucy to paint, Nera to study), which leads to an epic battle involving “flippity-flappy butterflies” and “creepy-crawly robot bugs.” Vibrant, chromatic illustrations match the kooky text, giving readers who need to work through some of the more demanding and less predictable words incentive to keep going. When a Galactic Groovy Green Goat that likes to “gobble up fancy flowers” shows up, Lucy and Nera call a truce to collaborate on saving the Moon Blossom. In the process, they learn that caring for the flower together and watching it flourish is more rewarding than fighting over it. This fantastical reader is a good choice for budding speculative fiction fans.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2025

(2) K-3 I Like to Read: Comics series. Cepeda, creator of many excellent first-step beginning readers (I Hop; I Help; I Dig), offers a comic for more experienced readers. "What could go wrong?" a father asks his son while packing the car for a camping trip. Well, for starters, the campground is full, but the pair makes the best of a less-comfortable campsite down the road. When it turns out -- "Uh-oh" -- that Dad forgot the tent poles, they take the opportunity to sleep under the stars. Mostly minor setbacks (skunks, rain) force them to enjoy the experience they're having instead of the one they'd expected. Digital illustrations in aquas, greens, and browns have an ink-and-watercolor feel that suits the low-stakes outdoor adventure. Readers will need some fluency to navigate multiple word bubbles per page, multiple speakers, and compound and multisyllabic words with a number of sound blends and linguistic quirks. Most of the language is likely to be familiar, though, and the illustrations provide support for less common words, such as the night sky full of stars around "Venus...and the Big Dipper...and Capella...and Polaris." When father and son get home, Mom asks how the trip went, and the child shouts, "Everything went wrong...It was great!" A solid lesson for all of us on how to navigate life's little disappointments.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) K-3 Ready to Read: Monster Og series. Illustrated by Elio. Picture book author Dyckman (Wolfie the Bunny, rev. 3/15; How Dinosaurs Went Extinct, rev. 3/23) steps into the beginning reader market with this book for the earliest readers. Og is a turquoise monster with puffy hair, blunt horns, and one tooth -- not even a little frightening. The book uses simple words, short sentences, and a lot of repetition ("This is Og. Og is nice") to ease children just starting to sound out words into this story about the day some sort of creature appears stuck in a block of ice. Og is scared but also determined to get the creature out. Og tries bonking the ice with a log, and when that doesn't work, it's time for a new strategy: "Og can think and make a plan!" For its simplicity, the text has a gentle rhyme scheme and pleasing sense of rhythm that reward the work of decoding. Elio's cartoon-style illustrations are bright, cheerful, expressive, and clearly composed, creating a path for readers who may be struggling with early phonics skills to follow the story. Once Og finally releases the creature from the ice, a new friendship is formed, and readers get a setup for future adventures with this duo.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) K-3 Ready to Read: Monster Og series. Illustrated by Elio. In their entertaining second outing (Og Meets Mog!, rev. 3/24), Og (a gentle turquoise monster) and sidekick Mog (a large, round, catlike creature) are using a tool to "make something cool." Feeling left out, Dog snatches the last cog and drops it into a bog. "Og yells once. Og yells again." In some books, the repetition of sounds can become tedious, but Dyckman's agile deployment comes off as charming and allows children who are just beginning to decode print the opportunity to practice and build confidence in service of a cheerful, relatable story. The strong lines and bold, vaguely retro hues in Elio's images add to the appeal. Characters pop off pages that alternate between double-page spreads and spot illustrations, which controls the pace and gives this straightforward, low-stakes friendship story a feeling of movement and drama. The character design rides the line between cute and weird in a way that will encourage young readers to pick the book off the shelf. In the end, Og executes a plan to get the cog out of the bog, Dog makes amends, and then Og, Mog, and Dog create their "something cool" together. Three cheers for this unique and enjoyable story and friendship team.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(3) K-3 I Like to Read: Comics series. Ebbeler uses a dash of mythology and the comics format in this story about Nick's first day at Icarus Elementary, creating a beginning reader with a controlled ­vocabulary that doesn't feel rudimentary. Young readers will pore over the front endpapers that depict the school as a shadowy labyrinth on a parchment background. The story itself shifts into a traditional comics look in the digital illustrations, with thick lines, bright colors, and speech bubbles. This is where we find Nick contemplating entering the school, when along comes Gus, a minotaur, and it's his first day too. Gus's solution to finding their classroom? "Charge!" The text is primarily sight words, many repeated. Expressive faces, energetic pacing, and the just-right amount of detail in the images create a level of humor and action that is more elaborate than the words on the page. Experienced readers will get as much enjoyment out of this story as new readers will.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(3) K-3 In this early reader comic with a simple but effective rhyming text, Fox plays tricks on Pig during a day of digging on the beach, but gets his comeuppance each time. Helpfully for new readers, each speaker’s speech bubbles are a different shape and color. The thick-lined digital-looking illustrations’ palette, with plenty of yellows and blues, is appropriate to the beach setting.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 I Can Read!: Comics series. In this beginning-reader comic, when Mom says it’s time for bed a young penguin pretends to be a busy adult with “27 emails” to read. Chip complains and suggests that she “be the kid” and turn in, while Chip gets to be the grown-up. A lengthy bedtime routine and Mom’s list of nightly chores makes Chip reconsider. Large panels and simple sentences with a mix of one-syllable and longer words (cf2]laundry, tomorrow), make this a suitable offering for emerging readers.

Reviewer: Marva Anne Hinton

(3) K-3 Adventures of Trim series. Illustrated by Kristy Caldwell. Ship’s cat Trim (Trim Sets Sail) is frightened when he hears there’s a storm approaching, but his friends on the ship teach him how to prepare. Trim learns how to, for example, “reef the sails,” “batten down the hatches,” and “help someone else stay safe”; once everything is done, Trim and a new friend weather the storm safely. The gentle text and friendly mixed-media illustrations show the urgency of the storm but keep it from feeling scary; an endnote explains that Trim is based on a real cat from the early 1800s.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Oddball creatures composed with thick lines and rounded shapes sporting antennae, wings, and tiny dots for eyes climb adjacent hills declaring, "I am king of the mountain. No, I am QUEEN of the mountain!" In a structure reminiscent of the classic beginning reader Mine's the Best by Crosby Bonsall, Jin uses the natural repetition of children trying to one-up each other to create a funny story with few words. Speech bubbles and exaggerated facial expressions show the influence of comics and add cachet for readers who might balk at books they deem too juvenile. A twist in the last act surprises the characters and readers, adding humor and tying the story together. Perfect for new readers, this book also makes for an enjoyable read-aloud.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2025

(1) K-3 I Like to Read: Comics series. Pickle (a dog) and a bird friend decide to drive to Clover Farm to get some strawberries and fresh cream, but soon after they set out, the car breaks down. Instead of listening to the bird's advice ("check the engine"), Pickle exclaims, "This car is junk!" and starts a quest to purchase a new car. This beginning reader in comics format has two to six panels and multiple lines of dialogue per page, so it's best for readers who are building independence; short words and ample repetition support practice. The digital illustrations are in restful shades of blue and green that are a fine match for the story's gentle tone. The use of patterns -- particularly polka dots -- adds a sense of whimsy and visual interest as Pickle goes through the trials and tribulations of car shopping. He wants the fast car until he gets pulled over on his test drive; then he knocks over a bin of oranges while trying out an oversized SUV. And let's not even talk about the price of the fancy car. Eventually, Pickle's mechanic suggests that perhaps filling the old car's gas tank and getting a tune-up might be a better solution. Amusing and highly entertaining.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read Graphics: The Dog and Pony Show series. In this graphic novel for new readers, boisterous Dog is determined to climb a tree. Calm friend Pony helps Dog up, but then how will Dog get down again? Amusing attempts ensue, ending in both characters stuck in the tree. They are saved when snow begins to fall—enough to let them simply slide down a snowdrift (“Down got up!”). Simple, color-coded dialogue balloons aid in readability (as does the opening “How to Read This Book” spread), while strong comics-style images ably convey action and personality.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 In this early reader, an unlikely pair finds friendship. At first, Dog rebuffs Rat’s attempt to play out of fear, but once Dog sees how much fun Rat is having, the canine joins in. The use of one-syllable words such as fast and new along with lots of repetition make this a good choice for children who are relatively new to reading but comfortable with sight words. Meisel’s colorful watercolor, acrylic, and pencil illustrations add humor.

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