(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Douglas Holgate. Aspiring archaeologist Clementine--raised on digs all over the world by a now-missing archaeologist mother--and her robot brother escape their orphanage and enter a dangerous car race through desert terrain to recover hidden artifacts. A futuristic Indiana Jones–esque story rolls out in graphic-novel format. Action-packed panels and a dark, ruddy palette capture the adventure's dirt and grit.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Isabel Greenberg. The mysterious life and death of King Tut and the story of Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of Tut's tomb are recounted in an engaging narrative. The majority of the book focuses on Carter's excavation and what was learned from the site. Greenberg's colorful, stylized illustrations recall the hybrid 2D/3D aesthetic of ancient Egyptian artwork, even in their depiction of modern people.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Drew Shannon. Climate change is causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt. As the ice recedes, ancient artifacts are revealed and archaeologists scramble to recover them before they are destroyed. This book explores glacial archaeological sites from around the world, detailing the artifacts recovered and what they teach us about the past. Color photographs and illustrations provide visual depictions of the time periods being discussed. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Science Comics series. This continuing series gives the graphic-novel treatment to an exploration of one of nature's top predators. The text is heavily loaded with shark facts and yet doesn't feel ponderous. Detailed illustrations rely on shades of blue and green to emphasize the aquatic nature of the topic. The comic-book layout is easy to read, breaking the text up into manageable chunks. Glos.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Graves's prose recounting of the Trojan War and the fall of this ancient city is back in print in a handsome volume with a new introduction by Dan-el Padilla Peralta. With research into Homer and "various other Greek and Latin authors," Graves's narrative is nevertheless free-flowing and not burdened by the often-ponderous language of strict translations of ancient accounts.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Julius Zebra series. Zebra Julius and his animal friends (Rumble with the Romans!) continue their gladiatorial adventures, this time being sent to Londinium to fight Celtic gladiators while trying to escape from their Roman captors. The protagonists are still awkward, gangly, and mostly clueless, but the silly story's irreverent humor and goofy, black-and-white cartoon illustrations on every page should entertain readers.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Olympians series. O'Connor's tenth Olympians book focuses on the mischievous Hermes. This volume emphasizes the inherently comical nature of the god's myths, making it more lighthearted than previous entries. The graphic-novel format is well suited to retelling these stories, with the artist drawing influence from both classical art and old-school comic-book styles. Author's note, "G(r)eek Notes," and character bios provide additional insight. Reading list. Bib.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Behind the Legend series. Illustrated by Jomike Tejido. This fascinating series looks at the myths surrounding legendary creatures. Also explored are the factual or scientific bases that provide reasonable explanations for how these creatures may have entered into folklore. Each chapter is further divided into subsections and sidebars, which makes for easily digestible information. The cartoon-style illustrations tend toward dark and brooding and fit well with the subject matter. Reading list. Bib. Review covers these Behind the Legend titles: Unicorns, Werewolves, and Zombies.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Science Comics series. Illustrated by Jacob Chabot. This entertaining (and timely) volume in the educational graphic-novel series takes a look at the history of robots, guided by a mechanical bird from ancient Italy named Pouli ("the first machine that ever flew through the sky"). The comic-book layout is easy to follow, and the detailed text is matched with art that is bright, expressive, and meticulous. Glos.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Thrifty Guides series. Illustrated by David Sossella. These tongue-in-cheek travel guides to Ancient Greece and Rome provide lots of historical information while incorporating plentiful humor, and cartoony illustrations add to the effect. As the jokey narratives cover important aspects of these civilizations, inserts suggest people and places to see during your "trip." Yes, the time-travel conceit is gimmicky, but it makes for entertaining reading. Bib. Review covers these Thrifty Guides titles: The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Greece and The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Thrifty Guides series. Illustrated by David Sossella. This tongue-in-cheek travel guide to Revolutionary Colonial America provides lots of historical information while incorporating plentiful humor, and cartoony illustrations add to the effect. As the jokey narrative accurately covers important Revolutionary War milestones, inserts suggest people and places to see during your "trip." Yes, the time-travel conceit is gimmicky, but it makes for entertaining reading. Bib.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Thrifty Guides series. Illustrated by Xavier Bonet. These tongue-in-cheek travel guides to Ancient Greece and Rome provide lots of historical information while incorporating plentiful humor, and cartoony illustrations add to the effect. As the jokey narratives cover important aspects of these civilizations, inserts suggest people and places to see during your "trip." Yes, the time-travel conceit is gimmicky, but it makes for entertaining reading. Bib. Review covers these Thrifty Guides titles: The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Greece and The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love. This handsome, hefty volume provides readers with a comprehensive introduction to Norse mythology. A master of myths and legends, Crossley-Holland accessibly retells a multitude of myths, from the world's creation to eventual destruction. The striking acrylic and ink illustrations--mostly black-and-white silhouettes with occasional color highlights--emphasize the dark nature of the stories. Glos.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Graphic Library: Graphic Lives series. Illustrated by Diego Aballay. These graphic novels detail the lives of the titular historical figures, with emphasis on events that garnered each the most notoriety. The comic-book format makes the volumes feel more like stories than typical biographies, which may appeal to reluctant history readers. The art in both books is generic and busy but decently expressive. Contextual notes, discussion questions, and writing prompts are included. Reading list, timeline. Glos. Review covers these Graphic Library: Graphic Lives titles: Anne Frank and Leonardo da Vinci.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Graphic Library: Graphic Lives series. Illustrated by Fabián Mezquita. These graphic novels detail the lives of the titular historical figures, with emphasis on events that garnered each the most notoriety. The comic-book format makes the volumes feel more like stories than typical biographies, which may appeal to reluctant history readers. The art in both books is generic and busy but decently expressive. Contextual notes, discussion questions, and writing prompts are included. Reading list, timeline. Glos. Review covers these Graphic Library: Graphic Lives titles: Anne Frank and Leonardo da Vinci.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 The title character and his henchmen, Number 8 (a sharply dressed octopus) and Eugene (a diminutive abominable-snowman clone), engage in various plots to take over the world. Their plans fail in spectacularly silly ways due to their collective ineptitude. This graphic novel uses bright colors and copious panels (some cramped) to emphasize the silly nature of the group's "evil" deeds.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Translated by Jeremy Tiang. Chinese teens Tianyi and Kai team up with other treasure hunters to find lost riches in a (fictional) desert. The group must work together against enemies both natural and supernatural in order to survive their ordeals. Unusual for the genre of adventure/survival thriller, the supernatural elements are incorporated matter-of-factly. Lots of action and intrigue make for an entertaining read.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Creep Out series. This parapsychology series superficially explores fear and types of creepy locations. Each slim book highlights what makes the place so scary through matter-of-fact yet evocative writing: "Tombstones stand around you... You shiver. You are in a cemetery." Colorful photographs appear manipulated to enhance the creep factor. Short, simple sentences make for an easy read, though one pretty scary for the intended first-grade-and-up audience. Review covers these Creep Out titles: Caves, Cemeteries, Ghost Towns, Haunted Houses, Old Jails, and Tombs.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Creep Out series. This parapsychology series superficially explores fear and types of creepy locations. Each slim book highlights what makes the place so scary through matter-of-fact yet evocative writing: "Tombstones stand around you... You shiver. You are in a cemetery." Colorful photographs appear manipulated to enhance the creep factor. Short, simple sentences make for an easy read, though one pretty scary for the intended first-grade-and-up audience. Review covers these Creep Out titles: Caves, Cemeteries, Ghost Towns, Haunted Houses, Old Jails, and Tombs.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) K-3 Creep Out series. This parapsychology series superficially explores fear and types of creepy locations. Each slim book highlights what makes the place so scary through matter-of-fact yet evocative writing: "Tombstones stand around you... You shiver. You are in a cemetery." Colorful photographs appear manipulated to enhance the creep factor. Short, simple sentences make for an easy read, though one pretty scary for the intended first-grade-and-up audience. Review covers these Creep Out titles: Caves, Cemeteries, Ghost Towns, Haunted Houses, Old Jails, and Tombs.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo