(2) YA African American sixteen-year-old Dove ("Birdie") is on the "right" track, with good grades and a clear life plan chosen by her parents. When Birdie's fresh-from-rehab aunt Carlene arrives, Birdie begins to rebel, including by dating Booker, a kindhearted boy with a difficult past. Vivid dialogue and rich descriptions of the Chicago setting serve the story well. Birdie's believable first-person perspective reflects a protagonist who evolves to trust her own instincts.

Reviewer: Christina L. Dobbs | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(4) K-3 Translated by Annie Prime. Elderly Bo lives with young Koko, who greets every direction with "I DON'T WANT TO!" Bo doesn't press, knowing that Koko will eventually see the logic behind wearing a coat (it's cold outside), getting out of bed (how else to get breakfast?), etc. Readers yearning for bratty Koko's comeuppance may be disappointed, but this sweet intergenerational-friendship tale from Sweden features beguiling skewed-line illustrations.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. This sequel to Marge in Charge is more convincing in its depiction of fun-loving Marge, a Mary Poppins–ish babysitter whose adventures just skirt the edges of reality. Jemima and little brother Jake--guided by Marge--take care of a "pirate baby" cousin, go on a water adventure, and save a wedding from disaster. The magic, mayhem, and silliness that ensue are underscored by Ceulemans's line drawings.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(2) YA Mahlia, Ocho, and the "soldier boys" nurse severely wounded half-man Tool (Ship Breaker; The Drowned Cities) back to health. Mercier Corporation (his former owner) pursues Tool to the Seascape (dystopian future Boston), where the once-obedient slave finally confronts his creator. Frenetic action sequences vividly depict combat's brutality and finality, while Bacigalupi masterfully employs multiple alternating viewpoints to examine larger philosophical questions.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017

(4) PS Illustrated by Ella Okstad. Toddler "Tiny Tantrum" throws fits whenever she doesn't get her way. One day, however, some friendly monsters explain why she should put on her coat, eat her broccoli, etc. Tiny listens to their practical advice, also learning a healthier alternative to tantrum-throwing. The rhymed text's obvious message isn't likely to fool kids; the pastel-toned illustrations, especially of Tiny's enthusiastic monster helpers, are more engaging.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. When Jemima and little brother Jake meet diminutive babysitter Marge (size jokes abound), they are astonished to learn that she has rainbow-colored hair under her hat and creates (consequence-free) chaos wherever she goes. Written and illustrated with enthusiasm and energy, this fantasy about a wacky, messier Mary Poppins–type strains a bit too hard to convince us that breaking the rules is tons of fun.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Taking a fall for her twin, good girl Olivia lands at a "positive redirection" camp, where she and rebellious fellow camper Ruby must catalog antiques in a creepy historic mansion. Strange happenings turn the frenemies into ghost-hunting friends. The perceptive and funny dialogue--along with the idea that being frightened can be fun--should resonate with readers navigating the often scary realities of growing up.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) K-3 Making Good Choices series. Illustrated by Victoria Assanelli. In each Choose Your Own Adventure–style lesson book, readers determine a focal character's behavior in a challenging situation: Does Kendra come inside when her father asks, or does she whine and cry (Angry)? The opportunity to make choices seems empowering, but the parental lectures that characters receive ruin the fun. The culturally diverse cast of protagonists often look frozen in place. Reflection questions are appended. Review covers these Making Good Choices titles: You Can Control Your Voice, You Can Handle Conflict, You Can Listen to Directions, You Can Stay in Control, You're Angry, and You're in Trouble.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) 4-6 Jimmy Murphy, the worst sixth grader at his 1950s Catholic elementary school, is the target of humiliation by a new teacher, Sister Angelica Rose--so much so that he enlists his friends in a revenge prank against her that could be dangerous. Fear not: there's a happy ending. Though occasionally quite funny, there's scant historical detail to anchor the semi-autobiographical story.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Ted Enik. Nancy's fancy dog, Frenchy, is a tolerable terror, but the pooch goes too far when she wrecks Nancy's new backpack, which Nancy painstakingly fancied up for the new school year. At puppy school, Frenchy shapes up, after which the beginning-reader story fizzles out. Still, Nancy's fans will get their frilly, frothy fill via Enik's Robin Preiss Glasser–imitating art. Glos.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS A young mouse is trying to be good while its little brother is napping, but every activity the mouse tries threatens to end noisily. Finally, when a block tower falls down, baby brother wakes up and can join the fun. But now his big sibling is snoring... With rounded-edge card-stock pages, this book offers young children a cheery and realistic story about an appealing sibling pair.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 4-6 Cautious Edie spends the summer stuck in Florida, helping fix up her late grandmother's house; that grandmother's list of "Good Ideas for Summertime" sets off a string of antics for Edie and adventurous cousin Rae. Tweens unsure of how much independence they want should relate to Edie's constant mental tug of war between her overprotective mom's voice and her desire to be cool.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) K-3 Though Miles's human family loves him, he is a "very difficult dog." The only time he's cooperative is in the car, so neighbor Mr. Huddy makes Miles his own car. After driving lessons, Miles is ready for the road. As always, Burningham controls pacing through a mix of vignettes, full-page illustrations, and double-page spreads; his pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings are maximally expressive.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Jim Paillot. Class clown A.J. and teacher's pet Andrea make their easy-reader debuts, complete with their usual wordplay, goofiness, and love-hate relationship. Andrea accidentally gets on the wrong side of a museum educator (Museum); A.J. worries that he lacks a school-appropriate talent (Talent Show). Illustrated with Paillot's caricatures (in full color), the slight stories will lure developing readers not quite ready for the chapter books. Review covers the following I Can Read Book titles: My Weird School Goes to the Museum and My Weird School Talent Show Mix-Up.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) K-3 In their second outing, Winnie creates a school in hopes of taming her obstreperous pooch, Waldorf. Winnie's conclusions (e.g., Waldorf is "a genius at art!") contrast drolly with what the energetic watercolors show (Waldorf "paints" by sticking his paws in paint and attacking the paper). The premise has potential, but the story lacks focus.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS Illustrated by Nikki Dyson. Every time patient Mommy announces dinner, bath, even playtime, (human toddler) Mo counters defiantly that dinosaurs don't have to follow rules. Illustrations alternate humorously between Mo and Mommy's playful and messy home world and an unruly, explosive dinosaur world, while a text full of both parent-and-child banter and dinosaur onomatopoeia makes for a rousing read-aloud.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) 1-3 Calico: Pony Girls series. Illustrated by Paula Franco. Four girls experience growing pains of friendship at Storm Cliff Stables camp. Dani, who's from Costa Rica, constantly feels one-upped by her overachiever cousin, Gabriela; Carly hates following rules; Kianna, still seven, faces challenges as the youngest. New readers will have fun horsing around with the girls in these high-interest if facile stories. Average-quality illustrations emphasize the cast's racial diversity. Review covers the following Calico: Pony Girls titles: Carly, Daniela, Gabriela, and Kianna.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Diego Funck. A panda, penguin, and zebra lead readers on a charming tour of the Black and White Factory, where things such as dice, dominoes, and tuxedos are made, and where everyone follows the rules: "No messes. No colors. No surprises allowed. Ever." Then a tiny bit of color sneaks into the monochrome factory...and the crisp illustrations. This funny, interactive romp is a winning celebration of creativity.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(2) K-3 Small dog Emerson has a big bark. When he scares off the neighbor's cat, Kissy, his girl commands, "No more barking!" Fluid lines capture this winsome little dog's energy and subsequent suffering, and varying perspectives and page layouts lead audiences to anticipate the moment when Emerson will let out those pent-up barks. Fortunately, the trigger is Kissy stirring in the bushes (with a surprise).

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2016

(3) YA In a future-Indian dystopia, sex selection has created a steep gender imbalance. As a scarce and privileged female, Sudasa is forced to select a husband, and surplus male Contestant Five is trying not to be picked in order to escape the whole system. Sudasa's free-verse observations alternate with Five's prose narrative in this fascinating what-if tale about gender discrimination and Indian culture.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam