(3) YA Illustrated by Marianne Ferrer. The fifteen-year-old narrator reflects on her leukemia diagnosis and five years of treatment as she waits for her latest test results. Strong bonds with her parents, boyfriend, favorite nurse, and fellow patient Maxine help her cope with pain, fear, stress, loss, and "helpful" comments that are more alienating than encouraging. Stylized, often surreal illustrations in a palette of muted blues and greens with deep red accents heighten the story's emotional impact.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Shelly Ross. The rescue stories of four orphaned raccoon kits and an injured anteater pup are used to spotlight the work of two animal sanctuaries in these series entries. Accessible text, engaging photographs, and frequent informational sidebars allow readers to shadow the volunteer caregivers as they work toward the ultimate goal: releasing the animals back into the wild. One of the young creatures "narrates" part of each book. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these True Tales of Rescue titles: Anteater Adventure and Racoon Rescue.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 True Tales of Rescue series. Photographs by Ella Baron. The rescue stories of four orphaned raccoon kits and an injured anteater pup are used to spotlight the work of two animal sanctuaries in these series entries. Accessible text, engaging photographs, and frequent informational sidebars allow readers to shadow the volunteer caregivers as they work toward the ultimate goal: releasing the animals back into the wild. One of the young creatures "narrates" part of each book. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these True Tales of Rescue titles: Anteater Adventure and Racoon Rescue.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 More than one hundred illustrated recipes are organized into thematic chapters on breakfasts, snacks and beverages, individual and shared dishes, sides, and desserts. In ATK's typically comprehensive style, the recipes are preceded by an introduction covering cooking terminology, tools, kitchen safety, accurate measurement, and helpful skills; sidebars, photographs, and kid-chef commentary throughout offer additional tips. Nutritional information is appended. Ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 In his trademark photo-essay format, Ancona describes and shows diverse groups of students participating in the Cooking with Kids program in schools around Santa Fe, New Mexico. The vivid, close-up color photos depict the kids' active engagement in preparing (with adult assistance) and eating complicated dishes from Morocco, China, Italy, and Mexico; occasional child-drawn spot art is also included. Recipes available online.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 After an introduction to decomposition, this elucidating if obviously grisly volume covers the deaths of seventeen well-known historical figures including Galileo, Van Gogh, and Elvis; shorter connecting sections explore other death-related topics (cannibalism, organ transplants, vampires, etc.). Silly-macabre black-and-white illustrations match the flippant, often gruesome tone of the text. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julian Frost. Scanning electron microscope images by Linnea Rundgren. In this nifty, lighthearted introduction to microbiology, a microbe named Min moves from the book's page to parts of the human body then to a shirt, picking up friends (fellow microbes) along the way. Goofy illustrated microbes are backed up by "really, really close up" photo-images as they comment about their environments (on a tooth: "we're digging cavities!"). A final page reveals more scientific facts about microbes.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) YA This companion to neuroscientist/actor Bialik's Girling Up covers male anatomy, adolescent development, learning styles, physical attractions, and more. The informal, supportive text addresses readers directly in the second person. Bialik uses specific examples from her own adolescence and her two sons' lives. "That's What He Said..." boxes provide personal growing-up anecdotes from several men. Spot art and simple diagrams are included.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays series. Each volume in this appealing, child-friendly series begins with a short introduction to the designated holiday and a few of its celebratory customs, followed by directions for nine or ten holiday-related crafts. Projects include garlands, greeting cards, snacks, decorations, and games. Each project includes a materials list (requiring mainly standard craft supplies) and step-by-step instructions; clear photographs helpfully illustrate crucial steps. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays titles: Super Simple Christmas Activities, Super Simple Earth Day Activities, Super Simple Halloween Activities, Super Simple Presidents' Day Activities, Super Simple Thanksgiving Activities, and Super Simple Valentine's Day Activities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays series. Each volume in this appealing, child-friendly series begins with a short introduction to the designated holiday and a few of its celebratory customs, followed by directions for nine or ten holiday-related crafts. Projects include garlands, greeting cards, snacks, decorations, and games. Each project includes a materials list (requiring mainly standard craft supplies) and step-by-step instructions; clear photographs helpfully illustrate crucial steps. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays titles: Super Simple Christmas Activities, Super Simple Earth Day Activities, Super Simple Halloween Activities, Super Simple Presidents' Day Activities, Super Simple Thanksgiving Activities, and Super Simple Valentine's Day Activities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays series. Each volume in this appealing, child-friendly series begins with a short introduction to the designated holiday and a few of its celebratory customs, followed by directions for nine or ten holiday-related crafts. Projects include garlands, greeting cards, snacks, decorations, and games. Each project includes a materials list (requiring mainly standard craft supplies) and step-by-step instructions; clear photographs helpfully illustrate crucial steps. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays titles: Super Simple Christmas Activities, Super Simple Earth Day Activities, Super Simple Halloween Activities, Super Simple Presidents' Day Activities, Super Simple Thanksgiving Activities, and Super Simple Valentine's Day Activities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays series. Each volume in this appealing, child-friendly series begins with a short introduction to the designated holiday and a few of its celebratory customs, followed by directions for nine or ten holiday-related crafts. Projects include garlands, greeting cards, snacks, decorations, and games. Each project includes a materials list (requiring mainly standard craft supplies) and step-by-step instructions; clear photographs helpfully illustrate crucial steps. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays titles: Super Simple Christmas Activities, Super Simple Earth Day Activities, Super Simple Halloween Activities, Super Simple Presidents' Day Activities, Super Simple Thanksgiving Activities, and Super Simple Valentine's Day Activities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays series. Each volume in this appealing, child-friendly series begins with a short introduction to the designated holiday and a few of its celebratory customs, followed by directions for nine or ten holiday-related crafts. Projects include garlands, greeting cards, snacks, decorations, and games. Each project includes a materials list (requiring mainly standard craft supplies) and step-by-step instructions; clear photographs helpfully illustrate crucial steps. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays titles: Super Simple Christmas Activities, Super Simple Earth Day Activities, Super Simple Halloween Activities, Super Simple Presidents' Day Activities, Super Simple Thanksgiving Activities, and Super Simple Valentine's Day Activities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays series. Each volume in this appealing, child-friendly series begins with a short introduction to the designated holiday and a few of its celebratory customs, followed by directions for nine or ten holiday-related crafts. Projects include garlands, greeting cards, snacks, decorations, and games. Each project includes a materials list (requiring mainly standard craft supplies) and step-by-step instructions; clear photographs helpfully illustrate crucial steps. Glos. Review covers these Super SandCastle: Super Simple Holidays titles: Super Simple Christmas Activities, Super Simple Earth Day Activities, Super Simple Halloween Activities, Super Simple Presidents' Day Activities, Super Simple Thanksgiving Activities, and Super Simple Valentine's Day Activities.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 Translated by Paul Kelly. Illustrated by Miguel Bustos. In this Spanish import, young Lucas visits a variety of crowded spots (circus, airport, park) in search of a friend. His search is unsuccessful, but the reader is asked to spot dogs, ducks, cars, and more in bustling, stylized pictures dominated by the color purple. Final pages challenge readers to expand their seek-and-find experience by including friends ("I see something you can't see... What is it?").

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Survival Tails series. Illustrated by Owen Richardson. Animal fantasy meets history in this enjoyable new series about dogs who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances: aboard the Titanic and on Shackleton's expedition. Occasional realistic illustrations highlight key narrative events. An appended author's note in each reveals surprising real-life facts woven into the stories: a cat traveled with Shackleton's men to the Antarctic; several dogs survived the Titanic's sinking. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos. Review covers these Survival Tails titles: Endurance in Antarctica and The Titanic.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Survival Tails series. Illustrated by Owen Richardson. Animal fantasy meets history in this enjoyable new series about dogs who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances: aboard the Titanic and on Shackleton's expedition. Occasional realistic illustrations highlight key narrative events. An appended author's note in each reveals surprising real-life facts woven into the stories: a cat traveled with Shackleton's men to the Antarctic; several dogs survived the Titanic's sinking. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos. Review covers these Survival Tails titles: Endurance in Antarctica and The Titanic.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Photographs by Jennifer S. Larson. An introduction includes information on plant growth, North American hardiness zones, soil pH, pollination, and supplies. Each of the four chapters that follow group projects by growing method (from seeds, cuttings, etc.) and include one or two recipes for the resulting vegetable, herb, or fruit. Plentiful bright, close-up photos illustrate the step-by-step directions. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) YA Photographs by Jennifer S. Larson. Reuse and re-purpose everything from socks to sweaters to tin cans and produce hats, gloves, home décor, and more. Each of thirty appealing projects is rated for difficulty; the entries include inspiration for the crafts, required equipment and materials, and step-by-step instructions. Full-color photos show the processes as well as the finished products, some modeled by young people. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) K-3 On Halloween, the honeybee-costumed Bear (Bear's Merry Book of Hidden Things) searches for his favorite treat in a corn maze, pumpkin patch, haunted library, and more. He discovers candy corn, spider rings, and other Halloween-themed treasures, but there's no honeycomb to be found--until he arrives home. (Surprise!) Kids will gladly join in the search but may need to reference the last page for hints before returning to pore over the detailed scenes.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges