(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

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Katy Wu. This engaging nonfiction picture book details the SR 99 Tunnel project in Seattle, focusing on the journey of Bertha, a massive tunnel-boring machine, as she digs through the city. With a compelling text and mid-century-modern-style illustrations, the book illuminates the complex engineering behind the project and Bertha’s impressive feats. Back matter packed with fascinating facts and additional resources rounds off this title that’s sure to please young construction enthusiasts.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) K-3 Thief 1, Thief 2, and Thief 3 have a simple plan: they will dig a tunnel and rob a bank. But even the best-laid plans require better navigational skills than those possessed by this trio, and though they manage to find a concert, a wrestling match, and the other side of the world -- and new friends in each of those places -- the bank eludes them. The tone remains deadpan as events grow increasingly absurd, while humor is plentiful in the naive-style illustrations. The images of the thieves themselves are especially simple, but Camp conveys much about their emotions (frequently surprise or confusion) with a few well-angled lines. Cross-sections of scenes provide dramatic irony as viewers can see beyond the thieves' literal tunnel vision. But bank or no bank, the real treasure is the friends they make along the way. (Thief 3 even posits that the treasure is "a metaphor and...actually in our hearts," though Thief 1 and Thief 2 dismiss this suggestion as "very corny.") Preposterous fun for the savvy young reader or read-aloud audience.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(3) K-3 Super Simple Engineering Projects series. This series clearly explains engineering principles through hands-on projects. Six-page introductions define each engineered structure, briefly describing its construction, uses, and different types. Five or six activities follow, and "Digging Deeper" sidebars expand on the science involved. Simple directions, inexpensive materials lists, and plenty of helpful photographs make this series a good choice for budding engineers. Each book concludes with a three-question quiz. Glos. Review covers these Super Simple Engineering Projects titles: Engineer It! Bridge Projects, Engineer It! Canal Projects, Engineer It! Dam Projects, Engineer It! Road Projects, Engineer It! Skyscraper Projects, and Engineer It! Tunnel Projects.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 Engineering Marvels series. These books provide brief accounts of major engineering feats--three transportation marvels and three iconic structures. Each book includes the project's purpose, how it was built, personnel involved, and physical challenges encountered. Archival and recent photographs give insight into the construction process. The lackluster texts are enhanced with sidebars providing statistical data and examples of similar projects. A short quiz is included in each title. Glos. Review covers these Engineering Marvels titles: Building Route 66, Building the Channel Tunnel, Building the Panama Canal, Building the Empire State Building, Building the Golden Gate Bridge, and Building the Hoover Dam.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) K-3 Engineering Super Structures series. Each book in this series superficially introduces newly independent readers to a different type of engineered structure, noting its history, construction, uses, and maintenance. Every spread contains a few simple sentences--with new vocabulary in bold--plus accompanying photographs (including an awkwardly superimposed image of a child). A concluding "Think About It" question offers an opportunity for a bit of deeper reflection. Glos. Review covers these Engineering Super Structures titles: Dams, Bridges, Canals, Roads, Skyscrapers, and Tunnels.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Cold Whispers II series. Illustrated by Timo Grubing. These not-too-scary hi-lo horror stories rely on setting to create a chilling atmosphere with a mystery twist. The stories are mildly entertaining, and all are resolved with happy endings. The illustrators' styles vary in quality, but all tend toward a generic comic-book look. "What Do You Think?" questions are appended. Glos. Review covers these Cold Whispers II titles: Doomed on Death Row, Fright at the Freemont Library, Terror in the Underground Tunnel, and The Vampire's Lair.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Justin K. Thompson. A lone fox observes its environs--once a forest, now suburbia. The first-person narrative is straightforward, with twinges of nostalgia; the angular illustrations feature retro-looking architectural details. Then the tone shifts: the fox sees construction workers--but what they're building is a wildlife preserve and "highway wildlife underpass," a safe pass-through for the animals. An author's note tells more about these types of structures.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by James Gulliver Hancock. Price distributes her subterranean material into nine extremely varied sections, including earth's layers, underground-dwelling animals, tombs through history, and the Tokyo underground. Each subtopic occupies a double-page spread, with short paragraphs, informative captions, and the occasional humorous aside. Colorful illustrations, from documentary photos to detailed cartoon cross-sections, draw the reader into this world of naked mole rats and buried treasure. Ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 As the title suggests, this is the end of a series, the sixth volume about the epic battle between humans and the underworld Styx. Massive surprises, shocking deaths, and (mostly awkward) plot twists await, and fans may leave feeling more confused than resolved. The determined humans hoping to save the world are amiable protagonists and they balance the plot problems.

Reviewer: April Spisak

(3) 4-6 Great Idea: Engineering series. Kallen's comprehensive introduction to the longest undersea tunnel in the world, connecting Great Britain and France, candidly captures the notion that while such engineering feats can be easily imagined, implementation is far trickier and often faces many critical setbacks. A welcome discussion of the structure's environmental impact is included. Diagrams, maps, and historical photos helpfully amplify the account. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Shara Hardeson

(4) 4-6 This British import, the fifth in the series, picks up with the brutal Styx infesting England while a scrappy band of humans is still trying to save the world from certain destruction. Die-hard fans of the series will be used to the uneven pace and stilted dialogue; the creepy, monstrous Styx are memorable enough to compensate for the writing flaws.

Reviewer: April Spisak

(4) 4-6 This fourth book follows aptly named Will Burrows (Tunnels, Deeper, Freefall) and his friends as they traipse back to the world at Earth's core and to Topsoil. Though the story line attempts to follow too many characters--including clever heroes and even more interesting villains--the book's fast-paced action will sustain fans. Readers are again left hanging off a cliff at the end.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Brian Williams. Hero Will (Tunnels, Deeper) falls further--literally--into the secrets of the underground society where he was born. Meanwhile, the evil Styx plot to destroy all "Topsoilers." With educational tidbits dropped into the text, the story drags. Some interesting (if improbable) closing twists may grab series fans.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Brian Williams. While pursuing his hobby of underground exploration, fourteen-year-old Will and his best friend are taken prisoner in the oppressive Colony, policed by the sinister, merciless Styx. The innovative underworld setting will stimulate readers' imaginations, but while adventure-lovers will appreciate the twisting plot, they may lose patience with the slow beginning and endless similes. Occasional shadowy, sketchlike illustrations accompany the text.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Construction Zone series. Each of these books gives a cursory account of techniques used in heavy construction. Double-page spreads feature large, vibrant full-page photographs opposite easy-to-read text. The content is too abbreviated for more than a brief introduction and some of the terms are left undefined, but young fans of large machinery will enjoy poring over the pictures. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Pebble Plus: Construction Zone titles: Demolition and Digging Tunnels.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Great Building Feats series. The books in this series provide in-depth overviews of the need for, construction of, and modern usage of three architectural milestones. These generally well-written accounts, illustrated with reproductions and photos, should fascinate budding architects and historians. Maps, reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Great Building Feats titles: The Channel Tunnel, The Hoover Dam, and The New York Subways.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 1-3 Backseat roughhousing between two brothers produces extreme results when the older brother decides that his father's threat to leave him by the side of the road sounds pretty good. The fanciful "what if" scenario that unfolds as the boy settles there permanently, tunneling underground for shelter instead of returning home, is undercut by an odd pessimism, echoed in Feiffer's murky black-and-white cartoons.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann

(4) K-3 Building Block series. Small in size, this explanatory book features stock photos on each page and an accessible, if pedestrian, text. After discussing different kinds of tunnels, Hill tries to connect the reader with the subject by suggesting that children can work with tunnels by becoming miners, engineers, or tunnel-boring machine operators. A photo index supplies additional information about the international locations of the tunnels featured in the book.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) 4-6 Building Amazing Structures series. The volumes follow a similar format, explaining how each structure is necessary to improve commerce, transportation, and energy production. The clear texts present historical background but focus on contemporary issues of design, construction, and maintenance. Illustrated with average-quality color photographs, the crowded pages include occasional activities to demonstrate scientific principles. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta