Capture Creatures

Gr 3–5-Restless Tamzen explores the wilderness outside her father's laboratory—sometimes without permission, which lands her in trouble with the rangers. One day she finds a creature that looks like a red panda but has the strange ability to create a flame on top of its head. When she chases after it, she discovers that the forest and a nearby island contain many mysterious animals, but it's not clear where they came from. Tamzen embarks on a strange adventure with lab intern Jory and Ranger Teddy as they learn that this world is a lot wilder than they expected. At times cartoony, other times ethereal, the artwork features gorgeous colors and panels that pop with action and humor. The book is clearly aimed at fans of Pokémon and other monster-catching franchises. But, despite the title, this volume appears to be more about investigating the setting than capturing creatures.