Reviews+

Gr 2—4—Inspired by the dramatic rescue of the Lipizzaner stallions from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna during World War II, this fictional story focuses on the 10-year-old daughter of the stable master at the Royal Academy of Dancing Horses in a "graceful old city...

Gr 5—8—Though these books provide more information about their subjects than the other celebrity biography series on this list (there is a discussion of each star's childhood, rise to fame, and accomplishments), the information is not always conveyed clearly, and can sometimes be too casual—a discussion of pop music in Miley Cyrus, for example, statesj , "…when it's hot, it's HOT!" Also, quotes from sources such as the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal are used and there is a bibliography, but citations are not given...

Gr 5—8—Those who choose to mix epoxy instead of watercolors and feel more comfortable in a hardware store than an art store are the target audience for this series...

Gr 4—6—This is a lively and entertaining collection of tricks, jokes, facts, recipes, games, pranks, wordplay, and all-around fun...

PreS-Gr 2—The large picture-book format and inviting color photographs make these clearly written titles welcome additions...

Gr 1—4—A sweet little old lady lives in a house in the woods...

Gr 4—7—In this examination of a mix of characters from pop-culture, folklore, and history, vague phrasing allows for misinterpretation...

K-Gr 4—The bright cartoon Get Along Monsters and a female host teach children about the pain that name-calling can cause...

PreS-Gr 1—Macdonald asks readers to consider the ins and outs of hugging, including whom to hug (porcupines are too prickly, for instance), how, and when...