An alternative for those fairy-loving transitioning readers who are looking for a new magical adventure. (Fantasy. 6-8)
A new chapter-book series introduces a set of mermaid friends.
Rosa, a young mermaid, lives in Mermaid Bay with her three best friends. The annual Midsummer Carnival is coming up and the girls can’t wait to enter. The best performance wins a gleaming pearl necklace! With the help of a sparkling water pony (a magically transformed seahorse, of course), fluttering golden ribbons and a routine filled with dazzling finflips and tailspins, the girls are certain their team will win. But mean twin sisters Muriel and Myrtle make fun of their routine. And when Rosa’s cousin Coral visits unexpectedly, her triple sideflip and graceful pirouettes blow Rosa’s best moves out of the water. To make matters worse, their water pony is stolen on the day of the show! How will they ever win the necklace now? Familiar themes of friendships, jealousy and bullying abound in this undersea world—with a generous sprinkling of sea jewels and stardust on every page. The pony is named Sparkle, natch.
An alternative for those fairy-loving transitioning readers who are looking for a new magical adventure. (Fantasy. 6-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8075-5088-5
Page Count: 76
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2011
Young readers will be happy to make Azaleah’s acquaintance.
When her baby sister, Tiana, realizes her favorite stuffed frog, Greenie, is missing, Azaleah promises to help her find him—but will she have enough time to help Tiana and complete her school project?
Third grader Azaleah Lane is anxious to get home and start her diorama of Nikita the tiger after a visit to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. However, before she can get started, she must help Tiana find Greenie. Oldest sister Nia is of little help, as she’s busy preparing to play Dorothy in her middle school production of The Wiz. In order to complete her diorama and help Tiana solve the mystery of Greenie’s disappearance, Azaleah must prioritize her tasks and pay attention to the clues around her. This inaugural book in the Azaleah Lane series is a fast-paced and fun read, and Azaleah is a sympathetic, likable narrator who, like readers, is learning new vocabulary all the time. She thinks aloud as she works to solve the mystery, occasionally (and realistically) losing patience with the sobbing Tiana. Lobo’s playful, full-color illustrations every few pages are just enough to give transitioning readers needed rests so they’ll keep going; they depict Azaleah and her family as black. The backmatter includes a glossary of vocabulary words, book-discussion and writing prompts, and instructions for making a diorama.
Young readers will be happy to make Azaleah’s acquaintance. (Mystery. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5158-4464-8
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Picture Window Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
The author of The Buddy Files whips up a light mystery fare for the younger set.
In a brand-new series a girl and a dog are detectives, finding mysteries in everyday events.
King is a dog (a golden retriever), and Kayla is his human (a brown-skinned gal with springy brown hair). Through King’s narration, readers get a glimpse of a dog’s innermost thoughts—which mostly revolve around food and not going outside (a common mistake made by humans). Kayla’s inability to understand King’s dialogue, rendered in perfect English both within the text and in thought bubbles, is a running joke in the series. In their first book, Kayla prepares King’s favorite snack, peanut-butter treats. But alas, they are not for him! They are for her friend’s new puppy, Thor. When some of the treats go missing, King seems to be the prime suspect. But his nose has picked up the scent of an intruder. How can he convey this to Kayla? In true detective fashion, Kayla makes a list of known and unknown facts. In the second book, published simultaneously, King & Kayla and the Case of the Secret Code (2017), Kayla again employs this strategy to solve the crime. Readers will connect with this charmingly misunderstood pup (along with his exasperated howls, excited tail wagging, and sheepish grins).
The author of The Buddy Files whips up a light mystery fare for the younger set. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-56145-877-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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