Picture Book for Kindergarten-Grade 3
When Dinosaurs Came with Everything *
by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small
(Atheneum, $16.99, 40 pages)

From the moment the triceratops bursts out of the bakery’s back room (“buy a dozen, get a dinosaur”), this very tall tale grabs readers’ attention. Small’s energetic watercolor and ink illustrations are a perfect choice for such an absurdist dream-come-true for dinosaur fans. Kids will go wild for this story of dinosaurs as suburban pets.

Fiction for Grades 1-3
Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole *
by Wong Herbert Yee
(Houghton, $15, 48 pages)

After Mole (Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole) is disappointed to learn that magic tricks are more trick than magic, Mouse tries to show him the “real” magic that takes place all around them in nature. Plentiful charcoal-pencil
and gouache illustrations help readers follow the story with ease and imbue the moonlit night time scenes with mystery and wonder.

Fiction for Grades 4-6
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little *
by Peggy Gifford, illustrated by Valorie Fisher
(Schwartz & Wade, $5.50, 92 pages)

Tomorrow is the first day of school. Nine-year-old Moxy still hasn’t started her summer assignment to read Stuart Little—and she’s running out of excuses. This original story features a chatty omniscient narrator, faux-amateur black-and-white photos (ostensibly taken by Moxy’s twin brother), and a spunky, creative protagonist whose name is well matched to her spirited personality.

Non-Fiction for Grades 5 and up
Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-downs**
by Sandra McLeod Humphrey
(Prometheus Books, $13.95, 133 pages)

Bullying is a scary fact of life. This book offers case studies of a variety of situations that children may find themselves in. In a very conversational tone the author introduces kids to other kids, just like them, struggling with situations. Each chapter includes questions prompting readers to think about how they would handle the situation, and further references are included for parents.

* Review courtesy of Horn Books. Find their e-newsletter, Notes from the Horn Book at HBook.com/Newsletter/index.html.
** Review by Mari Farthing, MetroFamily editor