TURTLE ISLAND

written/illus. by Kevin Sherry, (Dial Books for Young Readers, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-8037-3391-6), 32p, Ages 3-5

A giant, lonely turtle roams the ocean looking for a home, until one day four shipwrecked animals take refuge on his shell. While turtle fishes for food, Owl knits, Bear builds, Frog cooks, and Cat draws. Working together, they create a community on Turtle's back, and suddenly he is no longer lonely. When the animals miss their families and decide to return home, Turtle feels a genuine loss. "Bear built a ship, Owl knit a sail, Frog packed some food, and Cat … Cat gave me a hug." Imagine Turtle's happiness, when his friends return with their families and friends to make a lasting home.

GOING PLACES

written by Peter H. Reynolds/Paul A. Reynolds, illus. by Peter H. Reynolds, (Atheneum Books, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-4424-6608-1), 40p, Ages 4-8

"Rafael had been waiting all year long for the Going Places contest, a chance to build a go-cart, race it … and win." Twenty-two students in Mrs. Chanda's classroom are given identical kits with instructions to construct a go-cart. Rafael, a stickler for following instructions, and his classmate Maya, a dreamer, combine their kits and build a small airplane instead. On the day of the race after a slow start, they soar above the other go-carts to the finish line, land, and roll across the ground to the edge of a lake. There, they watch a frog leap from a lily pad into the water. Inspired again, the friends begin another project—an amphibious craft. The curiosity, imagination, fun, and action of this creative story will have kids longing for their own go-cart kit.

EDDIE RED UNDERCOVER: Mystery on Museum Mile

written by Marcia Wells, illus. by Marcos Calo, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-544-23833-6), 256p, Ages 9-12

Edmund Xavier Lonnrot, a 14-year-old African American student in a New York City exclusive prep school, uses his photographic memory and artistic talent to help police solve an art theft. Witness to an alley mugging, Eddie sketches an exact likeness of the perpetrator for police. With the promise of wages and school funding, (his out-of-work father cannot continue tuition payments), the police hire Eddie to work undercover at museums to identify members of the Picasso Gang. Working with a surly detective, who nicknames him "Eddie Red," is challenging. His hyperactive, obsessive, and compulsive best friend, Jonah, secretly joins Eddie to outsmart the police, discover a mole in the police department, and determine the gang's next target. Kids will enjoy the boldness and persistence of this young sleuth, as well as the bullet-flying climax. The amazing portrait illustrations complete this clean and fun mystery, the first in a planned series.

Smasher

written by Scott Bly, (Blue Sky Press, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-545-14118-5), 256p, Ages 11-15

This science fiction middle grade fantasy will have readers on the edge of their seats as a twelve-year-old hero from the sixteenth century joins a futuristic robot to defeat a murderer from enslaving the world through computer viruses and biology in 2042 Los Angeles. Gifted with magical abilities, Charlie endures life in 1542 England while living with his grandfather. He is rescued from local bullies by a teenage-looking time-traveling robot from the 21st century, who seeks his help harnessing the Hum (a mysterious force in the Universe) to defeat a ruthless genius seeking world domination. Geneva teaches him to time travel by smashing atoms, and together they try to outmaneuver Gramercy Foxx, a cruel enemy of mankind. Unbeknownst to Charlie and Geneva, Foxx can also control the Hum through a computer virus and infect human DNA. When Charlie discovers Foxx’s identity, his quest suddenly turns personal. Fast-paced, fascinating, and fun, readers who enjoy suspense, sci-fi technology, and magic will root for this courageous hero.

Emerald Green
(The Ruby Red Trilogy)

written by Kerstin Gier, translated by Anthea Bell, (Henry Holt & Co., $17.99, ISBN 978-0-8050-9267-7), 464p, Ages 14-18

This final installment to the Ruby Red Trilogy finds sixteen-year-old Gwyneth Shepard dealing with heartbreak over a failed romance with Gideon de Villers, her time traveling companion. Living in London, Gwyneth uses her newly found time traveling gift to visit relatives from the past. Along with Gideon, they uncover centuries of mystery surrounding the Circle of Twelve, thwart treacherous villains, reveal secrets of her birth, resolve family issues, and discover their intriguing destinies. Wonderful friendships, endearing characters, and an enchanting romance will have readers rooting for this clever couple and sad over the conclusion to a great series.