(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Hope Larson. This slim volume shows Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace attending a school for beings with special abilities. Fans will recognize L'Engle's voice as well as incidents from A Wind in the Door, which was later developed from this short story. Larson's black-and-white drawings add accessibility, but the sophisticated language is likely to appeal to a much older audience than the chapter-book packaging assumes.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Abigail Larson. The father-and-sons team melds humor and horror in these grisly rewrites of familiar nursery rhymes ("Zombie rotten, quite forgotten, / How does your graveyard fare?"). The angular Sandman-esque digital illustrations effectively employ disturbing details and appropriately Halloweeny hues, while the text is clever and well metered, if not particularly involved. Elementary horror fans not ready for R. L. Stine will enjoy being in on the gruesome joke.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) 4-6 Secrets of the Ancient Gods series. Illustrated by J. E. Larson. The mighty Thor narrates this introduction to Norse mythology. The god guides us through a brief history of the Vikings, explains the myths' lasting influence, and offers retellings of the most famous Norse myths. Dark, moody pen-and-ink illustrations are a stark contrast to the lighter nature of the writing, which sometimes strains for its chatty humor. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Secrets of the Ancient Gods series. Illustrated by J. E. Larson. Hades takes us on a tour of the Underworld, pointing out the famous mythological figures found there, many suffering punishments. He begins by describing ancient Greek funeral rites before moving on to the different areas of the House of Hades. The pen-and-ink illustrations lend an appropriately gloomy look to the book, but Shecter's attempts at humorous dialogue fall flat. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(2) YA Illustrated by Hope Larson & Bryan Lee O'Malley. This short story collection celebrates all things nerd, capturing the obsession, alienation, anachronism, and intellectualism of what it means to embrace geekdom. M. T. Anderson's contemplative "The King of Pelinesse" and Scott Westerfeld's hard-boiled "Definitional Chaos" are standouts; one-page "How to..." comics separate each story. Exploration of universal themes in original settings brings infectious enthusiasm to what is obviously a cherished topic.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2009

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Michael Larson. Mystical strains and magical powers imbue some tales in this collection; others feature those foolish, kindly, greedy, or clever folk familiar from tales around the world. Each of the stories begins with introductory comments setting the stage, sometimes indicating the country of origin. The easy flow of the narrative, along with strains of humor and irony and the matter-of-fact acceptance of magic, will catch the ear of storytellers. Bib.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2000