Lost in the library

K-Gr 2--The Junior Monster Scouts--Franky, Wolfy, and Vampyra--love to read. They are in the library of Castle Dracula when Wolfy hears what sounds like a piano. The group follows the noise, revealing a hidden passageway. Behind a secret door, the trio discover the source of the music: a ghostly girl, unable to speak, playing the piano. She passes them a note, which explains that her name is Bella and that she is a Banshee, but she lost her voice as it became lonely from lack of use and ran away. The Scouts are determined to reunite their new friend with her voice, and they devise a clever solution. Through the use of story time, and with support and patience, Bella's voice returns. Each page contains three to five sentences that include approximately five to 12 words apiece. Long's signature cartoonlike illustrations portray the monster pals as friendly and nothing to fear. VERDICT This series is monstrous fun for emerging reader collections.--Olivia Gorecke

Strange music in the library? The Junior Monster Scouts are on the case! Franky, Wolfy, and Vampyra--offspring of classic monsters such as Frankenstein and the Wolfman--are searching for new reading material when Wolfy hears something behind one of the shelves. Wolfy sniffs the books and finds one that's slightly different from the others. When he removes it from the shelf, a secret passage opens. The group suddenly hears music. Down a dark staircase, they find a beautifully appointed room…with a melancholy-looking ghostly girl playing the piano. When they ask her name, they find that she can't speak. She writes her name--Bella--and informs them that she's a Banshee whose voice abandoned her because she wasn't "talking, singing, or reading aloud enough." Can the scouts help her get it back? And could a read-aloud session help? With this easy reader mystery, McGee and Long continue their Junior Monster Scout series for the younger set (they started with a series of beginning chapter books for slightly older readers using the same characters). Long's cartoon monsters are anything but frightening, and McGee's text is ideal for novice readers. Youngsters will identify with Bella's difficulty reading (although maybe not for the same reason). Fans of the series and newbies alike will enjoy this one; when newcomers finish the early readers, they can transition into the chapter-book series. A monstrous good time for all.(Early reader. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.