New books for young readers by Lulu Delacre, Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie, and Varian Johnson

Lulu Delacre’s “¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! /Olinguito A to Z” (Lee & Low, $18.95, ages 3-10) is a poetic bilingual alphabet book that celebrates the flora and fauna of the cloud forest in the Andes, where the olinguito, a recently discovered mammal species, lives. As day begins, a zoologist sets out for a walk in the cloud forest, hoping to spot an olinguito in its native habitat. Capital and lowercase letters of the alphabet appear on each page in a mistily translucent block representing rain-forest clouds.

Delacre’s colors are opulent, her lines both delicate and lively — she depicts an environment of captivating richness. Textured patterns of leaves and ferns are folded into the landscape. The scientist appears somewhere in every scene, and when at last he gets his glimpse of the olinguito, the moment is dramatic. As the final letters of the alphabet appear, the day draws to a close. Delacre’s graceful text, first in Spanish on each page and then just below in English, offers plenty of new words for speakers of either language — or both. A glossary, a description of each creature and a summary of the scientific story of the olinguito round out this splendid, more-than-an-alphabet book. — KATHIE MEIZNER

Unlike the controversial picture book “A Birthday Cake for George Washington” — which raised hackles for its depiction of happy, smiling Mount Vernon slaves — “Freedom in Congo Square” (Little Bee, $17.99, ages 4-8) offers children a way to learn about both the cruelty of slavery and the possibility of transcendent moments for a group of enslaved people. In a foreword, historian Freddi Williams Evans explains New Orleans’ Congo Square, a marketplace where people of African heritage, both enslaved and free, were allowed to express themselves through music and dance on Sunday afternoons.

“Monday, there were hogs to slop,/mules to train, and logs to chop./Slavery was in no ways fair./Six more days in Congo Square,” begins Carole Boston Weatherford’s poetic tale. R. Gregory Christie’s powerful paintings complement the narrative — featuring muted colors and limited movement in the first pages, vibrant lines and colors in the book’s second half. Steering clear of strict realism, Christie gives a warming orange hue to the sky, and transmits the hopes and freedoms of Congo Square’s exuberant participants. — ABBY MCGANNEY

Jackson Greene, the hero of Varian Johnson’s “To Catch a Cheat” (Arthur A. Levine, $16.99, ages 8-12) shares much in common with his James Bond counterpart, except his beverage of choice. Jackson likes his neat and hot: Earl Grey tea. Agent 007 isn’t the only popular character or film referenced in this stylish, fast-paced sequel to Johnson’s middle-grade novel “The Great Greene Heist.” Readers will have a great time picking up allusions to “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” superheroes and “Ocean’s Twelve” as they follow an intriguingly twisty plot.

This time, Jackson and his friends contend with blackmailers, surveillance cameras, a highly suspicious principal and an Honor Board member hellbent on bringing them down. The problem: a security video seems to have captured Gang Greene pulling a destructive prank on school grounds. The gang mobilizes to discover the who, what, why and how behind the rigged video. Johnson develops a cast of diverse characters with nuance and humor; and the dynamics between friends are as zesty — and middle school-fraught — as the gang clashes with foes. Savvy Jackson is endearingly unsure around his whip-smart pal, Gaby de la Cruz; and his best bud, Charlie (Gaby’s brother), grows tired of constantly following Jackson’s lead. Girl characters have evolved far beyond the adult caper’s usual role as eye candy and male-ego booster. They are student council presidents (Gaby) and ambitious tech gurus (robotics champ Megan and her nemesis Kayla). Here’s hoping Gang Greene returns soon in another adventure that surprises, delights and expands the possibilities of the caper mystery. — MARY QUATTLEBAUM