Reviews
Late for School!
“Yoshikawa’s bright, action-packed illustrations add zest to this fast-paced pleaser and include a clock on each page so kids can watch the minutes tick away. This silly, light snack of a tale shows that even teachers can learn a new lesson.” … View →
“This soothing, rhythmic lullaby from a prolific Israeli author celebrates the beauty, harmony and joy in the natural world as it welcomes a new baby. . . The unassuming and calming melodious text, fluidly translated by Shubow, will certainly encourage serenity and comfort at the View →
Clouds of Terror
“Coping with a plague of grasshoppers on the Minnesota prairie in the 1870s, Helga and her brother are fishing when they become aware of an odd cloud approaching with a strange ‘deep hum’. . .The authentic details here carry a simple narrative that’s sure to… View →
Jodie's Hanukkah Dig
“Topaz’s watercolors delineate a freckle-faced little girl whose agility and curiosity parallel the Maccabeean stamina in the struggle. . . Levine provides an intriguing alternative to conventional retellings of the Hanukkah tale, juxtaposing archeology’s importance… View →
On the Scale, a Weighty Tale
“Gable’s colorful illustrations seethe with motion, as zany cartoon animals (primarily cats) mischievously frolic to illuminate the text. The clear and humorous examples drawn from life enable kids to understand easily and then apply the information. For those just… View →
My Cousin, the Alien
“Family ties and Zack’s unusually well-developed sense of responsibility for his troubled cuz form strong thematic elements in this outing, the first of a projected four. Gorman’s frequent black-and-white cartoon scenes of popeyed preteens in various hazardous… View →
How Long or How Wide?: A Measuring Guide
“This third in the Math Is CATegorical series measures up quite nicely. . . Rulers in paws, Gable’s large-nosed cast of brightly colored quirky cats, mice and fleas measures objects large and small. His cartoons are entertaining and sure to gain children’s attention. View →
The Clock Struck One: A Time-Telling Tale
“Hartman’s characters are full of personality – the cat is high-and-mighty while the dog is just plain loopy. Her colors reflect the passing of the day, getting increasingly darker as the sun disappears and the characters become sleepier. With its emphasis on the… View →
Stroll and Walk, Babble and Talk: More about Synonyms
“The multicolored synonyms easily stand out from the black text, while the illustrations provide the context clues readers need to discern their meanings. Gable’s cast of cats will capture readers’ attention as they zanily exemplify the synonyms. . . It’s no… View →
Senses at the Seashore
“Say what you will about the seashore, it is a stimulating place, a sensual extravaganza. . . Rotner is a partisan fo the seashore and her gorgeous color photographs are transportingly sharp. . . The format is simple and direct: a bright picture, an uncomplicated caption. . . it… View →
It's Spring!
“Glaser and Swan team up once again in this eye-catching and informative ode to nature, the second in a series of seasonal titles (It’s Fall!, 2001, etc.). Speaking through the voice of a narrator, Glaser uses simple language to convey the changes brought by spring: warmer… View →
100 Days of School
“Readers will want to try the more interesting variations on math Harris has devised, e.g., addition and subtraction using clowns, trains, blackberry pie, and centipedes. Harris demonstrates that numbers can be broken down into recognizable units that can be manipulated and… View →
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal
“Nelson’s well-researched biography reads much like a tall tale or frontier legend – as well it should: ‘Outlaws learned that when Marshal Reeves had your warrant, you were as good as got. . . ’ Christie’s bold full-page paintings echo the heroic… View →
Dino-Hockey
“It’s prehistoric pandemonium on ice as the toothy Meat-Eaters (in red jerseys) and the tough Veggiesaurs (in green) face off in a wild championship game. . . There’s many a tale featuring dinosaurs playing, being pets and even dancing, but here’s an activity… View →
Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret
“Banks’s oversized, almost muralistic figures reflect the strength of the Africans’ spirits and their tremendous physicality. The red outlines used throughout evoke both warmth and danger as the characters steal away to their meeting place. Evans handles the issue… View →
“Basing her tale on legend, Greene provides a smooth, suspenseful view into a rarely depicted portion of Jewish history, when Jews led a dual life and managed to maintain their Judaic rituals by blending in or hiding their beliefs and traditions, sometimes in plain sight.… View →
“Jules’s fourth Ziz book continues her versions of Midrash stories featuring the giant bird of Jewish mythology. The Ziz is summoned by the wise King Solomon of Israel for a critical job-keeping the Princess Magda company in her lonely tower. Locked up to protect her… View →
Jackson and Bud's Bumpy Ride: America's First Cross-Country Automobile Trip
“In his cartoon pictures Hargis depicts all three of his goggle-wearing travelers having the time of their lives, determinedly riding their increasingly mud-spattered horseless carriage through mountains, deserts and storms. The author sticks closely to the historical record in… View →
Millie's Marvellous Hat
“Kitamura matches his quiet story of imagination and empowerment with soft watercolor illustrations that teem with fascinating urban detail. Decked out in a bright-yellow slicker and boots, Millie’s small cheery figure easily stands out amid crowded streets and parks, but… View →
Way Too Many Latkes: A Hanukkah in Chelm
“Oy! Only in Chelm could there be such a problem—and such a solution. Chelm, that beloved but very foolish village of old-time Eastern European Jewry, has a problem as the first day of Hanukkah approaches. Faigel makes the best latkes (potato pancakes fried in oil).… View →
Wonderful Worms
“A celebration and natural history of the helpful ‘underground gardeners.’” —Kirkus View →
“. . . a delight for casual browsers and for would-be cryptozoologists alike.” — Kirkus View →
It's Fall!
“Nature seems to come alive with the pages of this beautiful and interesting tribute. . .” —Kirkus View →
Will and Squill
“The tongue-twisting text further animates this take on a well-worn theme.” —Kirkus View →