Reviews
Book One: The Shadow Door
“Combining the fantasy genre with the graphic-novel format adds up to a package with all kinds of young-reader appeal. The books below each involve life-changing journeys, suspenseful plots, and inventive storytelling, all steeped in magical realms and loaded with high… View →
“Trevor’s anger and tenderness are heartbreaking, and readers will appreciate that he is realistically flawed, especially in his attempts to get into the rich crowd.” —Booklist View →
Fashion 101: A Crash Course in Clothing
“A sure bet for reluctant readers.”—Booklist View →
Stateswoman to the World: A Story about Eleanor Roosevelt
“. . .attractive to reluctant readers.” —Booklist View →
No New Pants!
“The Real Kids Readers, whose hallmark is blending phonics and whole language and illustrating with color photos, tackles a familiar subject here – kids and clothes. A young African American boy is not interested in going shopping with his mother; and once in the store, he… View →
Prisoner for Liberty
“This inspiring, personal story will help draw early readers into U.S. history.” —Booklist View →
“McNish’s suspenseful, fast-paced novel immerses readers in an inventive world featuring distinctly drawn characters and a graceful blending of realism and occasionally spooky fantasy. . . will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next episode.” —Booklist View →
The Copper Lady
“Young readers will be fascinated as they discover this interesting link between the U.S. and France.” —Booklist View →
What Are You Figuring Now?: A Story about Benjamin Banneker
“. . .smooth engaging biographical story; the mature, style and sucinct text make this a good choice for reluctant readers.” —Booklist View →
Sylvia & Miz Lula Maye
“. . .an authentic voice that captures both a relationship and a time period, the South in the late 1970s. A strong portrait piece for younger middle-grade readers. . .” —Booklist View →
Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express
“Based on a true incident, this story recounts the heroic action of. . . a nineteenth-century Midwestern girl who saved an express train from disaster. . . A substantive adventure for newly independent readers.” — Booklist View →
Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express
“The story’s factual basis makes it all the more appealing, and Ritz’s charcoal-and-wash drawings evoke the setting and imbue personalities with lots of character. A substantive adventure for newly independent readers.” … View →
Nick's Secret
“Blatchford tells a good story, with the suspense building steadily to a satisfying conclusion as all of Nick’s secrets become intertwined. It’s Nick’s resourcefulness that will win readers here.” —Booklist View →
Danger at the Breaker
“In simple yet never condescending prose, Welch relates the compelling story of a young boy’s first day at work in the Pennsylvania coal mines of the 1880s. . . The author brings a new (and welcome) level of realism to the easy-reader format.” —… View →
“Whether wowing readers with the mph of a kangaroo’s burst of speed or describing wombats as ‘furry tractors with legs,’ this handsomely designed volume introduces marsupials with panache.” —Booklist View →
“The first book in the Milo & Jazz Mysteries series gets it just right: a fun, easy-to-solve mystery, readily identifiable young detectives, and some extras readers will enjoy.” —Booklist View →
Children of Clay: A Family of Pueblo Potters
“Swentzell gives readers an intimate look into the customs of contemporary Pueblo people of northern New Mexico. . . The book not only describes what must be done to produce the beautiful pots, and the cultural importance of each step, but also emphasizes how Gia Rose’s… View →
Margaret Bourke-White
“Vividly written for beginning readers, this biography of photographer Margaret Bourke-White captures the excitement and danger she experienced as she took her pictures.” —Booklist View →
Earth Cycles
“. . . clear language suitable for beginning readers. . . Straightforward, realistic watercolor illustrations. . . Direct, simple, and ideal for classroom support. . . appealing introduction to Earth’s movement. . .” —Booklist View →
The New Kid
“In the new Real Kids Readers series, [this]. . . book tell[s] [a] simple, realistic stor[y] and [is]illustrated with full-color photographs of contemporary children from diverse backgrounds. . . Hood’s story is about a new kid, Sid, who acts silly and irritates the teacher View →
Brilliant Bea: A Story for Kids with Dyslexia and Learning Differences
“The teacher’s supportive actions are wonderful to see, but even better is how the tape recorder helps Bea connect with her classmates. Printed in a dyslexia-friendly font, this affirming story about finding your feet and your voice is a lovely confidence booster for young readers, View →
“His vivid, often lyrical prose will engage readers, and his tantalizing conclusion hints at an enemy and a confrontation of massive scale that seem to pave the way for future titles.” —Booklist View →
Fire at the Triangle Factory
“In 1911 New York City, Jewish Minnie and Catholic Tessa can only be friends at the factory, but this friendship pays off when the famous and tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire takes the lives of many of their coworkers. . . Large color drawings. . . are a wonderful asset to View →