Reviews
Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song
“Lynching: a strange and difficult but important topic for a song—and for this picture book. . . . A must-read, must-discuss that will speak to children and linger with adults.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story
“Sachiko’s account [is] magnetic and chilling in its simplicity. . . . Stelson has created a book that is both personal and universal, both thoroughly researched and real.”—The New York Times View →
Hanukkah Delight!
“In brief board-book form Newman revisits the familiar Hanukkah traditions she successfully introduced in Eight Nights of Chanukah, illustrated by Elivia Savadier (2005), and Here Is the World, illustrated by Susan Gal (2014). Here the holiday stands on its own without parodying a… View →
Stone Cold: Book 1
“A visually engrossing noir debut in the vein of Sin City, this setup promises a number of sequels.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story
“[V]ery few [books] focus on the hibakusha, survivors of the bombings, and this important biography notably fills that gap. . . . An important perspective.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
The Secret of Goldenrod
“[P]itch-perfect . . . O’Reilly’s multilayered story is superbly presented . . . [and] bathed in the golden light that is the richness of living. This solid middle-grade book shines with wisdom and compassion.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Nara and the Island
“Nara’s homely face is reminiscent of Maurice Sendak’s work, adding to the book’s overall nostalgic and somewhat otherworldly feel. . . . Superficially sweet, with sophisticated undercurrents. . . .”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Life According to Dani
“Lagercrantz’s superb writing in Marshall’s translation is touching and amusing without being saccharine. . . . Eriksson’s black-and-white illustrations add important emotional resonance. . . . Another sterling early chapter book by this duo.”—starred,… View →
Passover Is Coming!
“This playfully illustrated board book introduces some of the customs and rituals of the centerpiece of the Passover holiday: the Seder.” — Kirkus Reviews View →
Truth in Sight: Book 2
“A likable protagonist and fantasy elements make this well-trod ground feel fairly fresh.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
His Royal Majesty of the Mushrooms: Book 3
“As in prior series episodes, the pleasure lies at least as much in inspecting the paneled illustrations for surreal details and peculiar creatures as it does in following the plotline. . . . A recipe for hazelnut fondant . . . caps this latest outing to the bustling hotel in an… View →
“The rhymes scan well and the use of alliterations is clever and works well . . . An attractive offering that will certainly appeal to fans of Kar-Ben’s ‘Very First Board Books’ series.” — AJL Reviews View →
Passover Is Coming!
“Teachers and families will enjoy sharing this book with toddlers.” — AJL Reviews View →
Believe Your Eyes: Book 1
“Latina Cici is wholly likable, and her real-life concerns play out well juxtaposed with her more whimsical ones. A thoughtful and entertaining mix of fantasy and real-world problems.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
On One Foot
“This is an attractive picture book that would be useful for teaching about Rabbi Hillel and the verse often referred to as the Golden Rule.” — AJL Reviews View →
Feminism: Reinventing the F-Word
“This small, colorful book introduces readers to the complexities of an ever evolving movement . . . cover[ing] an enormous breadth of material . . . A good starting point for discussions.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
On the Sapphire's Trail: Book 2
“Adventure lovers will like the surprising plot twists; fans of opera and cookies will appreciate the many times the story is derailed; everyone will be pleased that there’s a happy ending—even for the bandits.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Megafast Trucks
“An insanely joyful collection. . . . Brio meets absurdity on steroids in this dramatically illustrated [book]. . . . With considerable panache, Farndon bestows these beasts with their very own brand of beauty.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Shalom Everybodeee!: Grover's Adventures in Israel
“The best way to experience this book is to find someone who does a really good Grover impression for a read-aloud. Grover has one of the most distinctive voices in the history of children’s television, and all Sesame Street fans will hear that voice in their heads as soon as View →
Whose Hands Are These?: A Community Helper Guessing Book
“Rhyming verses and illustrations of hands working give readers the opportunity to guess what community jobs people do . . . [f]rom the commonplace to those that rarely appear in picture books. . . . A great addition to libraries’ and teacher’s shelves for units on… View →
Raise the Stakes
“A great choice for reluctant readers, this book, in presenting the transgender story, also delves into advocacy for equality. . . . Pages will turn right up to the cliffhanger.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game
“[T]he kind of story from which ‘inspirational’ movies are made. . . . This book adds new heroes to the pantheon.”—The New York Times Book Review View →
Out of Darkness
“[This] layered tale of color lines, love and struggle in an East Texas oil town is a pit-in-the-stomach family drama that goes down like it should, with pain and fascination, like a mix of sugary medicine and artisanal moonshine.”—The New York Times Book Review View →