Reviews
Feminism: Reinventing the F-Word
“[Higgins] offers a comprehensive and stunningly up-to-date account of the history of feminism. . . . With plenty of grassroots organizations listed in the back matter and photos of a diverse array of women . . . Higgins invites burgeoning feminists to find their own places among… View →
Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land
“An attractive and inspiring look at immigration to the United States, sure to spark discussions at home or in the classroom. . . . [T]his offering puts a human face on a serious issue. . . . An ideal jumping-off place for teachers and parents interested in starting a conversation… View →
Don't Call Me Grandma
“It’s easy . . . to write books about fun grandmothers. . . . Introducing a sharp-tongued, disagreeable grandmother is more difficult. But Nelson pulls it off. . . . By book’s end, perceptive readers will see this 96-year-old as a multilayered woman who has experienced… View →
The Final Four: The Pursuit of College Basketball Glory
“Arriving just in time for March Madness is this fresh look at . . . the Final Four championship games. . . . With vivid, play-by-play descriptions of pivotal games and final points, basketball fans will find plenty to enjoy here. . . . An informative, enjoyable addition to the… View →
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez
“[A]n imaginative backyard adventure with light touches of fantasy. . . . Mateo is an admirable character striving to live by a knight’s code of honor. . . . His gallantry . . . and antics with the neighborhood wildlife make for quite the charming tale.”—Booklist View →
Luis Paints the World
“This story is inspired by an art program in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a town of residents from all over the world, who share their stories and traditions through mural art. Its beautiful message will touch the hearts of readers and maybe inspire them to create art of their… View →
The Black Dragon
“This first installment in the Mysterium series is filled with action and stage magic, though Danny’s struggles with identity and his parents’ deaths are never far from the surface, making this adventure more than gangster brawls and misdirection.”—Booklist View →
Believe Your Eyes: Book 1
“Doerrfeld and Page’s vivid cartoons are full of humorous details, while reflecting the deeply felt emotions of a family in transition.”—Publishers Weekly View →
The Executioner's Daughter
“Hardstaff’s debut is a fast-moving and suspenseful adventure . . . [that] believably conveys the gritty details of life on the edge in the context of historical events of the era.”―Publishers Weekly View →
See No Color
“There’s not much written about . . . transracial domestic adoption . . . and Gibney’s exploration may ring a bell for readers with their own familial identity challenges.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books View →
Floodwaters and Flames: The 1913 Disaster in Dayton, Ohio
“[T]he modern general public knows little of Dayton’s trial by flood and fire. . . . [An] exciting account of the little-known disaster that helped spawn the Federal Emergency Management Agency . . . [and] a good addition to historical collections anywhere.”—Kirkus View →
Dive into Danger
“®eaders will empathize with Austin’s first-person, present-tense narration as he sorts through the challenges of finding his own strengths and convictions. Aimed toward a sensitive adolescent male audience, this story has a straightforward, interesting plot and simple,… View →
“Boisterous fun in the spirit of Hervé Tullet’s Press Here (Chronicle, 2011) and Adam Lehrhaupt’s Warning: Do No Open This Book (S. & S., 2013).”—School Library Journal View →
“Smart use of white space, along with well-balanced placement of text and illustrations, offers a fun, robot-filled friendship tale. . . . This well-crafted picture book will appeal to all young inventors who just want to believe in the impossible.”—School Library Journal View →
The Bath Monster
“[W]e are introduced to Boyd’s deliciously wicked Bath Monster. . . . Children will shiver and giggle as they relish repeated readings once they are privy to the final joke on Mom.”—School Library Journal View →
Plants vs. Meats: The Health, History, and Ethics of What We Eat
“[T]his is a timely, student-friendly primer on the historical, nutritional, and ethical impacts of what and how humans eat. . . . This solid introduction to where food comes from and the consequences of its consumption and production is a worthy addition.”—School Library View →
Build, Beaver, Build!: Life at the Longest Beaver Dam
“An exciting introduction to these semiaquatic animals. . . . Hocking’s intricate and beautiful full-spread watercolors greatly enhance the text. . . . A solid supplemental purchase.”—School Library Journal View →
I Saw an Invisible Lion Today: Quatrains
“An appealing introduction to quatrains that will be useful for encouraging students to create their own poems.”—School Library Journal View →
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez
“In this debut novel, Yardi draws parallels between the fantasy world of talking animals and Mateo’s reality of growing up and finding himself. . . . A fun, action-filled tale whose protagonist has a distinct and sincere young voice. Recommended for collections and libraries… View →
The Executioner's Daughter
“Hardstaff weaves a coming-of-age story set in Tudor England with folklore about a Riverwitch. . . . The Riverwitch folklore and the suspense that it creates, along with the themes of love and family, strengthen Moss’s story. . . .®eaders who enjoy history and folklore… View →
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds: Tiny Hovering Birds
“Students who enjoyed previous iterations of this set . . . will be pleased to see these installations. . . . Intriguing and effective additions.”—School Library Journal View →
Don't Call Me Grandma
“The story’s perspective is from the child, who finds her great-grandmother ‘scary’ but also intriguing, outspoken, and glamorous. Zunon’s lively, colorful illustrations balance the serious tone of the text with warmth and saturation. . . . An appealing… View →
Tripping Back Blue
“This is a gritty novel . . . [with] a touch of magic. . . . Chapters leave cliff-hanger endings for a faster pace that entertains readers. . . . Recommended for high school and public library collections.”—School Library Journal View →