Reviews
Luis Paints the World
“In a sensitive story about art and absence, Luis is devastated after his older brother, Nico, enlists in the army, where he will be ‘seeing the world’. . . . To persuade Nico to stay, Luis paints ‘the world’ in the alleyway. . . . Dominguez’s dynamic… View →
Tripping Back Blue
“There’s nothing pretty about drug addiction, but a new drug called indigo, named for the powder’s lovely hue, would suggest otherwise. . . . Storti’s debut . . . is a coming-of-age story wrapped in a cautionary tale . . . yet [Finn’s] desire to rise above… View →
Shmulik Paints the Town
“Echeverri’s bright splashes of color in a gray landscape emphasize the creativity that Ezra, at least, brings to the task . . . first-time author Rose hints at the value of doing the necessary work rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.” —… View →
Build, Beaver, Build!: Life at the Longest Beaver Dam
“Nicely composed [with] lively illustrations. . . . A satisfying picture book for junior naturalists.”—Booklist Online View →
Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land
“Cleareyed photography . . . joins the intimate, individual family stories to the universal immigration experience with a love for freedom and the responsibility that it requires. . . . A heartfelt reminder of a significant American ideal.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Have You Seen Elephant?
“A small child plays hide-and-seek with a surprisingly elusive (except to viewers) elephant. . . . Beyond the sheer absurdity, children will delight in details. . . . Younger audiences will be screaming ‘There it is!’ from the get-go.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case
“[The] second Detective Gordon woodland mystery has all the charm and whimsy of the first. . . . [A] tale of intergenerational friendship that’s deeply respectful of its audience of young independent readers. . . . Readers will be hoping this isn’t Detective… View →
“An imaginative and visual pleasure as well as confirmation that spaceships don’t beep and blink but sound like spring cleaning.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
The Bath Monster
“Never mind a monster under the bed; this one’s under the tub. . . . Good, clean fun.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
The Island of Beyond
“This quiet, coming-of-age story is filled with quirky characters and is distinguished by a beautiful setting. And the timeless quest for love and acceptance will resonate with all readers. . . . In the middle of nowhere, Martin may just find himself. Quietly… View →
The Executioner's Daughter
“[Hardstaff] excels with her depiction of Tudor England, offering lavish descriptions of clothing and food . . . and a slew of stench and grime. . . . A richly detailed debut with a classic feel, full of grit, gore, and gilt.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Luis Paints the World
“Farish’s restrained story moves at a slow pace, giving readers ample space to grasp the depths of Luis’ sorrow. . . . A wistful snapshot of a young artist and his family.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Timeline: A Visual History of Our World
“An inky swath of black bisects this gorgeous oversize volume, its shape transforming to create prehistoric seas, ancient monuments, and more. . . . ®eaders will be left with a powerful sense of how far we have come and how far we have to go.”―starred, Publishers Weekly View →
The Hunt for the Missing Spy
“A must-read for fans of the Code Busters Club series, this will also interest kids who are looking forward to touring the nation’s capital.”—Booklist View →
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez
“Picture book author Yardi . . . in her first novel, delivers an entertaining story of sibling loyalty, friendship struggles, and the sometimes vexing passage into adolescence.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Masters of Disguise: Amazing Animal Tricksters
“[M]ost of the lineup here will be new even to well-read young naturalists. . . .®eaders are going to want to know more after these tantalizing glimpses. . . . [A] truly astonishing look at some of nature’s most ingenious predatory or survival strategies.”—starred, View →
Tooth by Tooth: Comparing Fangs, Tusks, and Chompers
“A guessing game meets zoological dentistry in this informational picture book. . . . With playful text and a kid-friendly approach, this title . . . will surely elicit some giggles. A great addition to any library where animal books are popular—so, almost all of… View →
When the Sun Shines on Antarctica: And Other Poems about the Frozen Continent
“The creators of Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole (2014) here offer poetry and art focused on the Antarctic summer. . . . [This] will be welcomed by classrooms combining poetry and science.”—Booklist View →
Timber Creek Station
“British author Lewis’ debut is based on her time as the family helper on just such an outback [cattle station]. . . . It is the learning curve of Liz that will engage the reader who is open to understanding a variation of abject intolerance in a remote culture that is… View →
Don't Call Me Grandma
“Nelson seems at first to be offering a character study, but it becomes something more when . . . [an] intergenerational exchange prompts a sort of laying on of hands. . . . Zunon’s illustrations . . . create a stage for the queenly central character.”—The Horn Book View →
Timeline: A Visual History of Our World
“As much as you want to pore over each busy historical tableau, identifying mordant little characters and reading brief lines of text, you may want to rush forward to see what comes next.”—Wall Street Journal (US), January 2016 View →