Reviews
The Monster in the Lake
“The bright artwork, created with acrylic paint and spray paint, contains whimsical details and makes great use of visual humor. With sparse text and large-scale illustrations, this is an ideal choice for toddlers and preschool storytimes that is clever enough to entertain adults,… View →
No More Gnomes
“A clever twist reveals a humorous solution for Herbert’s problem and helps him resolve his struggle between politeness and honesty. Digital illustrations cleverly demonstrate Herbert’s growing anxiety while keeping the tone light enough for young… View →
Returning the Sword: How a Japanese Sword of War Became a Symbol of Friendship and Peace
“Stelson writes with vivid clarity, rendering a story with careful detail while bolstering themes of peace and honor. Working in harmony with Stelson’s text, Yoshida’s vibrant illustrations are wreathed in symbolic imagery and color those themes with gestures of… View →
The Big Empty: A Sagebrush Survival Story
“Attractive fare for young fans of natural history.”—Booklist View →
The Size of Space: Measuring Our Solar System with The Planetary Society ®
“In this fun, astronomical offering, kid-accessible examples convey the vast sizes and enormous distances of outer space. . . A great choice for school and public collections; expect some really interesting follow-up discussions.”—Booklist View →
A Bear Called Blue
“Stickley’s text, written in rhymed couplets, nicely defines the characters and the plot, while Fleming’s soft, inviting illustrations portray the characters with warmth and respect for their emotions. . . . [T]his picture book reflects a memorable (but not uncommon) childhood… View →
Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth
“Each page is filled to the brim with meticulously drawn cityscapes, mechanical designs, animals of all shapes and sizes, and lengthy text explanations. . . Ultrawild is a brilliantly designed comic that will have wide appeal beyond its target audience, even for… View →
Nafu Wants Food: A Graphic Novel
“Brightly colored, thick-lined artwork and large format panels help tell this fable-like story of an unexpected hero and the consequences of greed. South African cartoonist Bosa’s thoughtful pacing and layout, as well as some well-timed jokes, make this a strong choice for… View →
Rewriting the Rules: How Dr. Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disability
“This stellar biography checks multiple positive role model boxes: a challenge-defying, determined, rule-breaking, problem-solving woman of STEM.”—Booklist View →
Zeyna Lost and Found
“Filled with art heists, cultural immersion, detective woes, and kids plunging into dangerous situations without any hesitation, Khan’s debut is a fun historical adventure with a plot that feels like it exists almost outside of reality, but it remains grounded through its… View →
Jason Belongs: The Story of Jason Schachter McKinney
“This journey of self-discovery while growing up in a biracial, interfaith family is sure to resonate with young readers exploring the intersection of their interests and identities.”—Booklist View →
Taylor Swift: Queen of Reinvention
“With the Icons series, readers are treated to colorful, concise, and deeply inspiring portraits of women who have redefined what it means to be a superstar today. . .Whether you’re a devoted fan or newcomer—or even an adult curious about these powerhouse performers’… View →
Trumpets of Death: A Graphic Novel
“The artwork is certainly the showpiece, with a bold color palette adding to the 1990s nostalgia the book quietly evokes, while the sleekness of the cartoon character design adds a modern polish to the project. A fascinating tale.”—Booklist View →
The Box Full of Wonders
“There are many picture books about moving, fewer on blended families, and fewer still that combine both while including children’s emotional reactions to their changing family unit and shared home. . . . [T]his brightly illustrated picture book expresses the mixed feelings… View →
The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate, 2nd Edition
“In this updated edition with new illustrations, the fierce little woman could be described more accurately as independent and capable. The text retains a folkloric quality, with the woman living alone in a small house at the end of a jetty . . . Illustrations convey the movement… View →
New York Liberty
“What makes the series shine is its upbeat tone and reader-friendly layout, which boasts fun facts, historic highlights, and bold photos that bring the action to life. . . This series champions not only the sport but also the culture and significance of women’s basketball. A… View →
Evie and Rhino
“Full of heart and soul with exquisite prose that invites readers to feel the historical moment, Evie and Rhino offers a unique moment in time to readers who love stories that center animal care and standing up for those who cannot stand up for… View →
The Library in the Woods
“The first-person narrative unfolds with simplicity, clarity, and emotional resonance. Christie’s illustrations, painted with acrylics, capture the tone of events as well as the look of the mid-twentieth-century setting.”—starred, Booklist View →
Losing the Plot
“Exciting, clever, and dynamic, this stands out from other retellings by asking, What happens to the fairy-tale characters after you’ve closed the book?”—Booklist View →
Indigenous Language Revitalization: From Boarding Schools and Code Talkers to Immersion Learning
“A timely and essential series.”—starred, Booklist View →
Dictatorship: From Roman Rule to Modern Suppression
“This slim volume offers accessible support for units on comparative systems of government.”—Booklist View →
From Silence to Solidarity: The Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights
“The work does a nice job of recognizing the pioneers of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and the efforts of those with intersectional identities . . . a solid primer on the past two centuries of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.”—Booklist View →