Reviews
Eating My Words: And 128 Other Poems
“The poet’s apparent preference for shorter forms may encourage reluctant readers to stay the course and inexperienced writers to stretch their language skills. The illustrations, which are likewise drawn from the earlier series, add comical cartoon spot art or riffs… View →
Pigeons at War: How Avian Heroes Changed History
“Readers who love reading about animals accomplishing great deeds will enjoy this while, at the same time, they’ll learn a lot about a much-maligned bird.”—Booklist View →
Casting Shadows: Solar and Lunar Eclipses with The Planetary Society ®
“Using simple, straightforward language, vocabulary words defined within the text, and clear, helpful illustrations, Bill Nye and the Planetary Society invite young readers to learn about solar and lunar eclipses.”—Booklist View →
The Denim Diaries: A Memoir
“Crompton’s free verse gives readers a powerful view of her inner self-loathing until she learns to accept herself as she is. At times, this is a tough read, but Crompton’s candidly honest story will resonate with anyone struggling with self-image issues and difficult… View →
To the Ice
“[T]he story rings with industrious optimism and emotional truth. . . . Adventure-seeking readers will delight in this dramatic escapade that’s sure to spark imaginative exploration, fish balls optional.”—starred, Booklist View →
Strikers: A Graphic Novel
“While the story spends a lot of time on the ice with both games and practice, the interpersonal relationships, razzing, and camaraderie among the characters draw more attention. . . Readers who like their sports comics with both lots of action and vivid emotional dynamics are the… View →
Black Achievements in Arts and Literature: Celebrating Gordon Parks, Amanda Gorman, and More
“Good for browsing and independent reading, the book invites readers to explore more substantial work about those included.”—Booklist View →
Weird Sports
“Photographs illuminate a majority of the examples, which truly must be seen to be believed, and the work concludes by challenging the reader to consider other possible weird sports.”—Booklist View →
Mysterious Glowing Mammals: An Unexpected Discovery Sparks a Scientific Investigation
“Stellar storytelling sure to make a citizen scientist out of any curious reader.” — Booklist View →
A Pocketful of Stars
“The scenes in Kuwait are lovingly rendered, informed by Bushby’s own childhood there and marked by her signature magical touch. Middle-grade readers will relate to Saff’s journey to newfound confidence and the joy of finding friends who love you for who you… View →
Auma's Long Run
The Essentials: When Parents Get Sick By Julia Smith. In recent years, we’ve noticed an influx of books that portray children dealing with having a sick parent. The emotional and practical demands of having a loved one with a mental or physical… View →
Strange Alliances: Book 2
“Nie Jun’s striking gray washes and warm watercolors add to the story’s serious and humorous beats; but more so, they once again invite readers to delve into a unique, dreamy fantasy world ripe with redemption arcs and its own mythology.”—Booklist View →
Another Band's Treasure: A Story of Recycled Instruments
“Xie’s soft, sketchy artwork nicely captures the atmosphere of the town, and a pop of color for the first homemade instrument emphasizes how life changing it is. A truly inspiring tale, perfect for middle-grade readers.”—Booklist View →
The New God?, Book 1: Volume 1
“Tornager brings freshness to his rendition of Norse mythology by redesigning the pantheon, but he still imbues it with enough familiarity for fans of the classic stories. . . . Tornager masterfully uses solid coloring and coordinating palettes to immerse readers fully in every… View →
Inside the Bermuda Triangle
“[T]his intriguing investigation supplies readers with plenty of sea-crets on which to speculate.”—Booklist View →
Underwater Construction Workers
“The volume works well at helping readers anticipate new sections, providing a thoughtful introduction to chapter books. . . . sure to intrigue many.”—Booklist View →
Indigo and Ida
“Indigo is a relatable and sympathetic character, and the social justice issues she champions at her school are timely and ring true. Readers will be inspired by Indigo’s passion and compelled to read more about Wells, too.”—starred, Booklist View →
I'm Gonna Be a SMITH!, Book 1: Volume 1
“There are a lot of action-packed panels full of life and lots of zoom lines in this fast-paced story of self-discovery and altruism. This might appeal to readers of Fullmetal Alchemist looking for something a little more lighthearted or even fans of Trigun who enjoy… View →
Walls and Welcome Mats: Immigration and the American Dream
“This is history presented through the lens of immigration, and readers learn the basics . . . along with new insights.”—Booklist View →
Detective Gordon: A Case with a Bang
“[T]his book is enjoyable for reading aloud to young children and accessible to transitional chapter-book readers. Nilsson excels at writing imaginative, gently amusing adventures, laced with unpretentious bits of wisdom. Spee’s enchanting illustrations capture the tone of… View →
Notes from a Sickbed
“Brunton’s art is distinct and emotionally evocative . . . The memoir achieves its mission to communicate to readers the isolation of chronic illness.”—Booklist View →
Bo and the Community Garden
“The book’s three short chapters feature cultural touchstones and lively color illustrations. Readers not yet ready for the J.D. the Kid Barber series, by J. Dillard, will find the same Black Boy Joy here.”—Booklist View →
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
“[F]illed with legends, reminiscences, bits of history, sidebars, drawings, and gentle challenges to readers, encouraging them to consider making changes in their actions, beliefs, and values. Truly, a lovely, calming addition for collections.”—Booklist View →