Reviews
Jeremy's Dreidel
“Jeremy’s Dreidel is a simple yet compelling story, which, in its short narrative, conveys so much. It is Hanukkah time and the art project at the community center is dreidel-making. This is a fun project and everyone involved has great ideas about how to make a special dreidel… View →
Cheesecake for Shavuot
“An appealing photo essay follows Israeli children as they work in their school garden and kitchen. Color photographs, in close-up detail, capture a teacher and her middle-grade students as they plant wheat in the fall and watch it grow with the help of winter rains. In the spring, View →
Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue
“Emanuel, inspired by the whalers who frequent his father’s shop in New Bedford Massachusetts, dreams of a life at sea. According to his father, ‘the life of a whaler is lonely and dangerous’ and he encourages Emanuel to become a merchant when he grows up. Emanuel views View →
Oh No, Jonah!
“Those parents and teachers looking for a new twist on the story of Jonah (read yearly on Yom Kippur) need look no more. This latest version from children’s author Tilda Balsley sticks to the biblical text but is appropriate for very young children. The clever rhymes demand to be… View →
Oopsy, Teacher!
http://www.reading.org/General/Publications/blog/BlogSinglePost/reading-today-online/2012/08/22/back-to-school-book-reviewsMr. Bungles is having a bad day just like he did in Calmenson’s earlier book about Mr. Bungles, Late for School (2008). He… View →
The Apple Tree's Discovery
“A little apple tree wants to be like the other trees in the oak forest. It particularly longs to have stars, since the other trees have stars that dangle and shimmer on their branches at night. The tree asks God for stars, and in response, God tries to let the tree know how many… View →
Beep and Bah
“BEEP AND BAH is 32 pages long, ideal as a short read for kids. It manages to pack a lot of humor into those pages, giving multiple laugh-out-loud moments… [T]his is a good book for teachers,… View →
Hannah's Way
“The inside cover of this book reads ‘After Papa loses his job during the Depression, Hannah’s family moves to rural Minnesota, where she is the only Jewish child in her class. When her teacher tries to arrange carpools for a Saturday class picnic, Hannah is upset. Her… View →
Ghost Diamond!
“Teachers looking for a good read-aloud series will enjoy introducing Amelia to their students.” —Library Media Connection View →
Sadie and the Big Mountain
“’Nursery school was lots of fun and Sadie smiled as she filed into Temple Beth El with her friends. There were lots of things to do and she “loved the Hebrew songs they sang during music,’ playing with blocks, climbing on the gym, and stacking up the building… View →
Green Bible Stories for Children
“Beginning with the story of Creation, according to our author, the Bible teaches readers to respect the land and conserve natural resources. Stories from the Bible are retold in the author’s own language, often humorously. Titles of stories include: Greener Pastures, Abraham and… View →
Power Up to Fight Pollution
“The books lend themselves to helping young children conceptualize ideas about the environment, as well as learn about the structure of an informational text. Teachers can share the books aloud with young children, or independent readers could read the books using the chapter by… View →
Ticks: Dangerous Hitchhikers
“Markle, an award-winning science writer, is also a former elementary teacher, and in this title in the Arachnid World series, she clearly draws on her past classroom experience in a clear, conversational text that will draw young people into the zoological facts with gripping,… View →
Let's Look at Iguanas
“As a classroom teacher, I was impressed with many aspects of this book, which is perfect for research reports because it has beautiful photographs and interesting morsels of information. . .this book has many excellent uses – as an easy read for a child, a great read-aloud View →
Let's Look at Bats
“In summary, the book has many excellent possibilities for use. It could be an easy read for a child, a great read-aloud for teachers to supplement a unit of study, an entertaining book to read around Halloween time, and/or a useful book for a research report for an early… View →
Will and Orv
“. . .Distinctively illustrated . . .” —The Reading Teacher View →
Everybody Cooks Rice
“Rich illustrations and recipes for the many different rice dishes mentioned complete the text. Primary-grade teachers who like to cook with their students will love this book.” —The Reading Teacher View →
Allen Jay and the Underground Railroad
“Janice Lee Porter’s pencil crayon drawings help create suspense and excitement. . .” —The Reading Teacher View →
The Warriors
“The author shares the richness of the Native American culture through storeis and the game of lacrosse.” —The Reading Teacher View →
It's Not My Fault!
“George’s antics are funny and the sequence of events is believable for children who have ‘accidents’ of their own.” —The Reading Teacher View →
“Children will be fascinated by the brilliant photgraphs and intriguing facts about the world of sharks. If you would like to learn more about sharks, this book is for you.” —The Reading Teacher View →
Great White Sharks
“. . .the cover features a fierce Great White swimming face first toward its prey with jaws open wide! Right from the cover we are drawn to know who it is swimming toward. How does it track and hunt its prey? How does the prey avoid this predator?”… View →
“There have been several books about Zora Neale Hurston recently published, but A. P. Porter’s Jump at de Sun: The Story Of Zora Neale Hurston is one of the best. Well-placed photographs extend the text and put faces with the many names of individuals in this short chapter… View →