Reviews
Brandon's Birthday Surprise
“Children from different cultural groups describe their families’ celebrations. Information about the occasions is included in the simplistic stories, but text boxes provide more details than the young narrators do. Bright, cheerful illustrations will draw readers to these… View →
From Tadpole to Frog
“Kids will be intrigued by the full-color, close-up photos showing frog eggs, water-dwelling tadpoles, and the progression to air-breathing frogs. New readers will appreciate the simple sentences describing what to look for in each picture as the transformation unfolds. This is a… View →
Jennifer Lawrence: Star of The Hunger Games
“This no-frills biography covers up-and-coming actress Jennifer Lawrence’s childhood, early acting work, breakthrough roles, and critical acclaim, culminating with her starring role as Katniss Everdeen in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger… View →
Cool Brands
“Edgy topics with ‘pros and cons’ will provoke discussion. The daring art represents whimsical self-expression in a variety of wacky forms. The chaotic page design may challenge some readers. The many flavors of hip ‘street style’ include branding (like Coke View →
The Great Sheep Shenanigans
“Lou Pine, ‘a wily old wolf,’ craves lamb for dinner. With Rambo the Ram standing in his way, Lou must plan a way to infiltrate the flock. He bullies Little Red’s grandmother into knitting him a sheep costume, but he underestimates Granny’s own trickery and is finally… View →
The King Who Wouldn't Sleep
“Determined to find the perfect prince for his daughter, a king never sleeps. A comical procession of princes is interviewed; each unsuccessfully tries to lull the king into sleep so he can speak directly to the princess. A farmer and his miscounted sheep finally succeed. This new… View →
Friend Me!: 600 Years of Social Networking in America
“From early Native American cultures to present-day scientists hoping to interact with possible extraterrestrial beings, people continue to reach out to others for a variety of purposes. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams combine with sidebars and a well-researched text to… View →
Catch & Release
“Polly, a self-described ‘monster,’ is disfigured following a staph infection that killed several others in her town. She and Odd, another teen who survived the infection, embark on a road trip that takes them through the Pacific Northwest—and into honest discussions… View →
Chelsea's Chinese New Year
“Children from different cultural groups describe their families’ celebrations. Information about the occasions is included in the simplistic stories, but text boxes provide more details than the young narrators do. Bright, cheerful illustrations will draw readers to these… View →
Oh Boy, Mallory
“Ready or not, fourth-grader Mallory is growing up, but she’s feeling not so ready these days. Although her friends think she should be thrilled when a fifth-grade boy expresses interest in her, Mallory’s not sure she’s ready for boys. As usual, her desire to please… View →
Out of Control
“The Roadrunners travel baseball team encounters daunting opponents on the field while tensions off the field threaten the team’s solidarity. Dustin’s father blackmails the coach; Sammy loses his power hitting when forced to switch from aluminum to wood bats; Trip alienates his… View →
I Want a Party!
“Ross’s energetic watercolors are full of good gags.” --The Horn Book Guide View →
Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles
“Textured illustrations reflect the tale’s holiday-themed warmth.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Fall Mixed Up
“Illustrations rendered in warm colors capture the silliness of the brief text. Kids will have fun following the final instructions to ‘Go back and find all the / things that aren’t right.’” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Talia and the Rude Vegetables
“Talia is confounded by her grandmother’s request for some ‘rude vegetables’ (carrots, turnips, potatoes, etc.) for the Rosh Hashanah stew. While digging up an ‘ornery onion’ and ‘garish garlic,’ she thinks about her own behavior; all ends… View →
Is the End of the World Near?: From Crackpot Predictions to Scientific Scenarios
“Compelling.”—The Horn Book Guide View →
When I Woke Up I Was a Hippopotamus
“Satisfying silliness.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
A Fraction's Goal — Parts of a Whole
“An entertaining starting point.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Investigating Magnetism
“Clear explanations, relatable examples, and effective visuals.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Put Inclined Planes to the Test
“Clear explanations, relatable examples, and effective visuals.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color
“An inspiring launching point for art projects.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
“Spielman’s understated picture book biography covers fascinating events of Marceau’s early life. At sixteen, he and his brother fled the Nazis and became active in the French Resistance. Because of his ability to entertain, Marcel was tapped to smuggle Jewish children… View →
Can You Tell a Bee from a Wasp?
“[An] easy-to-read and informative text.” —The Horn Book Guide View →