Reviews
Dino-Basketball
“This duo has a good thing going, and they don’t mess with their formula, offering the breathless rhymes, fouls and fast breaks, and down-to-the-final-second twists readers have come to expect.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Everything I Was
“Having written for picture book, middle-grade, and adult audiences, Demas’s first book for teens presents an authentic…portrait of country life, economic stress, and the tensions associated with a major life change. Irene’s budding independence and inner strength View →
Yuvi's Candy Tree
“Though neither the story nor the author’s note explicitly state why the refugees are fleeing Ethiopia (mostly famine), readers should finish the book with a strong sense of their strength, faith, and determination.” —Publishers Weekly View →
“McNish (Angel) has his horror movie–ready details and twists down pat, but he’s most interested in his monsters—the story’s most complex and intriguing characters—from the Horror, gruesome yet childlike, to the Ocrassa, which has used the animal kingdom like a… View →
“Morse’s dramatically grained, exaggerated artwork plays up the intensity of the era’s racial tensions and the dynamism of the game, while Krensky adeptly moves between the action on Ebbets Field and Matty’s conversations with his father. An intimate and powerful… View →
Fortunately, Unfortunately
“The repeated use of the two title words . . . creates a seesaw effect that encourages chiming in, and the jaunty art adds laughs.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Elmer and the Rainbow
“Elmer will continue to brighten his friends’ lives.” —Publishers Weekly View →
I Want to Do It Myself!
“With gestural strokes, Ross’s ink and watercolor illustrations play up the princess’s impudence; readers should relate, while recognizing that a little assistance never hurts.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Ruby Valentine Saves the Day
“[Ruby’s] enthusiasm and generosity are infectious.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes: And Other Tricky Tongue Twisters
“This high-energy collection of pleasantly rhythmic tongue twisters features a screwball cast of cartoon animals rendered in digital collages. . . . An appended guide provides tips for creating effective tongue twisters―something readers are likely to try out once they master the… View →
“Fans of Shannon Hale will enjoy this compelling fantasy, which is filled with magic, political drama, and romance.” —Publishers Weekly View →
I, Emma Freke
“Atkinson (From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between) has written a lively novel with an empathetic, well-drawn heroine.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Maccabee!: The Story of Hanukkah
“The real draw is the high drama of Harrington’s sculptural illustrations and their superhero cartoon vibe, as the Maccabees fend off armored elephants and labor to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Ruth and the Green Book
“A sense of resiliency courses through Cooper’s (Back of the Bus) filmy illustrations—beatific portraits of the Esso worker who sells the family their Green Book and the owner of a ‘tourist home’ where the family spends the night radiate strength, kindness, and… View →
Draw the Dark
“Bick builds the gripping supernatural/historical mystery to a satisfying conclusion that demonstrates the evils of the present can be just as terrifying as those of the past.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Changing Moon: Book 1
“While there’s a mystery afoot, the biggest pull for the book is the relatable main character and her situations. An offbeat humor to Nola’s difficulties gives a light feel to the whole story. Previously published in France, two subsequent volumes are also… View →
Sneaky Sheep
“Rocky and Blossom’s wide googly eyes exude mischievousness, especially compared to the wedged snout of the vicious wolf who chases them to a cliff’s edge in the story’s climax. Both the text and artwork celebrate disobedience, and those looking for a cautionary… View →
The Absolute Value of -1
“Each of the three teenagers has a turn at first-person narration, revisiting the same scenario from different perspectives. Brezenoff nicely differentiates their voices and personalities, even while their narratives are bound together by the frustrations, self-doubt (and hatred),… View →
The Freak Observer
“Loa is strong, but overburdened and isolated; laced with bleak humor, her deadened, searching narration carries this dark and highly promising first novel.” —Publishers Weekly View →
“No one is going to rule the world after reading Vordak’s farcical directives, but readers will have a grand time turning pages to see what outlandish thing he’ll say or suggest next, while perfecting their own villainous laughs.” —starred, Publishers Weekly View →
I Want My Light On!
“Ross’s brash watercolors are full of campy energy, turning bedtime scenes into a stage for adventure.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Raised by Wolves
“Bryn’s voice is sarcastic, exasperated, frightened, insightful, and tender by turns, and Barnes rarely lets her take easy outs, making for an exceptionally taut read.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Hamster and Cheese: Book 1
“Children can look and guess for themselves about the clues and red herrings the book presents. The humor in the characters’ personalities and dialogue makes this a lively and entertaining book.”—Publishers Weekly View →