Reviews
Cookie, the Walker
“Monroe (the Monkey with a Tool Belt books) explores the pitfalls of fame through deadpan narration and celebrity stereotypes, all captured in tidy comics-style panels.” —PW Online View →
The Noisy Book
Combining the tidy trim size and young audience of a board book with the range of an encyclopedia, this celebration of sound is epic in its scope and delightful in its execution. Printed on thin but sturdy glossy paper, each spread pairs a simple declaratory sentence (“The monkey goes oo View →
Two Shy Pandas
“The illustrations provide just the right amount of bashful cuteness to make the reader empathize with the pandas and cheer for their success. Readers who are shy themselves will appreciate the pace at which the story unfolds, and will take heart that mustering up the courage to… View →
“Markle uses the epic yearly journey of the godwit to capture young imaginations and present an important fable about perseverance, courage, and family….Delicate and ethereal illustrations by Posada bring their voyage to life….An obscure yet fascinating topic is the… View →
“Humorous, enjoyable and light.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg
“Based mostly on Tillie’s own recollection of the conflict, which she wrote and published in 1889, this book combines that writing with Anderson’s smooth retelling to describe the weeks leading up to and following the battle from the perspective of an extremely… View →
Cookie, the Walker
This is for more than one reading—all the better to get the message across." —Booklist View →
“A useful guide to handling everyday tasks and problems.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Breezier, Cheesier, Newest, and Bluest: What Are Comparatives and Superlatives?
“Cleary’s verse sets the tone, clearly setting out to offer entertainment as well as instruction….Gable creates energetic, comical scenes based on a few words; a cast of madcap, dressed-animal characters; and some unusual color combinations. A useful, amusing… View →
Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg
“An insightful perspective on one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War seen through the eyes of a 15-year-old girl….Her eyewitness observations are vivid and compelling….Tillie’s words bring the sights, sounds and smells of a civilian and teenager… View →
Elmer and the Birthday Quake
“Fun for fans of elephants in general and Elmer in particular.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Two Shy Pandas
“Pandas make adorable stand-ins for little children, as Varley’s friendly watercolor illustrations attest. Sweet tonic for skittish young listeners.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
“The Monkey King books can be read as a portfolio of demons and dragons, or they can be read as a psychological study of someone gaining wisdom and compassion. However they are read, they’re terrific adventure stories for anyone willing to climb out from beneath the bed.”… View →
My Crocodile Does Not Bite
“Brightly colored, cartoon illustrations depict an expressive, goofy-looking crocodile cavorting about and stealing the show.” —Booklist View →
It's a Mitzvah, Grover!
“Can a book do its job too well? The story is basic enough: Grover and his Israeli friends want to clean up a playground. Moishe Oofnik refuses to help them, because he’s a grouch. (He lives in a trash can like Oscar, his American cousin on Sesame Street.) But Moishe is View →
Cookie, the Walker
“Told in a bright and fun comic-book style with plenty of illustrations that will hold readers’ interest upon repeated viewings, ‘Cookie, the Walker’ is the rare picture book that actually questions the value of standing out.” —The New York Times… View →
Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
“There’s a bit of Otto Dix in Morse’s distinctive paintings, with their angular contours and somber, blue-tinted skin, which lends an incongruous, though not displeasing, coolness to the notably hot-blooded sport.” —The New York Times Book Review View →
The Count's Hanukkah Countdown
“Sesame Street’s famous regulars and Hanukkah meet in a cute story that delivers the holiday combined with numbers up to eight. Grover hosts a latke party for Israeli muppet friends; the Count loves the idea; he includes himself because eight is the perfect Hanukkah number. The… View →
Change of Heart
“[A]n especially good example of how McClintock uses the ever-shifting terrain of high-school loyalties and conflicts as background for suspense….More solid mystery fare from the five-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Best Juvenile Crime Award.” —Booklist View →
My Happy Life
“The illustrations complement the narrative well, and will enable younger readers to feel a sense of accomplishment for tackling a lengthy chapter book….The difficult subjects are handled gracefully, allowing children to realize that happiness comes and goes, and that… View →
“The book is well presented and fascinating and could be used as part of a geography lesson or to teach about animals’ unusual lifestyles. The large print, simple, straightforward vocabulary, and appealing format make it a good choice for a report or a simple research project View →
Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio
“Cooper’s soft-edged brown, amber and green illustrations lovingly depict the action and emotions called forth in the text. A loving tribute to Satchel Paige, who never looked back in anger.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Your Pajamas Are Showing!: Book 1
“Oversized panels and exceptionally exaggerated expressions only beef up the already bountiful bons mots. The short, highly episodic exploits are delivered with minimal text and at lightning speed; expect most to devour this in a single short sitting. Just try to read it and not… View →