Reviews
Secret Diary: Book 1
“With fun, full-color illustrations, this graphic novel is able to portray the daily life of Lou in a playful manner while relaying pre-teen heartache and angst.” —Library Media Connection View →
The Girl Who Owned a City: The Graphic Novel
“The strong-willed, resourceful main character sets an excellent example for girls of all ages and the ingenuity of the children shows the virtues of perseverance and resiliency in the face of disaster. Overall, this is an entertaining read with great artwork that is sure to… View →
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves
“A winning collection for both teens and former teens, alike.”—School Library Journal 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 →
Elmer and Super El
“Super El’s costume tore on a thornbush, so Elmer the patchwork elephant helps him reach Aunt Zelda, who can mend the costume. But to get there, Elmer must devise ways to sneak Super El past all the other animals so they won’t laugh at him. The bright gouache illustrations… 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 →
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 →
No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller
“Opened at the end of the Great Depression, Michaux’s National Memorial African Bookstore became a central gathering place for African American writers, artists, intellectuals, and political figures. In this extraordinary, inspiring book, short chapters are written in… View →
Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens
“With a surprisingly even-handed tone, this book uses an interest in aliens to inspire scientific inquiry. It discusses the history of UFO sightings, crashes, and hoaxes, providing thoroughly researched, factual information while remaining non-judgmental… View →
The Not-So-Perfect Planet
“Over-the-top silly and brimming with cliffhangers, the fast-paced sibling adventure demonstrates problem-solving, kindness, and teamwork.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What Are Patterns?
“An engaging introduction to patterns as observed in science, math, and art.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Queen Latifah: From Jersey Girl to Superstar
“Each book contains background about social movements, fashion, and musical influences, plus excerpts from USA Today articles. Queen Latifah’s childhood and family life, as well as Lady Gag’s development of her persona, are covered in detail, while topics… 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 →
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 →
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 →
Secret Diary: Book 1
“In these French imports, twelve-year-old Lou ponders problems such as being teased at school, experiencing unrequited love, and having an underemployed single mom who is a writer/couch potato. The format makes them look like picture books, but the stories are told in comic panels; 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Emma's Easter
“Emma’s story reflects her family’s African American and Russian American heritage (no mention that Russian Orthodox Easter usually falls on a different date than other Christian sects). Rashad and his Muslim family observe Ramada. Sarah prepares for her role in asking the… View →
Sammy Spider's New Friend
“By now, young fans of the Sammy Spider series are well acquainted with the formula that makes these warm, sweetly spun tales so endearing. Whether discovering the true meaning of the Jewish holidays or, as in his latest adventure, observing the Shapiro family bake a cake to… View →
Tortoise, Tree Snake, Gator, and Sea Snake: What Is a Reptile?
“Learning about common organisms is important in developing an interest in science among youngsters, and this book does that exceedingly well.” —Science Books & Films View →
“These titles present basic concepts, thinking skills, and reading skills all wrapped up in engaging stories starring mouse siblings Wanda and Albert… Libraries in need of math concept books with eye-catching artwork should consider these books first purchases.”… View →