Reviews
Death of a Dreamer: The Assassination of John Lennon
“Beginning with the announcement of Lennon’s death on December 8, 1980, the author then adeptly presents two chronological biographies of Lennon and Mark David Chapman and comes full circle with a more detailed telling of the events leading up to the assassination. Black-and-white… View →
Can You Tell an Ostrich from an Emu?
“Varied close-up and annotated photographs point out the many differences between the two largest species of birds on earth, in various categories such as habitat, physiology, and reproductive habits. Although the layout is colorful, it’s a little busy, but nature fans won’t… View →
Che Guevara: You Win or You Die
“Interspersed with quotes from his diary entries and from CIA files and newspaper reports over the years, Kallen’s narrative is objective and clear, and the accessible design includes numerous photos and screened inserts, which are fully documented… View →
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves
“The breadth of emotion and experience the entries cover guarantee that almost any reader will identify with some of the situations and anxieties expressed.”—Publishers Weekly View →
“For his first children’s book, ’Waga’s Big Scare,’ Minneapolis writer/artist Samuel Hiti has delivered something monstrous just in time for Halloween. Known for populating his graphic novels, including ‘Death-Day’ and ‘Tiempos… View →
The Mysterious Manuscript: Book 1
“Jakobsen’s art is cartoonish but mature enough in drawing and color to keep it from becoming babyish. Tame action sequences and historical notes at the end of the book mean the series will most likely find a good home in elementary-school libraries.”… View →
The Future We Left Behind
“Lancaster effortlessly incorporates into his whiz-bang plot big ideas of science versus religion….Fans of Human.4 didn’t see this giant leap forward coming—and that more than anything is the hallmark of great sf.” —starred, Booklist View →
Sparrow, Eagle, Penguin, and Seagull: What Is a Bird?
“Funny, factual, and at times even a little edgy, this offers the unconventional for younger children trying to understand the animal world.”—Booklist View →
Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead
“Disgustingly good.” —Booklist Online View →
Four Secrets
“[A] meticulously detailed and psychologically astute story with the feel of a procedural drama.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words
“[A] rare, valuable window into life with a terminal illness.”—Publishers Weekly View →
Big Birthday
“While the engaging verse makes this book a lively read-aloud, it is the illustrations that bring the story to life. Clifton-Brown’s skillful use of color and texture add depth and humor to the story while the varied text placement adds interest.” —Library… View →
In Search of the Fog Zombie: A Mystery about Matter
“Positioning science in real-life situations… is a strong point of this series.” —Library Media Connection View →
Death of a Dreamer: The Assassination of John Lennon
“Although 32 years have passed since Lennon’s assassination, his life remains a fascination for many. Tracing the lives of Lennon and Chapman simultaneously provides an insightful lens.” —Library Media Connection View →
Catch & Release
“A compelling and beautiful tale of trials and triumph.” —The ALAN Review View →
Che Guevara: You Win or You Die
“The narrative is accessible and compelling, and a solid introduction to the life and times of Guevara, providing both detail and context to a complicated, thoughtful man… A solid choice for any library.” —School Library Journal View →
Friend Me!: 600 Years of Social Networking in America
“This is a thought-provoking book on how human beings have connected over the centuries… If students read this book, they will learn significant facts about the history of society in America.” —Library Media Connection View →
Chelsea's Chinese New Year
“In this well-presented series, young children are introduced to important holidays that their friends celebrate. Each book tells a story about a child celebrating the holiday with explanations within the story or in text boxes. Different facets of the holidays are shown:… View →
Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature's Undead
“Scientific in its approach, this slender book gives children a look at scientific research in real time, and also shows how little we truly know in a less-than-lovely field.” —starred, School Library Journal View →
I Love Him to Pieces: Book 1
“A baseball-playing girl and a nerdy boy begin an improbably romance after being teamed up in a school project. Then the zombies arrive. Görrissen’s black-and-white drawings make skillful use of facial expressions and body language to convey the characters’ thoughts and View →
Guitar Notes
“[A] sweet story of two different loners finding their counterpoint.” —School Library Journal View →
“Set in New Zealand, but loaded with universal appeal, these zany tales will please fans of goofy family stories. Pye’s lively black-and-white pencil illustrations enliven the first page of each new adventure.” —School Library Journal View →
Infinity and Me
“This unusual, philosophical picture book makes this seemingly difficult concept approachable and interesting….This quiet jewel is sure to spark contemplation and conversation among readers.” —School Library Journal View →