Reviews
The Mysterious Manuscript: Book 1
" …readers will be carried along by both [Mortensen’s] élan and by the charged-up pace of his misadventures. Jakobsen’s cartoon panels are small but discrete, and he keeps the dialogue pithy, his figures clearly drawn and the action easy to follow. A bonbon for… View →
Tales from the Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest with Pete Athans
“A solid introduction to the world’s highest mountain has a you-are-there feel….A smart, inclusive and evocative account of a mountain, its character and its past.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Talia and the Rude Vegetables
“Talia’s grandmother is busy in the kitchen making a stew to welcome the Jewish New Year. She sends the little girl to the garden for seven root vegetables. Talia hears the word ‘rude’ rather than root and has fun wondering what kind of misdeeds were done by the… View →
Lights Out Shabbat
“A young boy is visiting his grandparents for a weekend in Georgia when they are all surprised by a freak snow storm. It begins after they light the Shabbat candles. The electricity in the house goes out but they continue with the meal. As the candles flicker, Grandfather tells… View →
Grandma Rose's Magic
“Grandma Rose loves to sew and has over the years brought joy into the lives of many people in her community. With a needle, some thread, and a piece of cloth she makes magic in the form of dresses for girls, slacks for boys, curtains and quilts, dolls for grandchildren,… View →
Hippospotamus
“Look for uproarious responses from young audiences, especially at the final page turn. Eeeew. But in a good way.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Hannah's Way
“Hannah has just relocated from Minneapolis to rural Minnesota because her father lost his job during the Depression. She is new at school and trying to fit in. The teacher announces that the fall picnic is Saturday, and she is trying to make carpool arrangements. Suddenly, Hannah… View →
Hannah's Way
" It is the Depression and Hannah’s father has lost his job. They are forced to move from Minneapolis to northern Minnesota where she is the only Jew in her class at school. Her parents are rigorous believers in following the rules and regulations governing the Sabbath. Hannah View →
Little White Duck: A Childhood in China
“Liu is a calm storyteller whose words are enlivened by Martinez’s enthusiastic and energetic art, and their respective tones complement each other fluidly. Martinez’s work is a loving depiction of his wife in childhood, providing atmosphere through not only his period… View →
Popular Clone
“This fun novel is for kids who like Anthony Horowitz’s ‘Alex Rider’ series (Philomel) and can handle the challenging scientific vocabulary.” —School Library Journal View →
Meltdown!: The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future
“Overall this is a well written presentation of a very difficult and complex topic….Meltdown would be a welcome addition to any school or public library.”—Science Books & Films View →
Queen Latifah: From Jersey Girl to Superstar
“Sparkling graphics, stylish layout, and engaging writing will attract young readers, especially those needing one-hundred-plus-page biographies for assignments….Admirable.” —VOYA View →
A Leaf Can Be . . .
“This book is sure to open a child’s eyes to the wonder of the natural world.” —Washington Parent View →
What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings: A Guide for Crocodilian Parents (and Curious Kids)
“Heos’s humorous, chatty introduction to what crocodilian parents do to protect their eggs and hatchlings until the offspring are able to take on their own predatory roles is evenly orchestrated through Jorisch’s hilarious line drawing and watercolors….The information… View →
“Audio quality is excellent. Teachers will like using the series to enrich student understanding of letter sounds, and listeners will enjoy it for the story as well.” —School Library Journal View →
Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean
“In this playful and appealing picture book, young Izzy is busy inventing a machine that will rid the house of hametz, primarily foods such as bread and grains that are forbidden during Passover. Seeking out all the nibbles and crumbs that have accumulated throughout the… View →
No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller
“Eye-opening….This book will capture readers’ interest from the first pages and they will find themselves still thinking about it weeks later.” —VOYA View →
Job Smarts: How to Find Work or Start a Business, Manage Earnings, and More
“While there are many books out there on teenage employment, the eye-pleasing graphic layout, the length, and the supplemental charts and graphs from USA TODAY will make young adult readers more likely to pull Job… View →
Friend Me!: 600 Years of Social Networking in America
“Informative, interesting, and socially relevant—you will want to add this to your collection.” —VOYA View →
Death of a Dreamer: The Assassination of John Lennon
“An excellent introduction to an era of history through the lens of John Lennon.” —VOYA View →
Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens
“A balanced presentation of the topic. Numerous eyewitness accounts, plus interviews with scientists, keep the text objective without losing the high-interest appeal.” —VOYA View →
Meltdown!: The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future
“The recounting of the disaster in Japan is a compelling opening for adiscussion of available energy sources. The step-by-step sequence of events, from earthquake to tsunami to nuclear emergency, leads into the power choices to be made now and in the future, with benefits and… View →
The White Zone
“Marsden’s knack for getting deeply into a culture and creating realistic, believable characters proves effective once again; this is an accessible and engaging window into a specific time and place that will have current relevance to many young readers and units of… View →
Hannah's Way
“After Hannah’s father loses his job during the Depression, the family moves to a rural town in northern Minnesota where he will work in his brother’s general store. Hannah is not only the new girl in her class; she’s also the only Jewish child in the whole school. When the teacher View →