Reviews
You Will Call Me Drog
“What a great book! Drog is the anti-Pinocchio of middle school. He tells the truth! But reader beware: DROG is hard to put down. A laugh out loud story about a sassy puppet and the boy who gloved him. (Sorry, Drog made me do it!!) Kudos, Sue Cowing. You… View →
Everything I Was
“Demas anchors this quiet, hopeful book in today’s headlines of job loss and the surprisingly vital safety nets that support families…. Never saccharine, this satisfying offering, with its solid storytelling and memorable characters of all ages, should please fans of… View →
Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes: And Other Tricky Tongue Twisters
“Anyone who struggles with Dr. Seuss’ Fox in Socks (1965) will enjoy these silly sentences that simply must be read out loud…. Colorful, stylized illustrations feature human and animal characters, and each image and sentence form a discrete package, one to a page or to… View →
I Love Him to Pieces: Book 1
“A hoot from opening salvo (‘JACK CHEN, YOU’RE THE FATHER OF MY BABY!’) to closing clinch.”… View →
I Love Him to Pieces: Book 1
“When the two teens try to fight their way out of embattled St. Petersburg, Florida, is scary and gory and exciting but not too bloody for a middle-school audience. Görrissen’s refreshing, black-and-white art gives the story a crisp, modern feel, with clearly individuated… View →
I Want to Do It Myself!
“Ross’ concept is clear and funny, and the pink- and purple-heavy watercolors maintain a light, airy feel befitting the stress-free concept.” —Booklist View →
What Can't Wait
“This solid debut deftly explores the daily struggle of some students to persevere in the face of long odds.” —Booklist View →
“Cleary and Goneau make learning about nutrition fun with silly rhymes and goofy illustrations. Food prep, portion size, vitamin values, and vegetable colors and textures are presented at just the right level for little ones, and they will delight in the antics of the brightly… View →
Afikomen Mambo
“Painted in warm, bright colors, Black’s multiethnic cast exudes familial tenderness and cheer.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley
“The mysterious disappearance of a Confederate submarine in 1863 becomes even more fascinating when seen through the eyes of the divers, archaeologists, engineers, and other experts who pieced together the details more than a century later. Full-color photographs, helpful diagrams, View →
“McNish has a gift for portraying characters undergoing disturbing transformations to battle ancient evils.” —Booklist View →
“This well-crafted book deserves a place on the growing shelf of books designed to introduce readers to Robinson, including Sharon Robinson’s Jackie’s Gift (Viking, 2010) and Testing the Ice (Scholastic, 2009) and Myron Uhlberg’s Dad, Jackie, View →
Dino-Basketball
“The commentary is fast paced and exciting, the illustrations highlight basketball tradition and culture (cutting down the net, an audience showing team spirit), and the end is inspiring.” —School Library Journal View →
Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication
“Throughout this highly readable, informative title are profiles of individuals—an elephant keeper, a scout, researchers, and others—who work with these animals. The ‘Elephant Dictionary’ will help future scientists understand an elephant’s chirp, grunt, rev,… View →
The Stormy Adventure of Abbie Burgess, Lighthouse Keeper
“These books provide exciting glimpses into the past, with just the right amount of tension and intensity to capture readers’ attention. " —School Library Journal View →
Ticks: Dangerous Hitchhikers
“This fascinating book about arachnids named ticks starts out by describing the difference between arachnids and a close relative, the insect.” —NSTA View →
Harvestmen: Secret Operatives
“This middle school book would be a great addition to any teacher’s classroom library.” —NSTA View →
Lost in the River of Grass
“Like many adventure and survival novels for teens, Lost in the River of Grass is also a coming-of-age story, as Sarah gains immense knowledge about herself and her capabilities in a short, intense time period. In addition to outlining this profound personal growth, author Ginny… View →
The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race
“Pimm, who worked in the pit box during her husband Ed Pimm’s NASCAR racing days, offers an informative introduction to the Daytona 500…. A solid entry on stock-car racing.” —Booklist View →
The Freak Observer
“Sixteen-year-old Loa Lindgren witnesses a gruesome car accident that takes the life of her best friend, Esther. The event leaves Loa with a debilitating case of post-traumatic stress disorder. A mysterious figure known as the Bony Guy—death incarnate—terrifies her through vivid… View →
Gracie the Lighthouse Cat
“Words like ‘cozy’ and ‘parlor’ shine like beacons in this tale, reminding the more fortunate among us that there’s no place like home.” —ForeWord Magazine View →
Black Widows: Deadly Biters
“Students will be spellbound by its informative text and great graphics…. This middle school book would be a great addition to any teacher’s classroom library.” —NSTA View →