Reviews
Used Any Numbers Lately?
“Using the alphabet as an organizational tool, the authors illustrate that numbers are all around us: on apartment doors, buses, jerseys, kitchen appliances, and signs.” —Library Media Connection View →
Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes: And Other Tricky Tongue Twisters
“Readers who take this on should prepare their tongues for a wicked tangling…and their stomach muscles for a workout…. Not for the faint of heart; tongues should really be limbered up before tackling these.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
The Ferret's a Foot: Book 3
“Yue’s adorable, expressive cartoon creatures ably extend Venable’s humor…. A winning graphic story all around.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
The Maltese Mummy: Book 2
“Another goodnatured adventure with a few nods to classic detective stories.” —Booklist View →
Benito Runs
“Solid, simple stories. For reluctant readers and fans of the Bluford High series.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Dino-Basketball
“Gott’s vividly colored illustrations are filled with energy—almost like sitting courtside…. Likely to be a slam dunk with both basketball and dinosaur fans…and football enthusiasts can look forward to the teams’ next match.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
The Sunflower Sword
“A feel-good story for peace-loving families, it acknowledges the truism that boys tend to turn anything into weapons. Yet the symbolic dove on every page provides hope that one day, swords will be turned into plowshares. Or at least into a gift for a new friend.”… View →
Lost in the River of Grass
“In this authentic survival adventure…it’s the identity questions as much as the taut rescue story that will resonate with readers.” —Booklist View →
What a Team!: Book 3
“The engaging Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox graphic-novel series, about a blended forest family and four stepsiblings’ efforts to get along, continues to provide both age-appropriate complexity and sweet watercolor artwork.” —Booklist View →
Lost in the River of Grass
“Wildlife and vegetation are vividly described; Sarah’s fear is palpable in scenes of near-disaster, and readers will cheer when she and Andy make it safely out of the swamp after five days…. Rorby cleverly offers only subtle hints that Sarah is African-American and… View →
Everything I Was
“Having written for picture book, middle-grade, and adult audiences, Demas’s first book for teens presents an authentic…portrait of country life, economic stress, and the tensions associated with a major life change. Irene’s budding independence and inner strength View →
Dino-Basketball
“This duo has a good thing going, and they don’t mess with their formula, offering the breathless rhymes, fouls and fast breaks, and down-to-the-final-second twists readers have come to expect.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Yuvi's Candy Tree
“Though neither the story nor the author’s note explicitly state why the refugees are fleeing Ethiopia (mostly famine), readers should finish the book with a strong sense of their strength, faith, and determination.” —Publishers Weekly View →
“McNish (Angel) has his horror movie–ready details and twists down pat, but he’s most interested in his monsters—the story’s most complex and intriguing characters—from the Horror, gruesome yet childlike, to the Ocrassa, which has used the animal kingdom like a… View →
Gracie the Lighthouse Cat
“Attractive, painterly renditions of the treacherous sea as well as the emotional features on the faces of the animals will draw children into the suspenseful tale.” —School Library Journal View →
“Mayan Death Lords, a deadline to find a precious stone to stave off the end of the world, and lots of Mayan lore make this a fact-packed, thrilling ride. Rick Riordan fans will love it.” —Booklist View →
I, Emma Freke
“A well-paced story told with heart and humor.” —School Library Journal View →
The Freak Observer
“Loa’s voice is the story’s strength. She’s wry, observant, and honest in her narration. . . . This melancholic contemporary novel has many stellar moments that will appeal to issue-driven novel readers, but will need to be handsold through booktalking to reach a… View →
Michael Jackson: Ultimate Music Legend
“Krohn has a knack for honing in on kid-friendly details . . . a snappy read with some fine back matter, too.” —Booklist View →
Seven Wonders beyond the Solar System
“Both newly starstruck readers and confirmed students of the heavens will find plenty to marvel over in these volumes.” —School Library Journal View →
The Talent Show
“From the crooning moose to the singing hippo in a boa, the illustrations don’t miss a beat of humor. Read this aloud with soft but bouncy jazz in the background, and your crowd will cheer as well.” —School Library Journal View →
Fortunately, Unfortunately
“Such a convoluted chain of events could easily be weighed down by visually cluttered illustrations, but Foreman employs a light touch with his bright watercolors, and the eye follows exactly where it needs to go.” —School Library Journal View →
“The real treat here is the Dodger-blue-and-graphite kineticism of Morse’s stylized, limber figures and dynamic layouts. Consider this book as a leadoff hitter to set the table for the slugger, Kadir Nelson’s We Are the Ship (2008).” —Booklist View →