Reviews
Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures
“This heavily illustrated title contains a wealth of information about the fascinating science of ocean life. . . . Along with the 250,000 species that are presently known, there is also the lure of the estimated 10 or even 50 million more species waiting to be discovered, and… View →
Draw the Dark
“The author paints vivid depictions of Christian’s mind, and the reader will be right there with him along for the ride. The ending will leave the reader holding on for dear life. The author has a few loose ends, but something this enthralling should never be expected to end neatly View →
Everything I Was
“This is a lovely story about a strong, courageous young woman and a wise grandfather—kindred souls who, together, forge new lives.” —Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall View →
Death: Corpses, Cadavers, and Other Grave Matters
“Meticulously organized and admirably levelheaded.” —Booklist View →
Ruby Valentine Saves the Day
“Splattered with pink and hearts, the cartoon art is joyful and energetic while the landscapes have a Seuss-like quality. . . . This good-natured story shows what really matters during holidays: spending time with people you love.” —School Library Journal View →
The Freak Observer
“A unique, disturbing, creative story.” —School Library Journal View →
“Evil mastermind Vordak the Incomprehensible shares his ‘evilosity’ with aspiring supervillains in this hilarious spoof on superheroes.” —School Library Journal View →
Frozen Secrets: Antarctica Revealed
In a wide-angle survey of our least-explored continent, the author of Written in Bone (2009) and other perceptive accounts of researchers in the field examines the methods and discoveries of scientists studying Antarctica’s geophysics, prehistory, biota, and long- and… View →
Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes: And Other Tricky Tongue Twisters
“This high-energy collection of pleasantly rhythmic tongue twisters features a screwball cast of cartoon animals rendered in digital collages. . . . An appended guide provides tips for creating effective tongue twisters―something readers are likely to try out once they master the… View →
Sherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Bohemia: Case 1
“This story is an inspired choice for a series opener not just because it was the first Holmes short story published (following two novels) but also because it establishes right off the bat something that may surprise readers: a fallible Holmes.” —Booklist View →
A-B-A-B-A—a Book of Pattern Play
“This book can be used as a read-aloud, not just in math, but to teach the basics of poetry, art, and music. This is a great addition to any school library. Recommended.” —Library Media Connection View →
A Hubbub: Book 2
“The watercolor illustrations help set the mood and provide a great deal of depth to each panel. Each strip depicts Ginger’s feelings and makes the text come alive. A good choice for the youngest graphic-novel fans.” —School Library Journal View →
The Drained Brains Caper: Book 1
“Though it is full of sophisticated references, this inventive, playful story should appeal to tween readers. Diverse characters and assured, accessible cartoon-style illustrations make it a promising start to a new series.” —School Library Journal View →
Raised by Wolves
“Barnes weaves a fantastic story line full of great plot twists and turns with a little romance sprinkled in…..[A] great read and a must-have for libraries with fans of the supernatural. " —School Library Journal View →
"Washing Adam's Jeans" and Other Painless Tricks for Memorizing Social Studies Facts
“In the introduction, Cleary defines ‘mnemonic’ and gives a few examples. Using songs, captions, sentences, poems, and numbers to aid in memorizing are all demonstrated.” —School Library Journal View →
Frozen Secrets: Antarctica Revealed
“Walker investigates the scientific mysteries of Antarctica with her characteristic depth and insight…. Despite conveying lots of technical information, Walker’s narrative remains lively and engaging.” —The Horn Book Magazine View →
Give It a Push! Give It a Pull!: A Look at Forces
“This series would be a welcome addition to school libraries’ science section as well as elementary science classrooms. Recommended.” —Library Media Connection View →
The Night Sky
“These small volumes pair one short, declarative statement per page (‘You see the first light from the sun at dawn’) with color photos of outdoor scenes, city skylines, animals, or children.” —School Library Journal, Series Made Simple View →
Pasta, Fried Rice, and Matzoh Balls: Immigrant Cooking in America
“A multi-hued crew of cartoon cats presents the various food groups and the practices of a healthy lifestyle. Each book reports which foods are in the titled group and provides simple explanations of how they affect the body. Cleary’s consistent reminders to children to help… View →
Formula One Race Cars on the Move
“These titles not only offer big, high-energy color photos of various sorts of vehicles at work or play, but also informative glimpses of car and truck controls, engines, and interiors.” —School Library Journal, Series Made Simple View →
Lost Sight: True Survival Stories
“These narratives read like information from the Discovery Health channel, for kids: part fascinating science, part human interest story, and part ‘Eew, gross!’” —School Library Journal, Series Made Simple View →
Frozen Secrets: Antarctica Revealed
“All of Walker’s impressive writing talents are on display in this book on the frozen continent. . . . With its superb design and Walker’s gripping prose, this book will draw readers in and keep them involved.” —School Library Journal View →
Draw the Dark
“Bick has created a likable teen protagonist whose unique ability is completely believable in the author’s skilled hands. The novel brilliantly strikes a compelling balance between fantasy and contemporary fiction. Readers will be on the edge of their seats waiting to find… View →
Ruth and the Green Book
“The realistic illustrations are done in oil wash on board, a self-described ‘subtractive process.’ The picture is painted, then erased to ‘paint’ the final product. Overall, there is a sepialike quality to the art, giving the impression of gazing at old… View →