Reviews
I Like Mess
“[B]eginning reader illustrated with clear, full-color photographs of people and props dramatically placed on all-white backgrounds. The book feature[s]. . .Tess cleaning her room only to begin her messy cycle again. . .The characters’ exaggerated expressions give the… View →
Dan and Dan
“Crisp full-color photos on white backgrounds illustrate these phonetics-based easy readers. In Dan and Dan, a white boy lovingly describes his relationship with his grandfather and namesake.” —School Library Journal View →
The Best Pet Yet
“Refreshing and attractive additions to any beginning reader collection. The upbeat stor[y] of a. . . boy selecting his first pet work independently of their value as phonics lessons, a welcome change from most basal texts. Appealing full-color photographs of children enliven and View →
Lemonade for Sale
“These books will add a breath of fresh air to beginning-reader collections. The stories center on a group of friends who live near a small park in an urban neighborhood. The events and dialogue reinforce the “Real Kids” in the series title and will strike a chord… View →
The New Kid
“[This] phonics-based easy reader would make a welcome addition to any collection. . . [This] story [is] interesting, makes sense, and have engaging characters. However, it is the colorful photographs on double-page spreads that make these texts come alive. The children’s… View →
I Like to Win!
“[I]ntended for very beginning readers [that] subtly reinforce concepts of. . . sportsmanship. . . I Like to Win! features an African-American boy and girl. . . who resolve their arguments over winning and losing at board games. The small amount of print per page, the crisp color View →
The First Gift
“. . .this book celebrates what a special possession a name is.” — Publishers Weekly View →
Many Ways: How Families Practice Their Beliefs and Religions
“. . .serves as a simple introduction to how families practice their different religions, promoting tolerance and respect. The clear, spare text and large photographs serve as eye-opening catalogue as well as a jumping-off point for discussion.” … View →
Best Friends
“These three stories intended for very beginning readers subtly reinforce concepts of friendship, sportsmanship, and emotional expression. I Am Mad! features a bullying older sister, and is the weakest of the lot, due perhaps to the difficulty of telling a complex story with such View →
Molly in the Middle
“The posed photographs, cropped so as to reveal no background, give the book plenty of white space.” —School Library Journal View →
Pluto: A Dwarf Planet
“The books are enhanced with mixes of space art and photography that has been reproduced with special attention to image sharpness and color clarity.” —School Library Journal View →
Scrubs Forever!
“The dialogue is lively and realistic, with lots of humorous banter, and there’s plenty of action. The large type, sports theme, and amusing cartoon vignettes make this an attractive choice with special appeal to reluctant readers, especially boys.” … View →
My Best Friend, the Atlantic Ocean, and Other Great Bodies Standing Between Me and My Life with Giulio
“This is a fresh take on teen romance. Expect readers to beg for the next installment.” —School Library Journal View →
Fairy World Crafts
“A perfect choice for girls who enjoy crafting. . .” —School Library Journal View →
A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero
“Solidly researched, the well-written text follows Wassaja (later renamed Carlos Montezuma) as he was sold into slavery and purchased by a kind Italian photographer. . . This title should be promoted for Native American, multicultural, and biography units.” … View →
The Nice Mice in the Rice: A Long Vowel Sounds Book
“Cleary does a masterful job of explaining such potentially dry topics as ‘long vowel sounds with consonant digraphs’ and ‘inflectional endings’ by using comic, incongruous situations to get his point across. . . In his introduction, Cleary states that:… View →