Reviews
Build, Beaver, Build!: Life at the Longest Beaver Dam
“Nicely composed [with] lively illustrations. . . . A satisfying picture book for junior naturalists.”—Booklist Online View →
The Hunt for the Missing Spy
“A must-read for fans of the Code Busters Club series, this will also interest kids who are looking forward to touring the nation’s capital.”—Booklist View →
Timber Creek Station
“British author Lewis’ debut is based on her time as the family helper on just such an outback [cattle station]. . . . It is the learning curve of Liz that will engage the reader who is open to understanding a variation of abject intolerance in a remote culture that is… View →
When the Sun Shines on Antarctica: And Other Poems about the Frozen Continent
“The creators of Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole (2014) here offer poetry and art focused on the Antarctic summer. . . . [This] will be welcomed by classrooms combining poetry and science.”—Booklist View →
Tooth by Tooth: Comparing Fangs, Tusks, and Chompers
“A guessing game meets zoological dentistry in this informational picture book. . . . With playful text and a kid-friendly approach, this title . . . will surely elicit some giggles. A great addition to any library where animal books are popular—so, almost all of… View →
Whose Hands Are These?: A Community Helper Guessing Book
“Care has been taken to ensure that people of all ages, races, and genders are depicted doing the work. . . . [T]he text is linguistically complex and fun, helping readers to build vocabulary with words associated with the professions. . . . An engaging, well-executed… View →
On the Road with Mallory
“[F]ans of the long-running Mallory series will enjoy reading about this soon-to-be fifth-grader, her initially unbearable cousin, and her sometimes inscrutable older brother.”—Booklist Online View →
Collateral Damage
“This entry in the Support and Defend series will draw military and nonmilitary teens alike. The high/low story is full of action and raw emotion that will engage reluctant readers.”—Booklist Online View →
Elmer and the Flood
“So many picture books promote the joys of friendship that it’s refreshing to find one celebrating ‘the bliss of solitude’ in such a cheerful way. . . . A fresh, amusing addition to the Elmer series.”—Booklist Online View →
Just My Type: Understanding Personality Profiles
“Examples [of personality tests] are sprinkled liberally throughout the text . . . adding an appealing level of interaction. . . . Ultimately, a fascinating guide to a high-interest topic.”—Booklist View →
The Ebola Epidemic: The Fight, The Future
“Though it doesn’t make light of the very real and devastating effects Ebola can have on families and entire communities, this is also careful not to contribute to sensationalism. . . . A solid, valuable look at a still-mysterious illness and a tumultuous time in recent… View →
Space Junk: The Dangers of Polluting Earth's Orbit
“Clearly written and concise, the book lays out the problem without sensationalizing it, while including human-interest details. . . . A natural for booktalking to STEM-minded kids, this slender volume belongs in many libraries.”—Booklist View →
Dead Zones: Why Earth's Waters Are Losing Oxygen
“[T]he straightforward, unsparing text will encourage students to think critically about their own choices, even if they live far away from the ocean. An illuminating introduction to a complicated, dire ecological problem that deserves more attention.”—Booklist View →
This tale of a young Canadian immigrant who gets a longer for but unexpected chance to join a local team will score an easy goal with younger or less expert readers mad for hockey. Money is so tight since Paul’s divorced dad went back to Trinidad that the equipment and registration costs View →
The Mountain Jews and the Mirror
“Beautiful acrylic paintings in crimson, olive, fig, and umber illustrate the tale, with particular care given to the couple’s expressions as they navigate their emotions and new life together.” — Booklist View →
Wake Up, Spring: Book 1
“This French import features clearly drawn, detailed, and expressive full-color art with imaginative figures and an engaging adventure story.”—Booklist View →
Blazing Courage
“With an accessible, straightforward first-person narrative, this high/low title will be a good selection for struggling readers. Annie’s heartening connection with horses and the nicely crafted narrative, however, would make this appealing for anyone who enjoys a good horse… View →
The Colors of Israel
“This simple book offers several possibilities for sharing and viewing independently, as the photos are vivid and show everyday life, while the text is scant and serves merely to identify object names and color.” — Booklist Online View →
Talia and the Very YUM Kippur
“Assirelli’s acrylic folk-style illustrations feature soft, rounded shapes that signal coziness and the security Talia feels as she works through her many misconceptions.” — Booklist Online View →
Freedom Flight
“This high/low, fast-paced read about military life is part of the Support and Defend series and will be popular with many YA readers.”—Booklist View →
Ada Byron Lovelace & the Thinking Machine
“A beautiful tribute to this female computer pioneer.”—starred, Booklist View →