Reviews
What Are You Figuring Now?: A Story about Benjamin Banneker
“. . .smooth engaging biographical story; the mature, style and sucinct text make this a good choice for reluctant readers.” —Booklist View →
Cracking the Wall: The Struggles of the Little Rock Nine
“Bringing the story to life are expressive paintings that clearly show the rage, unhappiness, and dignity of the people involved in the conflict.” —Booklist View →
With Open Hands: A Story about Biddy Mason
“This hearty tale is accompanied by many gentle line drawings.” —Booklist View →
The Copper Lady
“Young readers will be fascinated as they discover this interesting link between the U.S. and France.” —Booklist View →
Fire at the Triangle Factory
“In 1911 New York City, Jewish Minnie and Catholic Tessa can only be friends at the factory, but this friendship pays off when the famous and tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire takes the lives of many of their coworkers. . . Large color drawings. . . are a wonderful asset to View →
Writer of the Plains: A Story about Willa Cather
“Karen Ritz’s full-page pencil drawings are quiet and beautiful.” —Booklist View →
What I Had Was Singing: The Story of Marian Anderson
“. . .simply written biography presents the basic facts and humanizing details. . .” —Booklist View →
Revolutionary Poet: A Story about Phillis Wheatley
“. . .provides excellent historical background, explaining in simple, well-written text the concept of slavery and the political conflicts leading up to the Revolutionary War. . . a welcome introduction. . .” —Booklist View →
Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express
“Based on a true incident, this story recounts the heroic action of. . . a nineteenth-century Midwestern girl who saved an express train from disaster. . . A substantive adventure for newly independent readers.” — Booklist View →
Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express
“The story’s factual basis makes it all the more appealing, and Ritz’s charcoal-and-wash drawings evoke the setting and imbue personalities with lots of character. A substantive adventure for newly independent readers.” … View →
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie
“The Roops have done an excellent job of putting a fascinating tale into simple language. . . Hanson’s lovely watercolors evoke the mood and are far and away superior to what appears in many easy-to-reads.” —Booklist View →
Raggin': A Story about Scott Joplin
“Simply told yet inviting. . .” —Booklist View →
Rooftop Astronomer: A Story about Maria Mitchell
“. . .personal, factual, and clearly written. Useful for collections needing biographies of independent-minded women.” —Booklist View →
Danger at the Breaker
“. . .Welch relates the compelling story of a young boy’s first day at work in the Pennsylvania coal mines of the 1880s.” —Booklist View →
A Library Story: Building a New Central Library
“With an energetic narrative, Vogel describes the building of the new central library of Minneapolis. . . Excellent for young readers studying buildings, libraries, city planning, careers, or just looking for engaging nonfiction.” —… View →
A Fairy-Tale Life: A Story about Hans Christian Anderson
“. . .a good introduction for those needing report material or for children who simply want to know more about the man behind fairy tales.” —Booklist View →
Read Anything Good Lately?
“Young bibliophiles will increase their literacy with this creative take n alphabet books: from A to Z, different types of reading material are linked to places where they can be enjoyed: ‘an atlas at the airport,’ ‘a biography in bed,’ and so on. As is… View →
John Henry
“While the narrative has its moments of understated humor, it also involves the readers in John Henry’s dramatic struggle to beat the machine that ‘could outdig any man alive.’ Full of light and movement, Oldroyd’s impressionistic illustrations… View →
I Am a Dancer
“In spare, upbeat, accessible poetry, a speaker describes how every day brings opportunities to move in tune to the world’s rhythms – from the quick beat of sports action to the ‘steady drip-blip of rain.’ Bold acrylic paintings illustrate the poem, which… View →
The Firehills
“. . . magic, mayhem, and menace aplenty. . . this won’t disappoint fans of the first book.” —Booklist View →
Sometimey Friend
“Sylvia’s immediate first-person narrative is true to the child’s voice, and Marshall’s occasional charcoal pictures capture a sense of family, which is the heart of the story.” —Booklist View →
Think Big!
“A funny, encouraging story about self-acceptance for kids in Vinney’s shoes.” —Booklist View →
Dino-Hockey
“Gott’s action-filled paintings amplify the sports moves and the players’ comically exaggerated expressions, from the scowling face off between T. Rex and Tricera to the jubilant postgame celebration, covered by eager dino newscasters.”… View →
Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg
“Posada again succeeds in bringing science to kids in this amazing treasure trove of information and beautiful collage art that’s wrapped up in a guessing game. . . Posada’s artwork lends texture and movement to the pages-readers can almost feel the downy softness of… View →