Reviews
The World Needs Beautiful Things
“Artistic passion and talent are rewarded in this delightful rendition of Exodus 31 when God tells Moses that He has chosen Bezalel, whom he endowed with a divine spirit in every kind of craft, to build the Mishkan. The picture book shows these talents. Bezalel starts as a young… View →
“This upbeat, laudatory biography gives young readers a brief look at Pelosi as a politician and first female speaker of the House of Representatives in addition to being a wife, mother, and grandmother.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
"These books will do in a pinch to teach Spanish-speakers very basic concepts of buoyancy (Flotar) and force (Empujar). A simple, accurately translated sentence on each page relates to the photograph above it." —The Horn Book… View →
Tiger Turcotte Takes on the Know-It-All
“The short chapters and abundant art make the book accessible to young readers.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
“Berkeley’s portrayal of Sally is refreshingly unsentimental.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
“This first look at China gives some history and geography as well as touching on several aspects of everyday life – family, food, health, school, transportation, recreation, and language (spoken and written).” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Only Nine Chairs: A Tall Tale for Passover
“Kids will love searching the pictures to discover how each family member is trying to solve the problem.” View →
Fine Print: A Story about Johann Gutenberg
“. . .this book will have a wide use in school and public library collections.” —Booklist View →
Listening to Crickets: A Story about Rachel Carson
“. . .sensitive line-and-gray-wash artwork. . . illustrates the book with distinction. Libraries will find this an attractive choice.” —Booklist View →
Mr. Blue Jeans: A Story about Levi Strauss
“. . .engrossing. . .” —Booklist View →
The Back of Beyond: A Story about Lewis and Clark
“This readable book imparts the essence of such a trek. . . Numerous full-page black-and-white illustrations add to the tale.” —Booklist View →
Photographs by Tod Cohen. A preschool class celebrates Yom Ha’arzmaut, Israel’s birthday, by taking a make-believe trip. Clear photographs and simple text show the children pretending to visit a kibbutz, a Jerusalem market, the desert and Dead Sea, and Tel Aviv where they… View →
Sammy Spider's First Shavuot
Spider Sammy learns about the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. During the Shapiro family’s preparations, curious Sammy is almost burnt by cooking oil, splashed with strawberry juice, and covered with pollen while he learns about such customs as making blintzes. The brightly colored but… View →
A Style All Her Own
“they’ll surely enjoy Watts’s extravagant images of the style-obsessed mini-diva.” —The Horn Book Guide View →
Sarah Laughs
Jules retells and expands upon the story of Sarah, wife of Abraham. This quiet version, informed by biblical scholarship and legend, emphasizes Sarah’s feelings and faith. The illustrations’ curved lines and soothing colors match the book’s calm tone; this is an epic… View →
A gentile grandfather tells his Jewish granddaughter the story of Jethro (Moses’s Midianite father-in-law) and his Jewish grandson, Moses’s son Gershom. The parallels between modern-day family and the biblical one are effective, but the storytelling is confusing. An… View →
Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case
In their second case, Detective Gordon (an elderly toad) and Police Assistant Buffy (a young mouse) investigates who has been saying ‘nasty things’ to fellow forest creatures. As before, the friends’ application of the law is just. Humor and affection in the text and… View →
Pinky Bloom and the Case of the Missing Kiddush Cup
“Strange things are happening at Lucy Chang’s family’s restaurant. False smoke alarms, mysterious noises, bad fortune cookies, and mice are driving customers away. Lucy desperately needs her best friend, Pinky Bloom, to solve this case before her parents sell the business and… View →
Danger at Sand Cave
“Ransom effectively conveys Arly’s frustration but refrains from turning his foolhardy act into a dramatic rescue and sticks with the historical conclusion of the event. Schofield’s watercolor illustrations on each page reflect the action and convey a strong sense of… View →
Yom Kippur: A Family Service
“Kar-Ben…has published three new and distinctive High Holiday Services geared to the special interests and attention span of young children and their families. Printed in four colors with beautiful Hebrew calligraphy, full transliterations and English texts, the books’ artful… View →
Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah
“This most imaginative and beautifully illustrated book will fast become a holiday charmer.” View →
Matzah Ball: A Passover Story
“…a thoroughly modern book filled with Jewish tradition and richly illustrated baseball scenes that transport the reader right into the stadium.” View →
Santa's Secrets Revealed: All Your Questions Answered about Santa's Super Sleigh, His Flying Reindeer, and Other Wonders
“. . . may be enjoyed by children who are old enough to know Santa doesn’t exist but young enough, still, to sit on his lap at Macy’s. The essence of Solheim’s story is reassuring and sunny: Barry Gott’s determinedlybright paintings have a slick, slightly… View →