Reviews
Jodie's Shabbat Surprise
" . . . families looking for secular stories about Israel will appreciate this one." — Booklist Online View →
Something Sure Smells Around Here: Limericks
“Steering artfully away from content either raunchy or banal, Cleary offers a sampler of 26 original limericks animated by puns and wordplay.”―Booklist View →
Ode to a Commode: Concrete Poems
“Cleary’s collection of poems range between quietly clever to laugh-out-loud funny….[T]he poems are short and fun enough to charm even the most ardent enemy of poetry, and children will likely walk away feeling inspired to make their own concrete poems in the most… View →
John Green: Star Author, Vlogbrother, and Nerdfighter
“®eaders will…come away with a good sense of the man, his passion for teens and writing, and the hard work involved in his success. An inspiring story and testament to the power of the nerd.”―Booklist View →
Give It Up
“This new high-low series examines bullying, peer pressure, and sexual double standards in an appealing package that is part cautionary tale, part over-the-top drama-fest.”―Booklist View →
The Conformity
“The Twelve-Fingered Boy trilogy has been uncommon since the first page, and Jacobs sends it off in kindred style….The finale, as you’d hope, is in the spirit of the entire series: obstinate, brash, and even transcendent.”―Booklist View →
Whistle-Blowers: Exposing Crime and Corruption
“Attractive page design and well-chosen color photos enhance the appeal of the clearly written text….This thought-provoking volume will fill a gap in many library collections.”―Booklist View →
Cyber Attack
“With approachable text, appropriately placed and captioned color photos or illustrations, a full-page text box per chapter, extensive up-to-date source notes and resources, this is a must-read.”―Booklist View →
Exposing Torture: Centuries of Cruelty
“Marcovitz avoids sensationalizing the topic, treating both it and his readers seriously….This is a good pick for schools or those interested in current events.”―Booklist View →
FishFishFish
“Bosch’s colorful art, clearly depicting the action, characters, and emotional changes as the plot progresses, makes it easy to follow each story individually or all together. Useful as both a storytelling and writing exercise.”―Booklist View →
Terrorist: Gavrilo Princip, the Assassin Who Ignited World War I
“…[B]rings a wealth of detail to bolster contemporary understanding of the Great War….[T]his would make a good choice for both casual reading for history buffs as well as curriculum support.”―Booklist View →
Chips and Cheese and Nana's Knees: What Is Alliteration?
“Wildly colorful, Goneau’s cartoon illustrations turn the rhythmic, rhyming verses into comically exaggerated little dramas. While many children’s books use alliteration, few actually define it or talk about it. This playful yet practical book will help kids grasp the… View →
The Wren and the Sparrow
“A beautiful tale emphasizing the importance of music – especially during times of despair” — Booklist View →
“The fourth installment of Friedman’s series is as breezy and funny as previous volumes, and April’s determination to remain true to herself in spite of her complicated emotions will resonate with readers.”―Booklist Online View →
Trash Mountain
“Beloved children’s author Yolen offers a fable about accepting others in spite of their differences and respecting the natural environment….[A] perfect selection for the reader who is new to novels.”―Booklist View →
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia
“Colorful textured and patterned collage artwork illustrates this inspiring true story, which concludes with more information about Isatou’s grassroots initiative.”―Booklist View →
Experiment with What a Plant Needs to Grow
“Everything a plant needs to grow…is covered in this short yet informative offering. Each of the four experiments starts with basic information about what a plant needs before heading into materials and clearly written instructions. Full-color photographs demonstrate exactly… View →
Engineer Ari and the Passover Rush
“this makes a good addition to the holiday shelf, especially for Israeli history buffs” — Booklist Online View →
Prairie Fire
“Johnston’s solid writing will keep [readers] engaged with her smooth blend of fantasy and realism, all anchored by Siobhan’s determined personality and her solid friendship with Owen and his team.” —Booklist View →
Thrift Shopping: Discovering Bargains and Hidden Treasures
“[B]eing a successful thrift shopper requires more than just luck, and this manual offers the ins and outs of digging up hidden treasures and scoring the best bargains.” —Booklist View →
Returning to Normal
“[T]he gritty, realistic story should appeal to older readers in need of simpler writing that can keep them engaged through short chapters and relevant content.”―Booklist Online View →
The Other Side of the Wall
“Schwartz’s black-and-white cartooning abets this simpler, emotionally resonant style with large, minimalist faces that powerfully express feelings, while realistic backgrounds give an underlying sense of authenticity.” —Booklist View →
Running Dry: The Global Water Crisis
“This timely, informative resource offers young people facts and perspective on this vital topic.” —Booklist View →