Reviews
Druscilla's Halloween
“In this underdog story set ‘a million spells ago,’” —Publishers Weekly View →
Monkey with a Tool Belt
“Laid out in panels, some numbered, some boxed; laid out in loops; arranged as vignettes; or composed like a maze, the illustrations command a reader’s attention. Chico, looks sophisticated—he’s a grown-up cousin of Julius the sock monkey. . . not only gadget… View →
Thanksgiving Rules
“Percy’s enthusiasm effectively captures the spirit of affable overindulgence.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story
“Jago’s highly stylized digital pictures are handsome and heartfelt: his gold-hued palette and mural-like compositions convey the heat and oppressiveness of Egypt, while his elaborately textured (and seemingly handmade) surfaces make the pages feel burnished by the forces… View →
Boker Tov!: Good Morning!
“Brown’s cheery paintings, which chronicle a boy’s morning at home and school, are distinguished by exuberant colors and have just enough naïf charm to be endearing without cloying. . . A suitably buoyant way to begin the day.” —Publishers… View →
Feivel's Flying Horses
“. . .the redemptive powers of faith, family, and creativity coalesce into a touching tale.” —Publishers Weekly View →
The Clock Struck One: A Time-Telling Tale
“Part of the Math Is Fun! series, this intro to telling time has a familiar beginning (‘Hickory dickory dock,/ a mouse ran up the clock’), but things soon take a dramatic turn.” —Publishers Weekly View →
The Steel Pan Man of Harlem
“Bootman (Fish for the Grand Lady) triumphs with this gorgeously moody, thoroughly cinematic retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, ingeniously set during the Harlem Renaissance and starring a mysterious musician from the Caribbean. . . With text that beautifully… View →
Elmer's Special Day
“McKee illustrates in a loose, folk-art style. Elmer visually clashes with the foliage and his friends, and the whole enterprise exudes cheery, unassuming goodwill. The elephants’ nonexclusive event provides a model for any peaceable kingdom.” … View →
Bedtime Without Arthur
“Meserve’s artwork propels the story forward, skillfully mixing drama and comedy, and makes a persuasive case for being an empathetic and decidedly grown-up older sibling.” —Publishers Weekly View →
Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog
“Ross’s watercolor cartooning displays its customary energy and wry wit, and these frequent collaborators deserve praise for being able to walk the fine line between comedy and cruelty in their portrayal of the consequences of obesity.”… View →
“Eleyor Snir’s vignettes of land, sea and sky have a strong decorative arts feel – there’s a soupçon of endearing visual detail in the animal families that appear (the pink fur of baby monkeys, the toothy grin of a whale pod) intermingled with curvilinear shapes View →
Rainbow Soup: Adventures in Poetry
“Full of puns and silly jokes, Cleary here does for poetry what his Words Are Categorical series does for grammar. . . the verses are clever and comical, and youngsters who may be intimidated by poetry may well warm up to its playful presentation here.” … View →
Rebecca's Journey Home
“The joyous tone of how adoption helps a family grow in love and in faith gives this title its appeal. Shapiro’s gently stylized watercolors, sometimes suggesting the work of Giselle Potter, bring warmth and heart to the proceedings.” —… View →
Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You
“Smoothly translated. . . the account of Jeanne’s survival is remarkable and inspiring, as she indeed proves herself a fighter in many ways. . . The heroine’s story ends on a welcome note of hope.” —Publishers Weekly, starred… View →
The Perfect Shot
“Alphin (Picture Perfect) scores big with this novel. . . the author’s portrayal of Brian’s slow awakening to a sense of personal integrity and responsibility – even at great personal cost – is convincing, and may well get readers thinking.” … View →
Santa's Secrets Revealed: All Your Questions Answered about Santa's Super Sleigh, His Flying Reindeer, and Other Wonders
“You can’t keep a good legend down – at least when it comes to Santa. A Young skeptic named Stevie joins the ranks of Virginia and others who have questioned Old Saint Nick’s existence. With confidence and a tongue-in-cheek flair, Solheim (It’s Disgusting… View →
Willy the Scrub
“McEwan delivers a worthy message about perseverance and sportsmanship. . .tailor-made for reluctant readers.” — Publisher’s Weekly View →
Colors of Mexico
“Large cheery oil paintings done in bright hues and with bold strokes reflect the countryside and various aspects of Mexican culture.” —School Library Journal View →
Emergency!
“An engaging subject and bold, colorful illustrations guarantee this picture book an enthusiastic audience. When at last all of the emergency calls are over and ‘the rescue vehicles are all tucked away,’ odds are good they’ll be called out again by eager… View →
Secret Holes
“The strength of this story of self-discovery lies in the loving relationship between Sylvia and her great-grandmother. Although the action is set in 1978, the novel has a timeless quality. . .” —School Library Journal View →
“Many children will identify with Katie and her fears, and find some comfort in the solution. . . good story for one-on-one or group sharing.” —School Library Journal View →
Everybody Bakes Bread
“Thornton’s richly colored, softly realistic illustrations show the diversity of age and nationality, lifestyles, and staple foods of this friendly neighborhood.” —School Library Journal View →