Reviews
Apple Days: A Rosh Hashanah Story
“this will be welcomed by young families and religious preschools looking for holiday activities” — Booklist Online View →
“[An] empowering memoir that should have ample appeal for any kid who feels like an outsider.”—Booklist View →
Mallory McDonald, Baby Expert
“Delicately handling the feelings young children have upon the arrival of a baby, this is another quality addition to the Mallory series…. Filled with cheery black-and-white illustrations, this is perfect for beginning chapter-book readers.” —Booklist View →
Nelson Mandela: World Leader for Human Rights
“Doeden offers a balanced view, noting both criticisms against Mandela… and the legacy of a better country he left after his death. An informative and inspirational read for biography, character education, and world history studies.” —Booklist View →
Rebel Wilson: From Stand-Up Laughs to Box-Office Smash
“The peppy design contains short boxes of text and lots of color photographs of the star…. Many girls will be inspired by the fact that Wilson is a triple threat—writer, actor, singer—and that she seems to be sure of herself, no matter her size.” —Booklist View →
From Plastic to Soccer Ball
“Colorful page design, large type, and clear photos make the series an attractive choice for young readers.” —Booklist View →
The Whispering Town
“Both author and illustrator do an excellent job of bringing both the horror and humanity of this story to a level younger children can understand, and there is much of both: Nazis pounding on doors; Carl giving Anett his most prized possession, a heartshaped stone, a last gift… View →
Mumbet's Declaration of Independence
“Delinois’ minimalist but highly evocative acrylic illustrations add depth to the sensitive, inspiring text. A great addition to picture-book collections of American history.” —Booklist View →
“Clever and fun.” —Booklist View →
“Readers will feel unmoored until the last few pages of Oblivion, and that’s all right; so does the story’s narrator, Callie.” —starred, Booklist View →
The Quayside Cat
“Forward writes smoothly, combining natural-sounding dialogue with evocative sensory details of life aboard a wooden sailing ship…. A good change of pace from the usual picture-book fare.” —Booklist Online View →
“[T]his pared-down story is accessible even to toddlers. Expressive ink drawings with delicate color washes illustrate the brief text with warmth and humor.” —Booklist Online View →
“Teachers looking for picture books that reinforce the concept of ordinal numbers will find this a pleasant, lightly amusing choice.” —Booklist Online View →
Mud Truck Racing: Tearing It Up
“Readers will rev up over this title, feeling the engines thrum and the mud splatter on every page. . . . Grab this one for aspiring racing buffs, but don’t be surprised if it comes back showing signs of ‘field research.’”—Booklist View →
Jack the Castaway
“In Doan’s entertaining debut, Jack’s misadventures begin once his absentee parents show up and whisk him off to the Caribbean. . . . Doan’s swiftly paced narrative is well matched by Stevanovic’s cartoony illustrations.” —Booklist View →
Poison Alert!: My Tips to Avoid Danger Zones at Home
“[Y]ounger readers will find healthy doses of useful information about good practices, safe storage of potential poisons, and what to do in case of emergency—all delivered with melodramatic relish . . . rather than bland, forgettable cautions.”—Booklist View →
“[T]here’s a pugnacious grit and scrappy energy to the prose, and the general theme—who, if any, of these raiders can be trusted?—will keep readers on their toes until the final pages.” —Booklist View →
The Burnouts
“[A]s a capper to this undersung ‘psycho soap opera,’ it sure does its dirty job.” —starred, Booklist View →
Joy in Mudville
“[A] good addition to the slim number of picture books about girls who excel at sports.” —Booklist Online View →
“Whether or not readers are already acquainted, there’s plenty here to compel them to share the character’s joys and angst.” —Booklist Online View →
Hit and Run
“[T]his well-crafted mystery is a real page-turner with plenty of twists and a hero kids can get behind. . . . [M]ystery fans of all sorts will be glad to find out there are four more titles to come.”—Booklist View →
Three's Company, Mallory!
“Loyal fans and first-time readers alike will find it easy to relate to the narrator of this illustrated chapter book, the twenty-first in the Mallory series.” —Booklist Online View →
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim
“Johnston’s masterful book is a refreshing blend of alternative history, high fantasy, and contemporary teen life. Johnston has done careful research for her intricate world building, and the result is strikingly original and believable.” —starred, Booklist View →