Reviews
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 →
If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems
“[T]his will be welcomed by classrooms studying poetry.”—Booklist View →
Every Body's Talking: What We Say without Words
“The layout is lighthearted and the photographs are spry, while the source information is drawn from both current events and scientific experts.” —Booklist View →
Seven Billion and Counting: The Crisis in Global Population Growth
“This well-qualified author presents and explains the statistics, while the use of red, orange, and black text lettering; shading; vertical borders; and plentiful sharp photos emphasize the gravity and complexity of the thorny issues we face.” —Booklist View →
Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey
“Using proper terminology, Burns writes clearly about the butterfly’s life cycle….Throughout the book, crisp, nicely composed photos offer excellent views of the butterflies, people, and places mentioned.” —Booklist View →
Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
“An engaging and worthwhile read, this will surely make young readers think twice about their trash.” —Booklist View →