Reviews
Cookie, the Walker
This is for more than one reading—all the better to get the message across." —Booklist View →
My Crocodile Does Not Bite
“Brightly colored, cartoon illustrations depict an expressive, goofy-looking crocodile cavorting about and stealing the show.” —Booklist View →
“Markle uses the epic yearly journey of the godwit to capture young imaginations and present an important fable about perseverance, courage, and family….Delicate and ethereal illustrations by Posada bring their voyage to life….An obscure yet fascinating topic is the… View →
Breezier, Cheesier, Newest, and Bluest: What Are Comparatives and Superlatives?
“Cleary’s verse sets the tone, clearly setting out to offer entertainment as well as instruction….Gable creates energetic, comical scenes based on a few words; a cast of madcap, dressed-animal characters; and some unusual color combinations. A useful, amusing… View →
Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg
“Based mostly on Tillie’s own recollection of the conflict, which she wrote and published in 1889, this book combines that writing with Anderson’s smooth retelling to describe the weeks leading up to and following the battle from the perspective of an extremely… View →
Change of Heart
“[A]n especially good example of how McClintock uses the ever-shifting terrain of high-school loyalties and conflicts as background for suspense….More solid mystery fare from the five-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Best Juvenile Crime Award.” —Booklist View →
The Sin-Eater's Confession
“Bick proves again she is a writer to her core, never at a loss for things to say and uninterested in easy answers. Her handling of Ben’s increasing paranoia and delusion is nimble, making this a violent, and very smart, take-no-prisoners experience.” —Booklist View →
Your Pajamas Are Showing!: Book 1
“The episodic stories, translated from the original French, employ universal humor relating to family and school. The colorful, cartoony art adds to the laughs, while the simple panels and word balloons help young, novice readers negotiate the comic-book pages….Young readers… View →
William and the Lost Spirit
“[T]he art is intricate and gorgeously lit. The realism lends weight to the time period and the fantasy elements….For readers willing to let go of preconceptions, this will provide an engaging journey.” —Booklist View →
Mallory and Mary Ann Take New York
“From the girls’ success when they work together to their discord when one pressures the other, this high-energy chapter book hits both the high and the low notes of friendship. Many grayscale drawings illustrate the action in this lively addition to the Mallory McDonald… View →
Miracle Mud: Lena Blackburne and the Secret Mud That Changed Baseball
“The colorful, exaggerated paintings artfully (and comically) capture the full allure of ballpark ambiance by including plenty of behind-the-scenes activity. The information provided in the minimal text is bolstered by a solid two-page author’s note.” —Booklist View →
Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words
“[A]n inspiring read for a new audience for this moving title that was originally published in Regine’s Norway.”—Booklist View →
“A useful addition both to the Mouse Math series and to the shelf of math concept books for the youngest.” —Booklist Online View →
“Melmon’s sweet Scarry-esque illustrations make the lessons go down easily.” —Booklist Online View →
Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio
“[T]his centers on a fascinating event, one that points up the racial injustice at the time; at the same time, it makes readers care about both players, and may leave kids wanting to learn more about Paige, DiMaggio, the Negro Leagues, and the integration of baseball.”… View →
A Marked Man: The Assassination of Malcolm X
“®eadable, well-designed…. Back matter is robust and should lead interested readers in further pursuit of the truth.”—Booklist View →
Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball
“Well researched with material artifacts and primary sources, this classic story is boosted significantly by big, blocky, muscular illustrations in muted tones that effortlessly mix tongue-in-cheek whimsy with serious action. Anybody who plays the game or watches it ought to find… View →
The Twelve-Fingered Boy
“Jacobs’ storytelling has the effortless velocity of early Dean Koontz, and his prose is textured with hard-boiled grit… An expertly spiced stew of attitude, humor, horror, and grief.” —starred, Booklist View →
The Perfect Summer: Book 4
“Kids who don’t care for the romantic intrigue will nonetheless enjoy the comedic elements of the book tour.” —Booklist View →
Raining Cats and Detectives: Book 5
“Young mystery readers will enjoy the story, fans of the series will love the animals’ antics and the story’s ending, and adults reading to younger kids will enjoy the humor.” —Booklist View →
“[T]he creators haven’t skimped on the drama, humor, and history of the original, making this a great introduction to the classic story.” —Booklist View →
Holy Spokes!: A Biking Bible for Everyone
“Clearly written and packed with useful information, this handbook will be helpful to novices and more experienced riders alike.”—Booklist View →
Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves
“[A]long with plenty of (now) amusing anecdotes and hard-won insights, the letters dish up proof that, as Mike Jung puts it, ‘time was on your side, though, and you made it!’”—Booklist View →