Reviews
Smile a Lot!
“Carlson makes an undeniable case for grins over grumps. Carlson knows how to make dry humor work for three-year-olds.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Hanukkah Around the World
“Wehrman’s soft muted paintings, which sketch out maps, traditional dress and foods, add a further instructional element to the fictional prose.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Miriam at the River
“Elegant storks wade in the water as hippos and crocodiles swim nearby. This biblical tale is filled with wonder, hope, and beauty.” — Kirkus Reviews View →
Her Piano Sang: A Story about Clara Schumann
“A fine introduction to a strong, disciplined artist. Haas’s black-and-white illustrations feature unusual compositions and fit the text well.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Nick's Secret
“. . .this simple mystery will satisfy young readers who enjoy the intrigue, and it has the bonus of having a hearing-impaired hero.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
20 Hungry Piggies: A Number Book
“Variation on the familiar rhyme should tickle very young listeners and Harris’s illustrations, combining watercolor and computer graphics, are crisp and simple.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Christmas Is Coming
“Delightfully different illustrations in a naïf style are the glowing heart of this cheerful story of a little girl’s preparations for Christmas.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Swing around the Sun
“Almost all of the short poems rhyme, but the varied and sophisticated rhyme schemes show the range of the poet’s extraordinary talent.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
“Judicious use of color, various perspectives and basic shapes give the book a distinctive look. Effervescent, in an entirely understated sort of way.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Story of a Dolphin
“A charming account, illustrated with stylized, decorative paintings that beautifully evoke the luminous colors of the Caribbean and the joy of this unusual friendship.” — Kirkus Reviews View →
Wilma Rudolph
“Colorful illustrations are used throughout. . . The short sentences and plentiful illustrations will help make this biography accessible. . . readers will find this an inspiring story.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
The Perfect Shot
“With basketball action, a murder mystery, a compelling story from history, adolescent angst, racial and parental tension, Alphin offers something to please most young readers.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Emergency!
“Children will practically hear the sirens wail as a succession of emergencies brings out appropriate rescue vehicles. . . this sends a message at once exciting and reassuring.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
The Rabbi and His Donkey
“This thought-provoking tale will be especially welcome as an introduction to Maimonides. A reminder that wisdom comes in different forms and from different sources.”―Kirkus Reviews View →
I Know an Old Teacher
“Gammell’s gleefully messy illustrations give children an original view of teachers’ private lives. His characters are full of personality, and textures seem to leap off the pages.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What Is an Adverb?
“Cleary has clearly got the formula down for effectively explaining a potentially boring subject through a bouncy rhyming text filled with puns and jokes that will appeal to kids.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Raven Quest
“It is a credit to Stewart’s storytelling that the ending of a story about ravens and wolves can be as exciting, poignant, and tearful as any realistic novel.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Mousetraps
“Rick and Maxie’s thought-provoking story, juxtaposed against Hauser’s renderings of Maxie’s cartoons, is unexpectedly, richly dark, with no easy answers. Both chilling and sweet.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem
“Monroe’s imaginative illustrations play with composition as well as perspective, offering detail-minded readers endless surprises. The goofball text unfolds with tongue firmly in cheek. . . A winner.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Apple Cider Making Days
“Friar’s drawings perfectly fit the topic. Details are rich and the colors are just right for autrum apple-picking days. . . A great new addition to an overstuffed field.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Nachshon, Who Was Afraid to Swim: A Passover Story
“Jago’s stylized art supplies his characters with Egyptian profiles atop slender bodies; the predominant oranges, yellows and browns, then blues and greens, befit the desert and watery settings, respectively.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
The Daring Escape of Ellen Craft
“New readers will appreciate the fast-paced adventure, simple language, large typeface with plenty of space for detailed illustrations, and a relatively obscure story set in a familiar historical time.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
"Told in a style as rollicking and rowdy as the opening sequence to Monday Night Football, this entry into the tall-tale tradition will leave readers breathless and happily exhausted." —Kirkus Reviews View →
Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse
“There is a strikingly rare synergy between the poetry and the illustrations in this truly remarkable addition to the pantheon of books on the four seasons for school-aged children.” —Kirkus Reviews View →