Reviews
Journey into the Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures
“This strikingly illustrated book takes its readers on a series of research voyages exploring the ocean from its shallow edges to unfathomable depths during the recently completed ten-year International Census of Marine Life. . . . Rich, revealing and rewarding.”… View →
A Hubbub: Book 2
“There are some amusing twists here—’Every fight you avoid is one you win,’ homilizes Ginger’s strict and orderly badger dad, just before helping the young folk set up a paint trap to drive off the feline interlopers—and Tharlet’s delicately detailed panels… View →
Tally Cat Keeps Track
“Trudy Harris’s rhyming verses have a kind of jazzy beat that fits with the alley cats. Andrew N. Harris’s illustrations anthropomorphize his subjects, clothing them and giving them eyebrows and human-like eyes—both of which get a lot of use, especially when it comes to View →
Sneaky Sheep
“The silly antics will tickle young readers, who will want to visit with these daring sheep again and again. Fun for all.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Zishe, a poor Polish Jew and a blacksmith’s son, displayed unusual strength from the time he was three years old. Able to lift heavy weights, bend steel bars and break metal chains, Zishe was soon recruited by a variety of circuses to perform throughout Europe and later the United States View →
Sadie's Sukkah Breakfast
“Lively, colorful illustrations depict these independently capable preschoolers performing tasks with active joy, care and assurance, deftly matching the unadorned, sprightly text.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Talia and the Rude Vegetables
“A little girl’s misunderstanding, the harvesting of some root vegetables and a recipe for stew merge for an amusing Jewish New Year story.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
I Want My Light On!
“The pictures are clear, bold and exaggerated to great humorous effect.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
That's Not Funny!
“Willis’s text is nicely streamlined for maximum slapstick effect and much abetted by the clever compositions of Reynolds’s illustrations. His brightly colored animals look soft and cuddly, like stuffed toys, but they move like classic Looney Tunes characters. Sure to… View →
The Freak Observer
“A keenly observant narrator noticing life’s small details, Loa holds nothing back, which is both riveting and heartbreaking. An auspicious debut for both the author and Carolrhoda’s new Lab imprint.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
The easy, flowing text with patterned repetitive phrases—“chug-a-lugged” and “todah rabah” (thank you)—creates a smooth, predictable narrative for this Jewish autumn holiday story and its historical setting. View →
Sammy Spider's First Simchat Torah
Sammy Spider, that curious arachnid who refuses to just spin webs, follows his boy companion Josh to a Simchat Torah service when he gets himself stuck on a syrupy candy apple atop a small Jewish flag. As in previous outings, the inquisitive spiderling learns about this important Jewish… View →
“Gouache on textured paper emulate pointillism, depicting fall foliage dominated by auburn, brown and green colors. An author’s note encourages families to find unique ways to practice this low-impact yet spiritually rich custom.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Raised by Wolves
“[T]he mysteries of Bryn’s identity should keep readers hooked, and there’s plenty to discuss in terms of gender roles and Pack politics. " —Kirkus Reviews View →
Hamster and Cheese: Book 1
“[An] electrically charged comic-book story.’”—Kirkus Reviews View →
An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank
“By any measure the 1913 murder of teenage Mary Phagan was an ugly incident, just as by any measure the lunching of Leo Frank, a Jew, for the crime was equally horrific. Elaine Marie Alphin directs the story to a teen audience—teenagers being conspicuous players in the drama—and… View →
Guinea Dog
“[T]he undeniably funny plot moves along, and readers into beginning chapter books should enjoy this wry story of wish fulfillment.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
Hamster and Cheese: Book 1
“Yue’s graphic panels, colored by Hi-Fi Design, make the most of the comic potential and extend it with plenty of visual slapstick. Middle graders will close this and ask right away for Detective Pants’s next caper.”—Kirkus Reviews View →
Noah's Bark
“The amusing, understated text has the flavor of a traditional folktale, well complemented by Rogé’s naïve paintings with flattened perspective and muted colors. The illustrations have a dark, moody atmosphere with gray skies and driving rain, offset by the folksy charm of the… View →
The Meeting: Book 1
“Tharlet’s uncluttered, fluidly brushed watercolor scenes are easy to follow as the young folk squabble about games and other issues but eventually come together over plans for a big moving-in party. . . . it’s hard not to warm up to characters named Bristle and… View →
Looking Like Me
“This vibrant synthesis of poetry and pictures is a natural for classrooms and family sharing.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews View →
Wish You Were Dead
“Carefully plotted, this suspenseful novel blends the traditional with new tech details to successful end. . . . [A]n impressive number of red herrings will keep readers guessing right up to the satisfying conclusion.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
“Trevor instantly engages readers with a resilient and infectious can-do attitude that eventually enables him to turn the tables on his rival. Amato’s mushroom metaphor aptly fits her young hero, who emerges from unpromising surroundings.” —Kirkus Reviews View →
