Reviews
My Story Friend
“The illustrations are haunting, a surprising combination of line drawings and painterly backgrounds. They look like chalk pictures, if chalk could draw on the water or the night sky. . . . With the right listener, every story feels urgent. This book makes every reader a… View →
Everybody Brings Noodles
“Dooley’s work is a combination of a celebration of the diversity that makes America unique, and a recipe book. Thornton’s illustrations are filled with color and life, and feature the people and places found in his own hometown. Add it to the menu.” … View →
Hanukkah Moon
“Mosz’s whimsical Chagall-style paintings of elongated figures with large expressive almond-shaped eyes in combinations of purple and gold hues add a Latino flavor to this gentle and warmhearted story offering a new perspective on an age-old Jewish holiday.” … View →
“His information is logically organized and supplemented with clear and easy-to-read maps and charts and well-reproduced photographs. With an attractive and functional design, this is appealing enough for the casual browser but also useful for serious middle-school research.” View →
Late for School!
“Yoshikawa’s bright, action-packed illustrations add zest to this fast-paced pleaser and include a clock on each page so kids can watch the minutes tick away. This silly, light snack of a tale shows that even teachers can learn a new lesson.” … View →
Dad and Daddy's Big Big Family
“Harper, who has brown skin and long dark brown hair, is off to a family reunion for the first time with their two fathers . . . . The story is sweet and soothing with warm, cartoon art . . . extended family is diverse in terms of race and ability . . . .… View →
Quiet as Mud
“A gently paced ode to the silent and soft-spoken. . . . Yolen has crafted an idyllic safe space for daydreamers, shrinking violets, and selectively mute little ones and a sweetly surreal alternative point of view for everyone else. . . . Mild-mannered mindfulness that leads by… View →
“This soothing, rhythmic lullaby from a prolific Israeli author celebrates the beauty, harmony and joy in the natural world as it welcomes a new baby. . . The unassuming and calming melodious text, fluidly translated by Shubow, will certainly encourage serenity and comfort at the View →
Clouds of Terror
“Coping with a plague of grasshoppers on the Minnesota prairie in the 1870s, Helga and her brother are fishing when they become aware of an odd cloud approaching with a strange ‘deep hum’. . .The authentic details here carry a simple narrative that’s sure to… View →
Jodie's Hanukkah Dig
“Topaz’s watercolors delineate a freckle-faced little girl whose agility and curiosity parallel the Maccabeean stamina in the struggle. . . Levine provides an intriguing alternative to conventional retellings of the Hanukkah tale, juxtaposing archeology’s importance… View →
On the Scale, a Weighty Tale
“Gable’s colorful illustrations seethe with motion, as zany cartoon animals (primarily cats) mischievously frolic to illuminate the text. The clear and humorous examples drawn from life enable kids to understand easily and then apply the information. For those just… View →
Camilla, Super Helper
“Helpful friends make mighty superheroes. Offering an introduction to spatial thinking, this story explores cooperation and bee conservation and teaches simple methods for assisting nature’s vital pollinators . . . . The colorful, lively illustrations are appealing; the animal… View →
Red Yellow Blue
“Fans of Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld’s Friendshape (2015) or Michael Hall’s Perfect Square (2011) may find this title complementary . . . comes with a potentially useful note to adults on how to use the book to promote self-esteem and forgiveness.… View →
Sewing the Rainbow: A Story about Gilbert Baker
“A colorful tribute to Gilbert Baker . . . creating the rainbow flag after a conversation with Harvey Milk. The art is beautiful and bright, transitioning powerfully from a subdued Kansan landscape to a flamboyant Bay Area. . . . It’s clear this book has a lot of love for the View →
My Cousin, the Alien
“Family ties and Zack’s unusually well-developed sense of responsibility for his troubled cuz form strong thematic elements in this outing, the first of a projected four. Gorman’s frequent black-and-white cartoon scenes of popeyed preteens in various hazardous… View →
Frizzy Haired Zuzu
“The book’s beautiful, sometimes whimsical cartoon illustrations skillfully depict the unsuccessful endeavors to reduce Zuzu’s hair volume and capture her emotions in response. The tale offers an important message—that kids should love and accept themselves wholeheartedly . . .… View →
How Long or How Wide?: A Measuring Guide
“This third in the Math Is CATegorical series measures up quite nicely. . . Rulers in paws, Gable’s large-nosed cast of brightly colored quirky cats, mice and fleas measures objects large and small. His cartoons are entertaining and sure to gain children’s attention. View →
The Clock Struck One: A Time-Telling Tale
“Hartman’s characters are full of personality – the cat is high-and-mighty while the dog is just plain loopy. Her colors reflect the passing of the day, getting increasingly darker as the sun disappears and the characters become sleepier. With its emphasis on the… View →
Stroll and Walk, Babble and Talk: More about Synonyms
“The multicolored synonyms easily stand out from the black text, while the illustrations provide the context clues readers need to discern their meanings. Gable’s cast of cats will capture readers’ attention as they zanily exemplify the synonyms. . . It’s no… View →
Big Brain Book: How It Works and All Its Quirks
“Introducing a complicated and astounding natural computer. The science of the human brain and nervous system, and its myriad connections and functions, is addressed in a visually appealing format along with suggestions for experiments requiring little equipment . . . . Gill’s… View →
Like Ability: The Truth about Popularity
“A reader-friendly guide to breaking down the components of popularity and likability and helping readers achieve their goals. . . . Concise, accessible chapters unpack the phenomenon of popularity and offer exercises and worksheets that lead readers to a greater understanding of… View →
Remembering Ethan
“A family begins healing following a devastating loss . . . the child has real agency; Sarah effects change in the family dynamic that leads to cathartic healing. The delicate illustrations are expressive and effective. Useful psychologist’s tips in the backmatter guide… View →