Reviews
Finding Day's Bottom
“After the death of her father in a sawmill accident, Jane-Ery, 11 passes through levels of grief so poignantly revealed that her voice sets a ragged emotional tone throughout. . . it both uplifts and uncovers the family’s raw and slowly healing spirits. A novel full of… View →
Dazzling Dragonflies: A Life Cycle Story
“Clearly written text and bright-hued watercolor collage illustrations introduce the life cycle of that zip-a-dipping aerialist, the dragonfly, from newly laid eggs, through months of aquatic life as a nymph, to the final metamorphosis into a glitter-winged creature. . . basic,… View →
Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes: A Very Silly Alphabet Book
“This ambitious book provides colorful collages, hidden letters, word pictures, and alphabet sentences presented in rhyme while avoiding many of the pitfalls of the genre. By melding together nonsensical sentences that are as wacky as the illustrations, Cleary opens up the field… View →
I Know an Old Teacher
“Gammell’s lively artwork is a colorful combination of watercolor, colored pencils, pastel, and crayon framed by a mix of font sizes and colors. Assisted by conversational responses from Miss Bindley’s students, who are spying on her, the tale progresses as tails… View →
Lazily, Crazily, Just a Bit Nasally: More about Adverbs
“The CATegorical cats are back. A professorial feline opens this offbeat lecture with a definition of adverbs and a color-coded guide to the types found throughout the book. Readers are then drawn into another of Cleary’s signature rhyming narratives, which tumbles across… View →
![Cover: The Hero Twins: Against the Lords of Death [A Mayan Myth]](https://assets2.titleleaf.com/lerner/product/cover/s_9781580138925_fc.jpg)
The Hero Twins: Against the Lords of Death [A Mayan Myth]
“A narrative of a contemporary boy assigned to read the myth for school begins and ends the story. . . this framing device may draw in readers resistant to the historical or ‘educational’ theme. Children may not pick this up on their own, but once they begin… View →
Always an Olivia: A Remarkable Family History
“Tugeau’s vibrant paintings highlight the various moods of the story, from the fear of the Inquisition to the warmth of a family dinner, from the darkness of the pirate ship to the vitality of the Geechee community. This beautifully illustrated offering skillfully shows the View →
Doug's Dung
“Digital illustrations of buggy-eyed beetles have subtle elements, such as belts, that characterize each and add charm. The prose is succinct, with select bolded words that could lead to discussions after reading the book . . . . This book successfully focuses on resilience… View →
Come Morning
“We are drawn into the action through tightly written text and short chapters which entice the reluctant reader. The adventure has historical authenticity coupled with the aptitude of a master storyteller. . . Come Morning traces the rite of passage for this young black. The… View →
My Brother, the Pest
“These realistic. . . stories address some of the frustrations and fears of childhood. My Brother, the Pest is narrated in rhyme by a young girl who expresses her annoyance with her little brother until she realizes that they do have some fun together. . . [The books ueses] a… View →
Arctic Explorer: The Story of Matthew Henson
“Accurately written and filled with precise details about Arctic survival skills and Inuit customs, the book is a jewel of an adventure story. With black-and-white photographs, a bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and an index, it’s a worthwhile and up-to-date… View →
Magnificent Monarchs
“[T]his title contains colorful, realistic illustrations that keep step with the simple, sometimes rhyming text. Three pages of more detailed data about monarchs and their complex lives, the addresses of butterfly societies, and a list of Web sites to explore are included. . .… View →
Blue Everywhere
“These bold and busy titles discuss where the colors occur in nature, describe their various shades, and discuss the meaning behind popular sayings or ‘fun facts’ about them. Well suited to independent reading, with simple sentence structure and boxed facts that… View →
Kathy Ross Crafts Letter Shapes
“These attractive books present hands-on projects to accompany phonics and letter recognition lessons. Shapes presents a craft activity based on each letter of the alphabet. . . The layout is friendly to nonreaders, including illustrations of the materials needed. . . Overall,… View →
Hanukkah Moon
“With a golden palette and a soft tone, this lovely story highlights a tradition overlooked in most Hanukkah literature. . . Soothing watercolor and crayon illustrations in shades of gold and purple beautifully convey the affectionate relationship that develops between the child… View →
“The cheerful watercolor illustrations enhance the text and add to its gentle sweetness. . . Readers who have a relative of a different religion will especially appreciate how this book reflects and validates their own families, but all youngsters will gain an understanding of… View →
Dino-Soccer
“Gott’s vibrant illustrations increase the suspense and fast pace of the rollicking narrative. The expressive faces of the players and the frenetic energy of the pictures add a bit of humor to the story. Sports fans and dinosaur lovers will delight in this follow-up to… View →
Day of the Dead
“Non-Latino youngsters will enjoy the links between Halloween and the Day of the Dead traditions and will shiver with pleasure at the decorations and treats that may seem slightly ghoulish to those unfamiliar with the holiday. Knutson’s lively illustrations reflect Mexican… View →
"Mrs. Riley Bought Five Itchy Aardvarks" and Other Painless Tricks for Memorizing Science Facts
“Readers can learn how to remember simple facts such as that the Earth orbits the Sun and the Moon orbits the Earth, or more challenging information such as the elements of the Mohs hardness scale. . . Colorful cartoons match the lightheartedness of the presentation. Teachers… View →
“Fridell delivers a compelling history of forensic science, from its beginnings in 1910 through the present. Examples of investigations abound and are brought to life by photos. Most riveting are the descriptions of professionals involved in a murder case, including a medical… View →
Camilla, Cartographer
“Through this engaging story, children will be shown the benefits of using and creating maps of their own. Camilla is a lovable main character. She’s smart, kind, and adventurous . . . . A fun way to get children interested in cartography, this book lends itself to many lessons… View →
Peacock and Sketch
“Prabhat’s use of vibrant colors coupled with Peacock’s expressive poses amplify his proud handsomeness. Readers will note the similarities between Peacock and Mo Willems’s beloved Pigeon, while enjoying the illustrations and wisdom imparted. . . . A gorgeously illustrated… View →
A Story to Tell: Traditions of a Tlingit Community
“Grandmother Fran has a story to tell her granddaughter Marissa. A Story to Tell is that story. Grandmother Fran tells Marissa the story of the Tlingit people. Many aspects of Tlingit life are included in the story: their history, their culture, the clan structure, the influence… View →