Reviews
I Am an Artist
“This lyrical, almost poetic, text puts forth the idea that art is a process – a way of living and seeing – as well as a manifestation in the form of a finished product. The emphasis is on that process rather than on an end result. This is a valuable concept to share… View →
The Schoolchildren's Blizzard
“This fast-paced, high-interest tale set in Nebraska is based on the true story of Minnie Freeman, a teacher who led her students to safety through the deadly blizzard of January 12, 1888. Well-painted, realistic watercolors depict their struggle to find a safe haven and blend… View →
Fabulous Frogs
“This picture book has a fun, simple text replete with froggy sounds and a rhythm and rhyme or near-rhyme that give it a pleasant, poetic flavor. The book presents the life (from mating to birth to growth) of a common frog while featuring illustrations of the leopard frog, spring View →
Dilly's Summer Camp Diary
“This visual and verbal delight brings to life the emotional ups and downs of three weeks at sleep-away camp. Dilly, who was convinced she would love camp, finds that its not exactly as she’d envisioned. Eventually, her interest in frogs helps her to overcome the rough… View →
Crafts to Celebrate God's Creation
“Clever craft ideas, based on the first portion of Genesis, show how to make items representing the earth, night and day; the sun, moon, and stars; land and water; plants and flowers; birds, fish, insects, and animals; and people, stressing God’s love for them. . . Some… 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 →
You're in Big Trouble, Brad!
“[A] phonics-based stor[y] that [is] designed to encourage and assist children in their reading development. . . In [Your in Big Trouble, Brad] Brad is called to the principal’s office. As he tries to figure out why, flashbacks show his recent escapades. The… View →
My Pen Pal, Pat
“[P]honics-based stories that are designed to encourage and assist children in their reading development. My Pen Pal, Pat is amusing, if a bit predictable. Two students named Pat-one in New York City and one in Boston-are paired together as pen pals. They seem to have everything… 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 →
Kathy Ross Crafts Triangles, Rectangles, Circles
“This is a delightful book to enhance understanding of basic geometric shapes; its design is attractively whimsical without sacrificing practicality. With the help of well-drawn, colorful, cartoon-like illustrations, the projects are easy to produce. Children will enjoy the… View →
Crafts for Kids Who Are Learning about Community Workers
“A colorful, glossy cover will attract children to this unique assortment of 20 craft ideas. . . This is a solid choice for teachers to supplement lessons on community workers, and librarians will find many program possibilities. Ross has a special talent for introducing all… View →
Pattern Bugs
“Here is an intelligent math tool that can be used by an individual child or with groups. . . By using the sounds in the poems, the details of the pictures, and the various blocks of color that frame the initial spread, children can find and identify repetitive patterns. . . An… View →
The Bug in the Jug Wants a Hug: A Short Vowel Sounds Book
“Cleary does a masterful job of explaining such potentially dry topics as ‘long vowel sounds with consonant digraphs’ and ‘inflectional endings’ by using comic, incongruous situations to get his point across. . . In his introduction, Cleary states that:… View →
Get the Ball, Slim
“[B]eginning readers illustrated with clear, full-color photographs of people and props dramatically placed on all-white backgrounds. The book. . . feature twins Tim and Jim playing with their dog. . .The characters’ exaggerated expressions give the stories the feeling of a View →
I Like Mess
“[B]eginning reader illustrated with clear, full-color photographs of people and props dramatically placed on all-white backgrounds. The book feature[s]. . .Tess cleaning her room only to begin her messy cycle again. . .The characters’ exaggerated expressions give the… View →
Lemonade for Sale
“These books will add a breath of fresh air to beginning-reader collections. The stories center on a group of friends who live near a small park in an urban neighborhood. The events and dialogue reinforce the “Real Kids” in the series title and will strike a chord… View →
The New Kid
“[This] phonics-based easy reader would make a welcome addition to any collection. . . [This] story [is] interesting, makes sense, and have engaging characters. However, it is the colorful photographs on double-page spreads that make these texts come alive. The children’s… View →
I Like to Win!
“[I]ntended for very beginning readers [that] subtly reinforce concepts of. . . sportsmanship. . . I Like to Win! features an African-American boy and girl. . . who resolve their arguments over winning and losing at board games. The small amount of print per page, the crisp color View →
Best Friends
“These three stories intended for very beginning readers subtly reinforce concepts of friendship, sportsmanship, and emotional expression. I Am Mad! features a bullying older sister, and is the weakest of the lot, due perhaps to the difficulty of telling a complex story with such View →
Marsh Morning
“Morning comes to the marsh with wildlife awakening amid watercolor mist and movement in grays, browns, green and black, re-creating this unique ecosystem. Rabbit stands in mid-motion, heron is knee-deep in water and red-winged blackbird ‘starts his melody.’ Four… View →
Greetings, Asia!
“These titles focus on each continent’s natural features, highlight many of its animals, and present a brief overview of the people. Useful information is presented in an enjoyable style. Different size fonts and background colors are used to break up the text and add… View →
“Through one-sentence descriptions and full-color, uncluttered photographs, readers are taken on a journey of discovery in the natural world. Rau begins with a star in the sky and then moves to objects that children might be able to examine more closely to find that shape,… View →
Lots of Feelings
“Many readers will find themselves represented in this multicultural array of close-up images of children displaying their emotions. From grumpy squints, excited grins, and surprised shouts, the photos move to whimsical curiosity, sadness (complete with tears), and sleepy yawns.… View →