Reviews
Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog
“Longtime friends Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog have fallen into comfortable, lazy routines, doing nothing but eating and sleeping. When they can no longer fit on their couch, they ignore what is happening to them. And when they outgrow their house, they tell themselves that it has… View →
Elmer's Special Day
“McKee does a great job of creating the jungle environment and the festivities in vibrant, exciting colors. The textures and the patchwork-quilt look of the jungle will invite readers to take a closer look. The impact of the creatures coming together as a community to celebrate… View →
Little Wolf's Book of Badness
“. . .the fall-down funny story of a cheerful nonconformist finding a way to be himself. Written in a style somewhere between A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh and Dav Pilkey’s The Adventures of Captain Underpants the story owes it humor as much to Ross’s line… View →
Swing around the Sun
“A well-loved collection of seasonal poems, first published in 1965, is revived for a new generation, creating a rich, vibrant reading and viewing experience. An exceptional marriage of poetry and art that will encourage children to write and illustrate their own seasonal poems,… 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 →
“Readers of Spy Technology will be delighted to learn that such ingenious gadgets as pistols in lipstick cases are not just the stuff of James Bond, but have been used by organizations like the CIA and the KGB. . . This… View →
The Fall of Constantinople
“Iranian Revolution is the stronger of these two books. It begins with background on the role of Islam in Iranian history and describes the 20th-century conflict between the Iranian Shahs who wanted to embrace Western culture and the ultraconservative clerics, such as… View →
Cooking the Vietnamese Way
“The narrative pieces are smoothly written and offer interesting tidbits. The authors are either natives or have some family connection to the country under discussion. All in all, these are good resources for reports and for older kids who want to add something new to their… View →
The Purim Surprise
“When Naomi Levin moves to a new town three days before her seventh birthday and the Jewish holiday of Purim, she struggles with the discomfort of being a stranger in a strange place. Her mother suggests that they break the ice with their new neighbors by giving them traditional… View →
Willy the Scrub
“Willy’s vulnerability and his desire for peer acceptance make his story appealing. Writing with humor, McEwan weaves these themes into the narrative in a natural way and endows several supporting characters with refreshingly non-stereotypical traits and interests. Short… View →
The Best Birthday Parties Ever!: A Kid's Do-It-Yourself Guide
“Ross, a veteran author of theme and holiday craft books, has come to the rescue of children and parents short on money but long on creativity. This do-it-yourself guide includes ideas and instructions for invitations, hats, decorations, cakes, favors, and games. Themes include… View →
Crafts to Make in the Spring
“Twenty-nine crafts inspired by spring and holidays are shown on double-page spreads and illustrated with full-color drawings. The directions are framed by border paintings that relate to the projects. The crafts include pussy willows made from cotton swabs, a rather novel… View →
Let's Celebrate Valentine's Day
“Each double-page spread in this introductory volume opens with a question, such as ‘Why Is Cupid a Valentine Symbol?’ to explain the origins and traditions of the holiday. . . The riddles, trivia, instructions on how to make a pop-up Valentine’s Day card, a… View →
Emergency!
“An engaging subject and bold, colorful illustrations guarantee this picture book an enthusiastic audience. When at last all of the emergency calls are over and ‘the rescue vehicles are all tucked away,’ odds are good they’ll be called out again by eager… View →
You'll Find Me
“At a time when many kids are facing the loss of a loved one due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this title offers a reassuring take on the topic. . . . Reflecting the gentle tone of the book, the illustrations are soft and warm and are primarily in pastel… View →
All the Feelings under the Sun: How to Deal with Climate Change
“A cross between an emotional support workbook and a climate change science primer. . . . For students interested in environmental issues and climate change, as well as the emotions that these topics stir up, this may be just the book they need. Some of the exercises included are… View →
Find Your Fierce: How to Put Social Anxiety in Its Place
“Sperling takes the commonly known talking points about anxiety and uses them as stepping stones for a more comprehensive action plan both for teens who live with debilitating anxiety disorders and those who occasionally experience anxiety-causing scenarios. . . . An important,… 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 →
Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler's Guide to Understanding Death
“No one likes to think about it, and even fewer plan for it, but explaining death to a toddler can be a difficult task. . . . The author acknowledges that a book on death written just for little ones is a bit niche but emphasizes in the foreword the need to properly discuss this… View →
Avoiding Drugs
“This serviceable title introduces the difference between ‘medicinal’ and ‘non-medicinal’ drugs. . . a useful choice.” —School Library Journal View →
Stop and Go, Yes and No: What Is an Antonym?
“The bouncy lettering style enhances the whimsical rhymes and makes for yet another strong addition to collections of books about the English language.” —School Library Journal View →
Dan and Dan
“Crisp full-color photos on white backgrounds illustrate these phonetics-based easy readers. In Dan and Dan, a white boy lovingly describes his relationship with his grandfather and namesake.” —School Library Journal View →
Little White Duck: A Childhood in China
Recommended Reading Living History Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Liu; illus. by Andres Vera Martinez (Graphic Universe, 2013) Gr 4-7-Each short chapter tells of a different aspect of Liu’s childhood in 1970s China: her parents’ grief at the View →
Abraham's Search for God
“This simply told tale is an excellent introduction to the concept of monotheism, and would be a great discussion starter for talking about God.” View →