Reviews
Buildings That Breathe: Greening the World's Cities
“Castaldo’s engaging, in-depth writing provides plenty of explanation and details that show why these efforts are an important part of the planet’s future.” —BayViews View →
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport
“Stelson masterfully provides background context for today’s young readers, while keeping the focus of the story on the children’s experience. Rating: OUTSTANDING”— BayViews View →
Baugh, Helen. Spots and the Dots, The Marion Deuchars, Illus. Pic. Bk. Andersen, 09/2021. 36pp. $17.99 978-1-72843-890-0 ADDITIONAL GRADES View →
Hard Hat Cat!
“This story would be an easy way to tie a storytime about cats and construction vehicles together.” — Eny Calvert, Fremont PL, BayViews View →
Judah Touro Didn't Want to be Famous
“Parents and teachers will be pleased to read a true story about a person who devoted his life and fortune to addressing observable problems (poverty, slavery, inequality, access to health care, for example)” — Erica Siskind, Oakland PL, BayViews View →
Clarence's Topsy-Turvy Shabbat
“This will be a welcome addition for Jewish families as well as a good introduction to Shabbat for children who aren’t Jewish.” — Rachael Reiley, San Jose State Univ, iSch Student, BayViews View →
Miriam at the River
“There are very few stories which center brave women and girls from the Bible, and this is a welcome chance to delve deeper into these central figures from the Passover story.” — Rachael Reiley, San Jose State Univ, iSch Student, BayViews View →
Alligator Seder
“Florida alligators celebrate the Passover Seder in the Everglades with customary foods and the Four Questions. The watercolor artwork is quite attractive, but one wonders why these are alligators and not people, even though they wear little yarmulkes. This may work best with… View →
You're the Cheese in My Blintz
“This is relatable for most families and offers some information on Jewish culture that will be of interest.” — BayViews View →
Shalom Bayit
“The concept that home is peaceful is celebrated in this story with wide appeal.” — BayViews View →
Havdalah Is Coming!
“Family and neighbors celebrate the end of the sabbath day, which is called Havdalah. The full-color art features round-faced people doing customary practices such as putting out the candle. This has a nice, repetitive text that will engage toddlers and offers information about… View →
Joey and the Giant Box
“In this picture book, Joey’s parents have a dishwasher delivered, which comes in a gigantic box. Joey begs his mom, who wants to recycle it, to let him keep it as a plaything. Mom convinces Joey to give it to his school as a donation box to help him learn about helping… View →
Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg
“The text is interesting and accompanied by superior maps, sidebars, and primary source photographs. Anderson has included a well-thought out activity, ‘Taking Tillie’s Path: An Activity Using Google Earth” that will engage and fascinate readers.” —BayViews View →
The Whispering Lake Ghosts: A Mystery about Sound
“Specific scientific principles are explained in succinct, easy to understand language at the end of each episode….These will have particular interest to libraries looking to supplement their STEM collections with well-done graphic novels.”… View →
Adele: Soul Music’s Magical Voice
“Filled with color and b&w photos, as well as related articles from the USA Today newspaper, the book design is quite inviting….[T]his is very well done.” — BayViews View →
A Marked Man: The Assassination of Malcolm X
“Doeden gives a short but solid introduction to the life of Malcolm X….The design of the book is simple and powerful.” —BayViews View →
Tim Tebow: Quarterback with Conviction
“The book’s pleasing design, including lots of interesting color photos, newspaper articles, and sidebars, will engage readers, adding extra clarity to the easy-to-understand and informative text.” —BayViews View →
Two Shy Pandas
“Panda stories are much sought after and this sweet one will help fill the gap.” —BayViews View →
Shaking the Foundation: Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution
“Many important and fascinating primary source photos, illustrations, and diagrams, as well as interesting sidebars, add to the accessible and well-written text. In eight chapters, Johnson presents the information in a factual, informative style.” —BayViews View →
Perfect Pizza Recipes
“Lerner’s new cookbook series is informative, colorful, and easy to use….Good for younger kids to use with an adult, and for older cooks to use on their own.”—BayViews View →
Overexposed
Series Review: While fairly short and to the point, this series of low-reading-level, high-interest fiction titles are interesting to read and worth having in any teen collection. The topics covered are hard hitting, controversial, and may fill a need in most teen collections. Each… View →
I Don't Want to Go to the Hospital!
Ross’s popular little princess with the yellow crown needs to go to the hospital to have a lump removed from her nose. This look at a hospital stay will comfort any child facing the same fate, yet it avoids being purposeful or didactic due to the humorous tone. The watercolor cartoon… View →
Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean
“If you got rid of your sister and the fish in the pot, gave your mom a migraine, and invited the Cat in the Hat to clean up the house for Passover, you just might get this book. When Izzy the Whiz is admonished by his stressed-out mother for a bedroom crammed with Passover… View →
“The narrative presents Marceau’s life in a storybook-like manner and makes the material interesting and accessible to children.” —Bayviews View →