Reviews
Starlight Symphony
“The clever concept of comparing the natural world to an orchestra works beautifully, offering both an introduction to animal communication and a range of musical instruments. . . A pleasing and playful performance with something for everyone to applaud.”—starred,… View →
A Rainy Dragon Day
“Beautifully illustrated in a way that doesn’t just invoke dreary rainy afternoons, with water stains and colors that blend together at the edges but will also remind readers of a kind of comfortable lethargy that can cover a town or neighborhood on drizzly… View →
Being Safe Online: A First Look
“The content and text in these books are both brief and simple and are supported by cheerful photos of children and adults. Child narrators explain how they fulfill each value.”—Booklist View →
A Mitzvah for George Washington
“An effective, history-focused picture book.”—Booklist View →
Perfect Match: The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton
“Quartey’s painted scenes as well as the photos at the end capture the two in vigorous action and posing arm in arm.” —Booklist View →
They Thought They Buried Us
“Fans of horror movies in particular will appreciate this creepy story that centers survival for queer, BIPOC characters in the face of white supremacy.”—Booklist View →
Best Gymnastics Teams
“The All-Access Gymnastics series will thrill readers with its comprehensive look into the legendary world of the sport. Each book takes a deep dive into different aspects of gymnastics. The series includes bright colors and photographs to draw the reader into the true stories of… View →
We Shall Not Be Denied: A Timeline of Voting Rights and Suppression in America
“The authors have successfully written a thought-provoking, informative book, providing ample information without overwhelming readers with huge blocks of text. Delightfully to the point and packed with information, this book would serve as a great starting point for students who… View →
The Rule of Three
“Wyatt’s voice is authentic and nuanced; his frustrations will resonate with middle grade readers who see the injustices around them and struggle to control their own emotions. A good SEL angle within a prose novel featuring social justice and sports View →
Rats to the Rescue: The Unlikely Heroes Making Cambodia Safe
“With Lee’s painted scenes (switching to photos in the back matter) to illustrate, the authors describe in detail how both the people and the rats are trained, how Malen and her colleagues bond with their animals, and how they carefully and systematically stake out and sweep… View →
Stokes: The Brief Career of the NBA's First Black Superstar
“Telling a moving story, Chapman and Coy introduce Stokes’ unusual combination of size, skills, quickness, and understanding of the game and then explain how differently Black players were treated on NBA teams in the 1950s. From action scenes to… View →
Defending Nature: How the US Military Protects Threatened and Endangered Species
“With an original subject, an engaging text, and a color photo on nearly every page, this book offers an intriguing look at conservation on military bases.”—Booklist View →
The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World
“Through unpacking the ancient yet ongoing human experience with gender, Wind presents an informative and approachable starting point for readers wanting to learn what gender really is and how it may apply to them.”—Booklist View →
Explore Polar Habitats with Ernie
“Pages alternate between standard facts about the title habitat, accompanied by a photo, and a character using a speech bubble to offer commentary. . .An introduction to habitats with some familiar friends.”—Booklist View →
Ellie and the Marriage List
“Ellie is well developed, and her cognitive, speech, and physical challenges are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. There’s a happy ending for this relatable, spunky protagonist.”—Booklist View →
Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature
“Brunelle subverts this normally staid 17-syllable Japanese poetic form in this collection celebrating nature at its grossest.”—Booklist View →
The Lost Forest: An Unexpected Discovery beneath the Waves
“Swanson, who shadowed the scientists, documents their methods and discoveries in an appealing narrative, complemented by photos of the scientists in action. In the process, readers learn such amazing details as the dangers of diving, organizing experiments, gene sequencing, and… View →
Hotelitor: Luxury-Class Defense and Hospitality Unit
“Sharp and full of heart and fun.”—Booklist View →
Animal Camouflage in a Forest
“The closing pages include reprints of photos seen earlier in the book, giving readers a second chance to pick out the hidden animals and think about how camouflage helps them survive.”—Booklist View →
Mindfulness and Me
“[T]his robust offering . . . provides children (and their caregivers) with a well-curated mix of yoga poses, breathing exercises, activities, and crafts.”—Booklist View →
Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman's Cosmic Mitzvah
“A beautiful and meaningful juxtaposition of ancient Jewish tradition with modern space exploration.”—starred, Booklist View →
Wildfire: The Culture, Science, and Future of Fire
“It’s nice to have this balanced, reassuring offering that puts wildfires into ecological perspective. . . This authoritative STEAM selection has multiple crosscurricular applications, engaging live action-style reporting on narrow escapes and heroic View →
Machines through the Ages: From Furnaces to Factories
“A smoothly written, historical overview of machines.”—Booklist View →
Changemakers in Activism: Women Leading the Way
“Short spotlights feature brief, straightforward descriptions of the women’s causes and accomplishments, accompanied by photos. A few names may be familiar, but many of the featured women, such as Sylvia Mendez, who helped desegregate California schools, and children’s… View →