Reviews
Kirkus Reviews - Splash! Ethelda Bleibtrey Makes Waves of Change
“This compelling story makes full use of the illustrations. The blues and greens of the water reflect both depth and movement and the shift in Ethelda’s life from stillness to freedom. The illustrator’s use of line is particularly effective, showing Ethelda moving through water and View →
Publishers Weekly - The Peach Pit Parade: A World War I Story
“…Their age-appropriate realism echoes Keller’s matter-of-fact storytelling, which balances Polly’s fictional experiences with historical facts. Info about the science behind charcoal gas masks, an author’s note about segregation, and the story’s basis in history help make this a… View →
Kirkus Reviews - Little Buckaroo and Lou
“Written in the style of the nursery rhyme “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe,” the story counts up alongside simple storytelling… Gentle art gives characters a rounded, roly-poly look set against a big open sky.” View →
Booklist - Racial Justice in America: Excellence and Achievement
“Books in the Racial Justice in America: Excellence and Achievement series provide quick introductions to varied aspects of Black history and culture…the slender volumes in this visually appealing series provide useful, brief overviews of their respective subjects.” View →
Booklist - Racial Justice in America
“Books in the Racial Justice in America: Excellence and Achievement series provide quick introductions to varied aspects of Black history and culture…the slender volumes in this visually appealing series provide useful, brief overviews of their respective subjects.” View →
School Library Connection - The Peach Pit Parade
“Part of the Tales of Young Americans series, author Shana Keller takes a little-known episode from World War I and weaves it into not only a story about family, but one of determination to help and the strength of community to make things happen… An engaging story with many truths to tell.” View →
Kirkus Reviews - There Was a Hole
“Lehrhaupt sensitively handles a common emotional side effect of healing from grief: worrying that moving on means forgetting…By showing Lily beginning to recover due in part to the help of a friend, Lehrhaupt demonstrates that kids have the ability to help themselves and… View →
Kirkus Reviews - Let's Build a Little Train
“Robust vocabulary (bogie, coupling) will intrigue newer train fans while tickling advanced enthusiasts. Careful word and layout choices strike a sweet spot—this book will appeal both to readers looking to learn something new and newcomers seeking a deep dive. No drama or trouble… View →
Kirkus Reviews: The Black Hole Debacle
“In an episode that leaves no pun unturned, the unwelcome if exciting visitor, showing “less-than-stellar” manners, quickly gobbles down Jordie’s crayons, lunchbox, and other stuff—and worse, once she contrives to sneak it home, everything in her room (except a pair of unicorn… View →
Kirkus Reviews: So Much More to Helen! The Passions and Pursuits of Helen Keller
“Most people know the story of Keller learning the word water, but many don’t know about the life of activism she led after that. Pincus tells us about all the things Keller was—deaf-blind, yes, but also an author, activist, friend, and dog lover, among many other things. The didactic… View →
Publishers Weekly - Hello, Baby! I'm Your Mom
“Bunting articulates the unique attributes of each creature via rhyming couplets, which also frequently stress the mothers’ awareness of youth’s ephemerality… Ishida’s luminous, full-spread renderings gently support Bunting in exploring parent-baby bonding.” View →
San Francisco Book Review - Mushroom Rain
“Mushroom Rain is a valuable contribution to the body of nonfiction children’s books concerning the natural world… Elementary school educators will find this a treasurable resource for their classrooms.” View →
School Library Journal - Little Buckaroo and Lou
“Little Buckaroo saddles trusty horse Lou for a ride to the beat of a fresh take on the nursery rhyme “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.” As a counting book with affable, roly-poly style, young readers can easily practice one-to-one correspondence and cardinal counting with horseback riding… View →
Midwest Book Review - Light the Sky, Firefly!
“Light the Sky, Firefly!” by the team of author Sheri Bestor and artist Jonny Lambert will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family, elementary school, and community library wildlife picture book collections…" View →
School Library Journal - There Was a Hole
“With simple language and short sentence structure to define what loss of any nature can feel like for a child, this quick-paced story is an accessible example of how to think about and manage possible steps towards coping with sadness and pain in a way that fills the “hole” with… View →
Midwest Book Review - Summer's Call: A Michigan Day
“The Michigan-based author and illustrator capture the experience of summer in the Great Lake state with lovely stories and artwork that harkens to older times. Libraries can consider this celebration of Michigan’s environment a fine compliment to the usual geographic… View →
Midwest Book Review - Baa, Baa, Tap Sheep
“…a story that lends to read-aloud pleasure. This bedtime twist on a sheep-counting effort is perfect for parents and kids seeking something different. Parents can use this story for introductory counting lessons as the lively tale teaches how to wind down and convert excess… View →
Midwest Book Review - Too Many Pigs in the Pool
“[Too Many Pigs in the Pool] pairs a math lesson with a pig escapade that delights with whimsical piggy problems. Ages 4-8 will appreciate the zany issues which emerge as one pig becomes way too many for pool play.” View →
STARRED REVIEW Booklist - There Was a Hole
“O’Neill’s gentle illustrations add to the story’s growing feeling of connection and hope, bringing both Lily’s feelings and her patches to life. Although the pictures hint vaguely at a more specific loss, the spare language is broad and inclusive. This book View →
City Book Reviews - Hello, Baby! I'm Your Mom
“In this book, the illustrations are executed by Jui Ishida, who brings lovely colors and warm mom/baby interactions to life from a circle of protective mother elephants to the porcupine’s maternal hug…The author is an Irish-born Californian who has written over two hundred and fifty books… View →