Reviews
A Review of "That’s What Friends Are For" in School Library Journal
Gr 1-3–In this warmhearted beginning reader, best buddies Tugg, a lovable gorilla, and Teeny, an eager monkey, help a sad hippo find her self-esteem, a rhinoceros locate his missing horn, and avoid making their friends angry when Teeny leaves wet, violet-colored paint on the picnic-table View →
A Review of "Stella Batts: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow" in Greatest Books for Kids
Stella Batts feels she is a very lucky girl. After all, it’s not every day you get to have parents who own a candy store and have their children as official taste-testers! So, when her Dad brings home his new magical gum, Stella and her younger sister can’t wait to try it out. View →
A Review of "The People of Twelve Thousand Winters" in Children's Literature
Walking Turtle of the Lenni Lenape lives with his people along the Passaic River in what will one day become the state of New Jersey. He is very kind to his young cousin Little Talk who with his crooked foot depends on Walking Turtle to carry him wherever he goes. Walking Turtle’s… View →
A Review of "T is for Twin Cities: A Minneapolis/St. Paul Alphabet" in Midwest Book Review
“T is for Twin Cities: A Minneapolis/St. Paul Alphabet” is a historically based colorful alphabet book that explores famous landmarks and traditions of the Minneapolis/ St, Paul area in Minnesota. Every page features a letter related to a special Twin Cities feature, subject, View →
A Review of "Twice as Good" in School Library Journal
K-Gr 3–For third-grader Willie Powell, the new golf course was a beautiful sight. One day, he approached two white golfers and asked the kinder looking of the men to teach him to play. His reply was, “Son, didn’t anyone ever tell you that your kind is not welcome here?” “Of course,… View →
A Review of "The Voyage of the Sea Wolf" in School Library Journal
Gr 5-7–Marooned on an island in The Pirate Captain’s Daughter (Sleeping Bear, 2011), Catherine and William are rescued by the pirate crew of the Sea Wolf at the start of this story. The two lovers vow to stay together, but they are not prepared for what awaits them. Catherine is… View →
A Review of "Delia’s Dull Day: An Incredibly Boring Story" in School Library Journal
PreS-K–Delia takes readers through her previous day, explaining all the ways in which it was so boring, but the art tells the real story. While she is eating her cereal, two elephants walk through her living room, but she is so busy worrying about spilling milk that she doesn’t notice… View →
A Review of "Smudge and the Book of Mistakes: A Christmas Story" in School Library Journal
A talented but easily frustrated young man is transformed by the encouragement and belief of the right mentor. Like many boys, Cuthbert is impatient, lacks discipline, and doesn’t like making mistakes. After his annoyed father sends him to a monastery, he ends up in the scriptorium,… View →
A Review of "Smudge and the Book of Mistakes: A Christmas Story" in Publishers Weekly
National Book Award–winner Whelan (Homeless Bird) writes a substantive story about the value of perseverance. It’s set in a medieval monastery, where the hard-of-hearing and vainglorious abbot mistakenly appoints young “Smudge,” so-called for his sloppiness and tendency to give up… View →
A Review of "Elena's Story" in Kirkus Reviews
Elena narrates this touching story set in Guatemala, about a girl’s longing for… She lives with her mother and younger siblings in a rural village while the father of the family works far away. Elena attends school and is trying to learn to read in Spanish, but she finds View →