The Big Bad Blackout
Readers of this fine series will enjoy the full-color illustrations and the little rain clouds above the page numbers. New fans can join in the fun—no need to have read the earlier books to enjoy this newest one. A cozy, comfortable book for a rainy night. —Kirkus Reviews
Stink and the Shark Sleepover
Children's Literature – Claudia Mills When Stink’s parents win a family sleepover at the aquarium at a fancy “fundraiser thingy,†Stink is all ready with his shark sleeping bag, stuffed tiger shark, and shark-tooth necklace. But he does not know that irritating Riley Rottenberger will be in attendance, too … or that his friend Sophie’s […]
Now Look What You Have Done
School Library Journal Review Gr 3-8-The too-smart-for-his-own-good kid detective is back for a second zany installment, along with his 1500-pound polar/bear business partner, Total. Timmy has big dreams for his crime-solving empire, fueled by his complete self-confidence, delusions of grandeur, and his assured win in a competition to find a stolen globe worth $500. But […]
Seeds of Freedom : the Peaceful Integration of Huntsville, Alabama
Publishers Weekly ★ 11/17/2014 A small girl sits on a chair in a store, solemnly holding a piece of paper with the outlines of her feet drawn on it. This is how African Americans shopped for shoes in Huntsville, Ala., prior to the civil rights movement, because their feet weren’t allowed inside shoes that might […]
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
School Library Journal Review : Starred Review. Gr 3-5-Even those who aren't fans of musician Johnny Cash will appreciate the beauty of this biographical picture book. Written in free verse, with colorful, realistic illustrations done in oil, this title poignantly portrays the powerful influences of poverty, religion, family, and music on Cash's life. When Cash […]
Mistakes Were Made
Children's Literature – Caroline Moore Failure Inc. is the best detective agency in town—just ask the owner and founder, Timmy Failure, and his 1500-pound polar bear, Total. Timmy runs his detective agency out of a closet and uses the Failuremobile (his mom’s Segway) to move about town, solving a variety of cases. As Timmy works […]
Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology : the Complete Book of Dragons
Children's Literature Everything you need to know about dragons is included in this lushly packaged volume. Antiqued pages give the impression that this information has been passed from generation to generation. Would-be dragonologists will learn the five F's of dragonology: "fieldwork, foresight, forwardness, frankness, fatalities ('unless these are avoided, the student will make little progress.')." […]
The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Publishers Weekly ★ 12/23/2013 Walton debuts with an entrancing and sumptuously written multigenerational novel wrapped in the language of fable, magical realism, and local legend. Ostensibly about a 16-year-old born with wings, the novel is also a rich retelling of Ava Lavender's family history, including her stalwart grandmother Emilienne's journey from adolescence in rural France […]
The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean, Telt By Hisself
Publishers Weekly ★ 10/28/2013 A boy named Billy Dean—born at the very moment terrorists blew up his town, starting World War III—narrates this mesmerizing post-apocalyptic tale from Carnegie- and Printz-winner Almond. Written in a difficult Geordie dialect, further complicated by Billy's phonetic spellings, the novel speaks feelingly to the love between parent and child, as […]
Deadly! : the Truth About the Most Dangerous Creatures On Earth
Children's Literature – Miranda McClain From the tiny carpenter ant to the mighty African lion the animal kingdom is full of deadly killers. Not all may be lethal enough to kill a person but they are powerful meat-eaters all the same. Kids who thrive on excitement will thrill at the gory but sometimes comical illustrations […]