Nathan’s Song By: Leda Schubert Illustrated by: Maya Ish-Shalom Reviewed by: Uma Krishnaswami Nathan, growing up in a shtetl in Russia, loves to sing. Upon hearing opera for the first time, he is transfixed and longs to learn this kind of music. His community and his family—even his little brother Samuel—come up with the funds […]
Book Reviews
Book Review: Dino-Halloween
Dino-Halloween By: Lisa Wheeler Reviewed by: Mary Lanni Leaves are falling, and the days are getting shorter and colder—Halloween is coming soon! The Dino friends are very excited for the Halloween season. They go together to select the perfect pumpkins from the pumpkin patch; some find their pumpkins right away, while others agonize over the […]
Book Review: The Paper Boat
The Paper Boat By: Thao Lam Reviewed by: Uma Krishnaswami This wordless book from cut-paper artist and illustrator Thao Lam offers a journey of shifting perceptions. Opening with a sugar water trap for ants, the page turns draw us into the story of one family’s escape from Vietnam. The girl rescues the ants in her […]
Book Review: No Matter What
No Matter What By: Josh Shipp Reviewed by: Katie Engen Never sugar-coated, this kid-friendly tale is grounded with autobiographical truths about foster care. The author’s experiences add depth to this anthropomorphic treatment of foster care placement, which points to deep patience and abiding love as the key elements for successful family building. Josh the squirrel […]
Book Review: Up on Bob
Up on Bob By: Mary Sullivan Reviewed by: Heather Christensen A cat and dog must negotiate their napping spaces in this comical picture book. After Bob, a portly Dachshund, arranges a neatly made child’s bed into a not-so-neat, but much more comfortable nest, he is ready for a day of napping … until a perky […]
Book Review: What Animals Need
What Animals Need By: Mary Lindeen Reviewed by: Abby Maiwald What do animals need? In this colorful intermediate reader, Lindeen describes the needs of various animals. Each page features one or two sentences of information written in a child-friendly manner and a brilliant close-up photo. At the back of the book, caregivers can find close […]
Book Review: Salamanders
Salamanders By: Melissa Gish Reviewer: Amanda Huneke Salamanders carry a history rich in magic, mystery and myth, but it’s the creatures’ ongoing tale of adaptability and resilience which is truly unmatched. Found on every continent except Antarctica, impressive habitat ranges and species-specific adaptations demonstrate remarkable variation among differing salamander families. Whether discussing the fully aquatic […]
Book Review: Flowers
Flowers By: Gail Gibbons Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung Enter the colorful world of flowers. Award-winning author, Gibbons, provides an abundance of introductory information about blooms. She presents the different growing environments, types of flowers, seed travel, and more (including seasonal gardening). Black-lined drawings with watercolor and colored pencil strokes fill every page. A huge variety […]
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