Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Children's Bookwatch

Children's Bookwatch

Volume 28, Number 3 March 2018 Home | CBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Science Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Political Science Shelf Board Book Shelf Picturebook Shelf
Biography Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Christian Shelf
Math Shelf Bilingual Shelf Fiction Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf
Health Shelf Multicultural Shelf Books in Series


Reviewer's Choice

The Garden of Wisdom
Michael J. Caduto, editor
Odelia Liphshiz, illustrator
Green Heart Books
http://www.p-e-a-c-e.net
9780972751858, $26.95, HC, 156pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by Michael J. Caduto, "The Garden of Wisdom" is comprised of authentic, traditional stories from the Middle East that take children ages 7 to 12 on a journey borne on the wings of their imaginations, revealing knowledge and wisdom to help them care for Earth and live in harmony. From the heights of Mount Hermon to the depths of the Dead Sea, the Middle East is a land of stories that convey life lessons that have been handed down through the generations: protection of endangered species, habitats, and water quality, the knowledge of healing plants, and the virtues of truth, justice, and generosity. Time-honored wisdom shows children how to live in kinship with Earth and humankind while celebrating the wonder and beauty of nature. The stories comprising "The Garden of Wisdom" are arranged by theme: Animals, Plants, Friendship, Stewardship, and Wisdom. Of special note are the exclusive sections for parents and teachers revealing the sources of the stories, suggesting lessons to teach from each story, and sharing with children the journey behind the making of this unique book. Includes an informative essay about nature and environmental issues in the Middle East, making "The Garden of Wisdom" and especially and unreservedly recommended addition to family, elementary school, and community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Garden of Wisdom" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Glorious Fourth Of July And Other Stories From The Plains
Catherine Rademacher Gibson & Mary Gibson Sprague
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9781941813157, $19.95, HC, 71pp, www.sdshspress.com

Living through everyday childhood exploits with a large spark of imagination, a young girl grows up on the American plains. Catherine survives a cyclone and a small pox epidemic. Her youth is filled with new sights as her world expands to the Montana frontier and the metropolis of Saint Paul, Minnesota. As the storyteller, that late Catherine Rademacher Gibson gives insight into a bygone era with child-like enthusiasm and a reflective nature brought on by the passing years. In this edition of "Glorious Fourth Of July And Other Stories From The Plains", her daughter, Mary Gibson Sprague, ably recounting these episodes from her mother's childhood and shares a narrative common to many plains families that migrated throughout the U.S. at the beginning of the twentieth century. The tales take on new life as they are paired with paintings created by Catherine in her adult years. These "memory paintings," as she named them, call readers back to a time when birthday parties were new celebrations and children relied on their own ingenuity to occupy themselves. A unique, extraordinary, and informatively entertaining picture book for children ages 6 to 8, "Glorious Fourth Of July And Other Stories From The Plains" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library collections.

Little Worm
Laura Ann Elpers Pierce, author
Armando Loredo, illustrator
Brown Books Kids
c/o Brown Books Publishing Group
16250 Knoll Trail Drive, Suite 205, Dallas, TX 75248-2871
www.brownbooks.com
9781612549385, $14.99, HC, 24pp, www.amazon.com

Today is the day: Little Worm is going to run a whole mile! But oh no, it's raining! Little Worm starts to feel sad, and then he feels funny. He's so disappointed. Little Worm has been looking forward to this day for weeks. What if he can t run at all today? Enhanced for children ages 3 to 7 with illustrations by Armando Loredo, "Little Worm: A Story about Worry" by licensed marriage and family therapist and a registered play therapist Laura Ann Elpers Pierce deftly models how to handle worry and anxiety when things don't turn out the way we expect. Children will delight in joining Little Worm as he learns how to readjust his plans and work through his anxiety! Thoroughly 'kid friendly' and entertaining in tone, content, and presentation, "Little Worm: A Story about Worry" is very highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.

Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book
Britta Teckentrup
Random House
9781524769666, $16.99 www.randomhousekids.com

Moon provides a fun peek-through picture book for ages 3-7 and uses these holes to illustrate the moon's different phases. Plenty of picture books discuss the moon; but this visual approach combined with a geographic diversity that shows the moon over deserts, tundra, beaches and more, provides kids with an attractive visual approach that reinforces science about the moon's phases and changes.


The Science Shelf

Adventures in Science: The Human Body
Courtney Acampora
Silver Dolphin
c/o Printer's Row Publishing Group
www.silverdolphinbooks.com
www.printersrowpublishinggroup.com
9781684121298, $21.99, Box Pack Set, 40pp, www.amazon.com

Which part of the brain is in charge of creativity? What is the smallest human muscle? With "Adventures in Science: The Human Body" children ages 6 to 10 can take a trip inside the human body and discover the amazing systems that allow us to move, breathe, and speak. After reading about everything from the digestive tract to the cornea, kids can then assemble their own plastic skeleton and view the systems of the body in a layered cardstock model. With 20 fact cards, 2 sticker sheets, and a double-sided poster, "Adventures in Science: The Human Body" is an interactive kit that is a perfect primer for learning about how the human body works, making it an ideal and highly recommended addition to family, elementary school, and community library collections.

Try This Extreme
Karen Romano Young
National Geographic Press
101 West 104th Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10025
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426328633, $16.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Science can be extreme! Profusely illustrated with the photography of Matthew Rakola, "Try This Extreme: 50 Fun & Safe Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You" allows curious kids 10 to 18 to discover it for themselves in a fascinating activities book offering hands-on science experiments that takes interactivity to a whole new level. Weird, wacky science facts and basic principles are explained as a first step to launching these creative (and safe) science projects. Dynamic photos and art clearly highlight each step so kids can conduct experiments with confidence and accuracy. Projects involve kid-friendly subjects like force and motion and temperature and freezing points, and most experiments are based on materials easily found at home. Of special note are the bonus projects throughout encourage curious kids to dig deeper and discover more! Thoroughly 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation, "Try This Extreme: 50 Fun & Safe Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You" is especially recommended for home schooling families, public school, and community library Science collections for children. Librarians should note that "Try This Extreme: 50 Fun & Safe Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You" is also available in a Library Binding edition (9781426328640, $26.84).

Dr. E's Super Stellar Solar System
Bethany Ehlmann & Jennifer Swanson
National Geographic Press
101 West 104th Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10025
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426327988, $12.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Bethany Ehlmann and Jennifer Swanson, "Dr. E's Super Stellar Solar System: Massive Mountains! Supersize Storms! Alien Atmospheres!" entertainingly introduces kids ages 10 to 16 to outer space through in-depth info and comic book adventure. Along the way, kids follow explorer Bethany Ehlmann, a member of the NASA Mars Rover Curiosity mission, and her lovable robo-dog, Rover, as they study and protect our amazing solar system. Dr. E's conversational and funny explanations of the solar system and planetary geology will pull kids in like gravity. The pairing of fun, graphic novel side stories with science facts makes big concepts accessible and interesting to both boys and girls ages 8 to 12, especially in a format that will have great appeal ranging from STEM science fans to reluctant readers alike. While very highly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library collections, librarians should note that "Dr. E's Super Stellar Solar System: Massive Mountains! Supersize Storms! Alien Atmospheres!" is also available in a Library Binding edition (9781426327995, $28.99) .

Richie Doodles
M. J. Mountain, author
Jezreel S. Cuevas, illustrator
Rare Bird Books
453 S. Spring Street, Suite 302, Los Angels, CA 90013
www.rarebirdbooks.com
9780998314716, $16.95, HC, 24pp, www.amazon.com

It seems like only moments after a child begins to string words together that they begin to ask questions. Why do trees grow? Why is the sky blue? Why does it rain? These are all very important questions that, with the right answers, can inspire more wondrous curiosity. Part of the 'Tiny Thinkers' series,"Richie Doodles" by author M. J. Mountain and illustrator Jezreel S. Cuevas explains the way Richerd Feynman, one of the greatest scientists of all time, simplified the way we look at the smallest, jiggling things, things that just happen to make up everything that we see around us. "Richie Doodles" brings the science of what makes up atoms to life with vibrant, colorful illustrations as well as hidden gems for fans of Richard Feynman. The world is a wonderful place, even more so when you can learn how it works. "Richie Doodles" is a great learning tool for children ages 5 to 6 -- as well as the teachers and parents that may read it to them! As entertaining as it is educational, "Richie Doodles" is unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library Science collections.

The Story of Earth
Nadia Higgins, author
Jia Liu, illustrator
Joseph Faison IV, music
Cantata Learning
1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, MN 56003
www.cantatalearning.com
9781684101290, $33.99, Library Binding, 24pp, www.amazon.com

Earth is a rich home for plants and animals, but it wasn't always that way. In the pages of "The Story of Earth" children ages 6 to 9 can come on a tour of space and time as where they will learn all about its long history. The kids can even sing along as they explore how the earth was shaped over eons of time! This hardcover book features library binding for an extended shelf life and comes with CD, as well as online music access, making it especially and unreservedly recommended for both elementary school and community library collections.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Wizard for Hire
Obert Skye
www.obertskye.com
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629724126 $17.99 hc / $15.12 Kindle amazon.com

Wizard for Hire is the debut fantasy-adventure novel in a new middle grade series set in modern- day America, with a touch of the light fantastic. When young Ozzy's scientist parents are abruptly kidnapped, he lives on his own for years, but at age fourteen he dares to answer a classified "Wizard for Hire" advertisement. But is the strange man who answers Ozzy's call truly a wizard? The "wizard" Labyrinth (or just "Rin") never seems to cast any spells... he just seems to encounter strange coincidences, again and again. With this self-proclaimed wizard, a robotic talking raven, and a girl at school who decides to help, can Ozzy find and rescue his missing parents? Wizard for Hire is a tongue-in-cheek modern parable, accessible to young adults yet written with a depth of heart and breadth of appeal that transcends generations. Highly recommended.

Dragon Rider
Cornelia Funke
Scholastic, Inc.
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999
www.scholastic.com
9780545316484 $9.99 pbk / $5.99 Kindle amazon.com

Dragon Rider is a fantasy novel for young adults about the magical journey of a boy named Ben and the young dragon Firedrake. Together, they search for a legendary place where dragons can live in peace. On their journey, they cross paths with fantastic beasts - and a villain who harbors a long-festering grudge. A bonus chapter ("Sorrel's Story") and Dragon Lore rounds out this enchanting, epic saga. Dragon Rider "must-read" for young dragon lovers, and highly recommended for school and public library collections.

The Witch's Guide to Magical Combat
Lari Don
Kelpies
c/o Floris Books
www.florisbooks.co.uk
9781782503071, $9.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Molly's shape-shifting curse is getting stronger and more unpredictable. Becoming a hare she could cope with. At least she could run... fast. But now she's turning into the prey of any predator she hears. Life's pretty dangerous if you become a worm whenever you hear a bird tweet. As Molly and her friends search for a stone that can curb the Promise Keeper's powers, and each one of them must face their own monster, Molly is forced to choose: is she prepared to use dark magic to break her curse? Will she become a witch and enter into magical combat? And if she does, will she lose the friendships she most cares about? In this third and final thrilling instalment of the breathtaking Spellchasers trilogy the team faces a blizzard of powerful threats. Can they bring balance to the magical world, defeat the creatures that pursue them and finally break Molly's curse? Or will darkness triumph over friendship? Once again author Lari Don has written a superbly crafted and original fantasy action/adventure novel that will have special appeal for young readers ages 8 to 12. While very highly recommended for both elementary school and community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Witch's Guide to Magical Combat" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.82).


The Political Science Shelf

Vote For Me!
Louise Spilsbury, author
Mike Gordon, illustrator
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com
9781438011424, $9.99, PB, 64pp, www.amazon.com

Deftly written by Louise Spilsbury and charmingly illustrated by Mike Gordon, "Vote For Me!: How Governments and Elections Work Around the World" explains politics to children ages 8 to 11 and shows them just who is in charge around the world -- from presidents and prime ministers, to dictators, autocrats, and monarchs. "Vote For Me!" also answers important questions that kids have, including: What do governments do?; How are laws made?; What are monarchies, republics, and dictatorships?; How do democracies and elections work? Fun illustrations, interactive panels, and informative sidebars throughout help young readers find out what it takes to become a leader -- and how to get people to vote for YOU! Thoroughly 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation, "Vote For Me!" is very highly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library collections. It should be noted for librarians that "Vote For Me!" is also available in a library binding edition (Turtleback Books, 9780606412438, $20.85).


The Board Book Shelf

So Light, So Heavy
Susanne Strasser
Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
www.charlesbridge.com
9781580898492, $7.99, Board Book, 22pp, www.amazon.com

In a sturdy board book format, toddlers will be drawn in to "So Light, So Heavey" by repetition, opposites, humor, and an unexpected twist in this wonderfully entertaining story about Elephant's quest to get the seesaw to teeter. A cast of friendly animals (who are all so light) try to help move the seesaw, but Elephant's side won't budge. He's so heavy. Then what happens when a child swoops in with other plans? Short, simple, and memorable, this thoroughly 'kid friendly' board book by Susanne Strasser offers a satisfying story arc that will be greatly appreciated by children and is unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, and community library collections.

The Stone Bird
Jenny McCartney, author
Patrick Benson, illustrator
Andersen Press
https://www.andersenpress.co.uk
9781783445509, $17.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

It might look like a pebble from the beach, but Eliza knows this is an egg. And one night when she hears cracking, she discovers the Stone Bird. It might still look like a stone to her mum, but Eliza knows it's alive. Young readers ages 4 to 6 can step into the magical world of one child's imagination in this stunning picture book debut by the team of author Jenny McCartney and illustrator Patrick Benson. While certain to be an unfailingly entertaining and enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections, it should be noted that "The Stone Bird" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Black Bird Yellow Sun
Steve Light
Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.candlewick.com
9780763690670, $7.99, Board Book, 16pp, www.amazon.com

As a solitary black bird wings its way through the day, little ones ages 4 to 6 are treated to a magnificent flight from one vibrant color to another. Gifted artist and story teller Steve Light perfectly showcases a whole new style of illustration in this board book for the youngest readers. Children can journey with the graceful black bird and its tiny worm friend past orange leaves, through green grass, onto gray rocks, under pink flowers, and more before coming to rest beneath a brilliant blue moon. "Black Bird Yellow Sun" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library board book collections.

Where's My Teddy?
Jez Alborough
Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.candlewick.com
9780763699802, $7.99, Board Book, 24pp, www.amazon.com

Yikes! Eddie's in for the surprise of his life when he discovers that his teddy bear has grown much too big to cuddle! But there's fun in store when Eddie meets up with a real bear who's got just the opposite problem -- his lost teddy bear has shrunk to a size that's much too small for such an enormous bear to cuddle. Could it be a case of mistaken identity? "Where's My Teddy?" is a fast-paced comedy of errors, charmingly illustrated with Jez Alborough's quirky artwork and in this 25th anniversary board book edition is guaranteed to have children (and bears) reaching for their teddies! Wonderfully entertaining, especially for children ages 2 to 5, "Where's My Teddy?" is wholeheartedly recommended as an enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, and community library board book collections.

Stack the Cats
Susie Ghahremani
Abrams Appleseed
c/o Abrams/Amulet
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsyoungreaders.com
9781419727061, $8.99, Board Book, 32pp, www.amazon.com

One cat sleeps. Two cats play. Three cats stack! In "Stack the Cats", cats of all shapes and sizes scamper, stretch and yawn across the pages of this adorable counting book for children ages 3 to 5. And every now and then, they find themselves in the purrfect fluffy stack! Brightly colored, this utterly charming board book teaching children how to count to ten (and back again!) is very highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.

Mama, Is It Summer Yet?
Nikki McClure
Abrams Appleseed
c/o Abrams/Amulet
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsyoungreaders.com
9781419728280, $8.99, Board Book, 30pp, www.amazon.com

In Nikki McClure's charming little board book, "Mama, Is It Summer Yet?", one little boy can't wait for summer to arrive. He keeps asking, "Mama, is it summer yet?" Mama responds saying, "Not yet", but there are plenty of signs that indicate spring is changing into summer: The earth is soft and there are seeds to plant, birds singing, ducklings in the pond, and pink blossoms blooming. The young boy even wears his bathing suit and carries a beach pail in preparation, but will it ever be summer? The text is a wonderful celebration of the change of seasons and showcases Nikki's elegant images of nature and the joys of family and community. "Mama, Is It Summer Yet?" is especially recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library board book collections for children ages 3 to 6.

There's a Bear on My Chair
Ross Collins
Nosy Crow
c/o Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.candlewick.com
9781536200140, $7.99, Board Book, 24pp, www.amazon.com

Poor Mouse! A bear has settled in his favorite chair, and that chair just isn't big enough for two. Mouse tries all kinds of tactics to move pesky Bear, but nothing works. Once Mouse has gone, Bear gets up and walks home. But what's that? Is that a mouse in Bear's house? A lively, original, and wonderfully entertaining board book for children ages 2 to 5, "There's a Bear on My Chair" is enthusiastically and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, and community library board book collections.

Always
Emma Dodd
Templar Books
c/o Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.candlewick.com
9781536200577, $9.99, Board Book, 22pp, www.amazon.com

There is always love between parent and child, which is the heartwarming message in an exquisite new board book from Emma Dodd. Featuring stunning illustrations of an elephant family and with interior pages embellished with foil, "Always" makes a handsome, 'kid friendly', and entertaining addition to any nursery bookshelf and is especially recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, and elementary school board book collections.

Sleeping Bear Press
315 East Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
www.sleepingbearpress.com

Sleeping Bear Press has launched a new board book series by author/illustrator Jennifer Sattler for young children. "Dirty Birdies" (9781585363896, $7.99, 22pp) has one curious birdie playing in a mud puddle which leads to four new friends all getting into trouble. Toddlers learn to count from 1 to 5 with Dirty Birdies, where birds of all feathers get down and dirty and then all clean again. "Jungle Gym" (9781585363902, $7.99, 22pp) features a cast of delightful characters including a zebra, toucan, and a hippo, along with everyday concepts such as up/down and in/out which are hilariously demonstrated by animal friends on a playground. While very highly recommended for family, preschool, elementary school, and community library board book collections, it should be noted for families that both of these new titles are also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).


The Picturebook Shelf

Mom, Dad, Our Books, and Me
Danielle Marcotte, author
Josee Bisaillon, illustrator
Owlkids Books Inc.
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.owlkidsbooks.com
9781771472012, $16.95, 32pp, www.amazon.com

"Mom, Dad, Our Books, and Me" follows a young boy and those around him including parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and neighbors, as they all read, immersed in what moves them. Children ages 3 to 7 will learn that reading takes many forms. Some people of read novels, while others read cookbooks, sheet music, tarot cards, or even the stars in the sky. People also read clocks, train schedules, and facial expressions. Imaginatively written by Danielle Marcotte and charmingly illustrated throughout by Josee Bisaillon, "Mom, Dad, Our Books, and Me" is an ode to reading, and that each and every form of reading is lovely and worth celebrating. Enthusiastically and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections, "Mom, Dad, Our Books, and Me" will leave children reveling in the newfound or soon-to-come skill of reading that is fundamental to sparking new adventures and bringing people together!

The Very Very Very Long Dog
Julia Patton
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
c/o Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
www.sourcebooks.com
9781492654452, $17.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

Bartelby is a very long and lovable dachshund who lives in a bookstore. He has a lovely set of friends who take him for walks through the city, but he has no idea that his bumbling backside leaves a trail of destruction and accidents behind him. Embarrassed that he has no control over his back end, Bartelby vows to never leave the cozy bookstore again. Can his friends help him find a way to help himself? "The Very Very Very Long Dog" is a deftly written and beautifully illustrated picture book by Julia Patton featuring silly fun along with an important message for children ages 4 to 8: that we love our friends not in spite of their flaws, but because of them. Very highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections, it should be noted that "The Very Very Very Long Dog" is also available in a complete and unabridged audio book format (Dreamscape Media, 9781974903061, $14.99, CD).

Rabbit Moon
Jean Kim
Arthur A. Levine Book
c/o Scholastic, Inc.
557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999
www.scholastic.com
9781338036398, $17.99, HC, 40pp, www.amazon.com

Bedtime wishes take flight on paper airplanes, traveling all the way to the moon. There Rabbit gathers the night's haul, grinds the wishes into stardust, and fills the sky with their starlight. It is a beautiful sight to behold, but lonely work. So one night, Rabbit takes a wish and makes it float down to earth; when it comes true, he makes new friends and the star work takes a back seat to some well-earned fun. But as each day fades, so do the night stars. And with the first starless sky, Rabbit realizes it's time to make the journey home. It is a sad departure, but Rabbit's friends make one last wish, and send an astronomical gift. Featuring her thoroughly charming artwork, "Rabbit Moon" by author/illustrator Jean Kim is an ideal and highly recommended picture book for children ages 3 to 5. While certain to be a popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections, it should be noted that "Rabbit Moon" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Mouse
Zebo Ludvicek
G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Penguin Young Readers Group
345 Hudson Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10014
http://us.penguingroup.com
9781101996362, $16.99, HC, 40pp, www.amazon.com

When the letter M comes upon a hungry little mouse with a delicious-looking cherry, he can't help but ask for a bite. The mouse reluctantly agrees, only for the M to devour the entire thing! In exchange, the M offers the mouse some of itself, but after a few bites the M has suddenly become an N. So begins the mouse's journey through the many letters of the alphabet thanks to some creative nibbling. All the more impressive when considering that "Mouse" is author and illustrator Zebo Ludvicek's debut picture book for children ages 3 to 5, this utterly charming and original story will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections. It should be noted for families that "Mouse" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Grandma's Purse
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Knopf
c/o Random House Children's Books
1745 Broadway, 10-1, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/kids
9781524714314, $17.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

When Grandma Mimi comes to visit, she always brings warm hugs, sweet treats -- and her purse. You never know what she'll have in there. It might be fancy jewelry, or tokens from around the world, or something special just for her granddaughter. It might look like a normal bag from the outside, but Mimi and her granddaughter know that it's pure magic! Sweetly written and charmingly illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton for children ages 3 to 5, "Grandma's Purse" is an adorable, energetic ode to visits from grandmas, and shows how an ordinary day can become extraordinary. While very highly recommended as an entertaining picture book addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections, it should be noted that "Grandma's Purse" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

I Walk with Vanessa
Kerascoet
Schwartz & Wade
c/o Random House Children's Books
1745 Broadway, 10-1, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/kids
9781524769550, $17.99, HC, 40pp, www.amazon.com

Colorfully illustrated and entertainingly original, "I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness" is simple yet powerful picture book from Kerascoet, a husband-and-wife team that tells the story of one girl who inspires a community to stand up to bullying. Inspired by real events, "I Walk with Vanessa" deftly explores the feelings of helplessness and anger that arise in the wake of seeing a classmate treated badly, and shows how a single act of kindness can lead to an entire community joining in to help. With themes of acceptance, kindness, and strength in numbers, "I Walk with Vanessa" timeless and profound feel-good story will resonate with young children 4 to 8. While especially and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections, it should be noted that "I Walk with Vanessa" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

The Book About Nothing
Mike Bender, author
Hugh Murphy, illustrator
Crown Books
c/o Random House Children's Books
1745 Broadway, 10-1, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/kids
9780399551093, $17.99, HC, 40pp, www.amazon.com

Entertainingly written by Mike Bender and distinctively illustrated by Hugh Murphy, "The Book About Nothing" has nothing to do with rainbows, rocket ships, meatballs, or wizards. Instead, it's full of zip, zilch, diddly-squat, bupkus. But young children ages 3 to 7 don't have to worry -- reading this book isn't all for nothing, because sometimes nothing is actually something. Like if you pick up all the toys in your room, what will be on the floor? NOTHING. When you take a bath, what are you wearing? NOTHING. And when you shut the lights off to go to bed, what do you see? NOTHING. "The Book About Nothing" stops at nothing to deftly explore the key concepts of nothing and zero using playful language and hilarious illustrations. As educational as it is entertaining, "The Book About Nothing" is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections. It should be noted that "The Book About Nothing" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Sewing the Magic In at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Lisa Gammon Olson, author
Lauren Rutledge, illustrator
Eifrig Publishing
PO Box 66, Lemont, PA 16851
https://www.eifrigpublishing.com
9781632331243, $9.99, HC, 38pp, www.amazon.com

From her spot at the window, a young girl observes things most people have to pay to see. There are men walking on stilts, giraffes, jugglers, gilded wagons, and a long line of elephants marching down the street, as she works in the costume department for "The Greatest Show on Earth." Children ages 5 to 10 can join Nora as she searches for her role in creating the magic of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. Unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library "Sewing the Magic In at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus" is the second book in the Tales from American HerStory series, in which tidbits of American history are explored from the vantage point of a girl protagonist.

Bees in the City
Andrea Cheng, author
Sarah McMenemy, illustrator
Tilbury House, Publishers
12 Starr Street, Thomaston, ME 04861
www.tilburyhouse.com
9780884485209, $17.99, HC, 36pp, www.amazon.com

Lionel lives in a Paris apartment building but loves keeping bees with his Aunt Celine at her farm outside the city. But when her bees start dying, how can he help? The solution, he realizes, is in the rooftop gardens and window boxes of his apartment neighbors, representing a varied and continuously blooming array of flowers that the bees will love. Aunt Celine must bring her bees to Paris! But first he and his friends Alice and Samir must convince their skeptical neighbors and landlord, Mr. Dubi, that this is a good idea. Adorned with Parisian skylines, "Bees in the City" is a love letter to the City of Light and a celebration of the can-do spirit of kids. Sarah McMenemy's lovely illustrations recall the Parisian magic of Madeleine, while the backmatter provided by author Andrea Cheng deftly explores urban beekeeping and rooftop gardening in greater depth. An unusual and entertaining picture book for children ages 4 to 8, "Bees in the City" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections. It should be noted that "Bees in the City" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.68).

Festival of Colors
Kabir Sehgal, author
Surishtha Sehgal, author
Vashti Harrison, illustrator
Beach Lane Books
c/o Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 4th floor, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781481420495, $17.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

Spring is here, and it's almost time for Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. Siblings Mintoo and Chintoo are busy gathering flowers to make into colorful powders to toss during the festival. And when at last the big day comes, they gather with their friends, family, and neighbors for a vibrant celebration of fresh starts, friendship, forgiveness, and, of course, fun! In their picture book for children ages 2 to 8, authors Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal effectively collaborate with illustrator Vashti Harrison in "Festibal of Colors" to explain Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. Employing a charmingly entertaining while impressively informative approach, "Festival of Colors" is very highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections. It should be noted that "Festival of Colors" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

When Pigs Fly
James Burks
Disney Hyperion
125 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10023
www.disneyhyperionbooks.com
9781484725245, $16.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

Henry is ready to do what no pig has done before. "But pigs can't fly," says his sister, Henrietta. Nothing will stop Henry from trying, until it looks as though gravity might finally get the better of him. Fortunately, Henrietta has an idea that gives both of them a lift. Henry's determination and Henrietta's imagination combine to make a positive sibling story about creative play and teamwork. A wonderfully entertaining and colorfully illustrated picture book story by James Burks, "When Pigs Fly" is an especially recommended picture book for children ages 4 to 8. While especially appropriate for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections, it should be noted that "When Pigs Fly" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

The Amazing Collection of Joey Cornell
Candace Fleming, author
Gerared DuBois, illustrator
Schwarts & Wade
c/o Random House Children's Books
1745 Broadway, 10-1, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/kids
9780399552380, $17.99, HC, 36pp, www.amazon.com

Joey Cornell collected everything -- anything that sparked his imagination or delighted his eye. His collection grew and grew until he realized that certain pieces just looked right together. He assembled his doodads to create wonderful, magical creations out of once ordinary objects. A perfect picture book for introducing art to children ages 4 to 8, and based on the childhood of a great American artist, "The Amazing Collection of Joey Cornell" is an informatively charming and engaging story of Joseph Cornell by children's author Candace Fleming and children's book illustrator Gerard DuBois. While unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections, it should be noted that "The Amazing Collection of Joey Cornell" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

May I Come In?
Marsha Diane Arnold, author
Jennie Poh, illustrator
Sleeping Bear Press
315 East Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
www.sleepingbearpress.com
9781585363940, $16.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

When thunder roars and lightning flashes, Raccoon is afraid to be alone in his home. So he hurries out to see if any of his neighbors in Thistle Hollow have room to spare for a friend in need. When Raccoon knocks on the doors of Possum, Quail, and Woodchuck, he is turned away. But then Raccoon spies a bright light in the storm. Will this next neighbor open up her house and heart to Raccoon? "May I Come In?" is a tender story that reminds children ages 5 to 8 that a kind heart will always make room for one more. Entertainingly written by Marsha Diane Arnold and engagingly illustrated by Jennie Poh, "May I Come In?" is an especially recommended addition to family, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections. It should be noted that "May I Come In?" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.14).

Florette
Anna Walker
Clarion Books
c/o Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
9780544876835, $16.99, HC, 40pp, www.amazon.com

When Mae's family moves to a new home, she wishes she could bring her garden with her. She'll miss the apple trees, the daffodils, and chasing butterflies in the wavy grass. But there's no room for a garden in the city. Or is there? Mae's story, gorgeously illustrated in watercolor, is a celebration of friendship, resilience in the face of change, and the magic of the natural world. An original, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining picture book by author and artist Anna Walker, "Florette" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4 to 7. It should be noted that "Florette" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Bear and Wolf
Daniel Salmieri
Enchanted Lion Books
9781592702381, $17.95, HC, 48pp, www.amazon.com

Bear and Wolf are young and curious, slipping easily into friendship as they amble along together, seeing new details in the snowy forest. Together they spy an owl overhead, look deep into the frozen face of the lake, and contemplate the fish sleeping below the surface. Then it's time to say goodbye: for Bear to go home and hibernate with the family and for Wolf to run with the pack. All the more impressive when considering that "Bear and Wolf" is Daniel Salmieri's debut as an author and illustrator of a children's picture book, this is a beautifully rendered story of friendship and the subtle rhythm of life when we are open to the world and to each other. "Bear and Wolf" is unreservedly recommended, especially for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4 to 8.

Just Like Brothers
Elizabeth Baguley, author
Aurelie Blanz, illustrator
Barefoot Books
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
www.barefootbooks.com
9781782853459, $16.99, HC, 32pp, www.barefootbooks.com
9781782853466, $8.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

Near the woods live a little boy and his mother. The mother warns her son to watch out for wolves, but he doesn't listen. Instead he chases rabbits. And in the woods live a wolf cub and his mother. The wolf warns her son to watch out for people, but he doesn't listen. Instead he chases rabbits. What will happen when the boy and the cub cross paths in the forest? Charmingly illustrated by the impressive artwork of Aurelie Blanz, this charming picture book story by Elizabeth Baguley will have special and enduring appeal for children ages 4 to 8 and is unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.

This Zoo Is Not for You
Ross Collins
Nosy Crow
c/o Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.candlewick.com
9781536200157, $16.99, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

When a platypus stops by the zoo one day, all the animals assume he wants to join their zoo, and he is swiftly taken through a rigorous interview process. But the platypus is far too bland for the chameleons, he's not nearly graceful enough for the flamingos, and his tricks will never impress the monkeys. After he leaves, the animals soon regret their behavior, but . . . what's this? The platypus has left something behind. Perhaps he didn't intend to join their zoo after all! "This Zoo Is Not for You" is rhyming picture book written and illustrated by Ross Collins that deftly combines comic misunderstanding with a heartfelt story about acceptance and belonging. Funny, original, and with an admirable underlying message for children ages 3 to 7, "This Zoo Is Not for You" is an especially recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.

What's My Superpower?
Aviaq Johnston
Inhabit Media
9781772271409, $16.95 www.inhabitmedia.com

What's My Superpower? is illustrated by Tim Mack and follows a young girl as she reflects on how many of her peers have talents, while she does not. Her friends each hold a special ability, from athletic prowess to creativity; but Nalvana feels like everyone is better than she. How can she discover or hone special abilities, too? A fine story of self-inspection and affirmation evolves with a message parents will appreciate.

The Gnomes' Winter Journey
Ernst Kreidolf
Floris Books
9781782504375, $17.95 www.florisbooks.co.uk

The Gnomes' Winter Journey requires good reading skills or parental read-aloud assistance, but pairs text with facing pages of fine gnome drawings as it explores a journey made by woodland gnomes who decide to visit their mountain relatives, only to discover quite a different environment than they're used to. German illustrator Ernst Kreidolf produced engaging drawings from 1863 to 1956, and this production reflects some of his most appealing approaches as it crafts an engaging story and pairs it with fun drawings.

Norman The Slug with the Silly Shell
Sue Hendra
Aladdin/Simon and Schuster
9781481490320, $14.99 www.simonandschuster.com/kids

Norman the Slug has a problem: he doesn't have a shell, so he can't play with his shelled snail friends. What is a shell-less slug to do? Norman embarks on a journey to try a variety of shell substitutes - but when he discovers an odd one, he also realizes his problem is not solved by outer appearances alone. A whimsical, fun story is illustrated by engaging color drawings throughout in this fine story of a slug who really wants to fit in.

Old MacDino Had a Farm
Becky Davies
Tiger Tales
9781680100631, $16.99 www.tigertalesbooks.com

Old MacDino Had a Farm offers a fun difference to the classic rhyme, is illustrated with colorful drawings by Ben Whitehouse, and follows the adventures of a farm that harbors not just the usual farm animals, but a host of dinosaurs, as well. Each dinosaur name is phonetically spelled out, while fun animal sounds for them include munching, swooshing, stomping, and other action noises parents and kids will find fun to duplicate.

Quiet!
Kate Alizadeh
Child's Play International
9781846438875 $16.99 www.childs-play.com

Quiet! advocates the benefits of silence and what can be heard when one is really, really quiet, and follows a toddler as sensory cues move through silence into awareness. From the "bubbling of the pan" and the "humming of the fridge" to "the swish and rustle as I turn the pages of my book", kids receive an invitation to cultivate silence so they can hear more of the world in a format which includes lively photos of that world at work.

Sakura's Cherry Blossoms
Robert Paul Weston and Misa Saburi
Tundra
9781101918748, $17.99 www.penguinrandomhouse.ca

Sakura's Cherry Blossoms is illustrated by Misa Saburi, whose lovely drawings enhance a gentle story of Sakura, who loves sitting under the cherry blossom trees with her grandmother in Japan. But now her family is leaving her grandmother behind and moving to America - so everything will change! Told in poetic verse, this explores Sakura's family connections and relationships to Japan and America alike.

Mr. Owliver's Magic at the Museum
Carolyn Bracken
Schiffer Publishing
9780764354274, $16.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Mr. Owliver's Magic at the Museum tells of an owl curator who loves his job protecting art at the local museum. He's friends with everyone and keeps masterpiece portraits such as Mona Lizard and Henry the Ape safe. But one evening, as he's making his rounds, something doesn't seem right. What has gone wrong in the world of art? Good reading skills and parental assistance will lend appreciation to this blend of art spoof and mystery which offers a delightfully zany approach to a usually-serious subject.

Wordy Birdy
Tammi Sauer
Doubleday
9781534719296, $16.99 www.randomhousekids.com

Dave Mottram illustrates a fun story for ages 3-7 of a chatty bird who talks too much. Everyone knows someone who is too talkative and who doesn't listen. Sooner or later, trouble ensues, as it does for the clueless Wordy Birdy whose talk leads her into danger. Can Wordy Birdy save herself? And can her friends help?

Disney/Hyperion
www.DisneyBooks.com

Amy Fellner Dominy and Nate Evans' Cookiesaurus Rex (9781484767443, $16.99) is illustrated by Ag Ford and tells of a freshly baked cookie who comes out of the oven believing he is King of All Cookies. All his desires are more important than others', he wants to be first in everything, but when his demands result in something he doesn't want, he becomes jealous. He wants a makeover - but perhaps that won't work, either, because he's being a bully about his needs. A fun message and story evolves. Anne Marie pace's Groundhug Day (9781484753569, $17.99) is illustrated by Christopher Denise, who provides especially beautiful drawings to a story of celebrating Valentine's Day with Groundhog. But if he sees his shadow first, Moose's party might go awry. A fun plot between friends to assure Groundhog gets a party makes for a whimsical, fun tale.

Scholastic, Inc.
www.scholastic.com

Paige Britt, Sean Qualls, and Selina Alko's Why Am I Me? (9781338053142, $17.99) follows two children as they return home at day's end, each wondering about their separate, individual personalities and what makes them unique. From what makes the individual to how people become 'we', this is an encouragement for kids to understand both how they are separate and different and how they can join together. Allen Say's Silent Days, Silent Dreams (9780545927611, $21.99) follows James Castle's determination to become an artist against all odds. The artist is real and his illustrations become a tribute to his talents in a story that shows how the author's uncle, born in 1899, honed his artistic talents. Good reading skills and an appreciation for illustration and art will lend to this vivid story of the author's relative's talents and struggles. Aaron Blabey's Thelma the Unicorn (9781338158427, $14.99) tells of Thelma, a horse who wishes she can be a unicorn instead. Her friends say she's perfect as she is; but she doesn't believe them. Can her efforts to transform change her life? All are fine picture books that stand out from the crowd of new releases and are highly recommended picks.


The Biography Shelf

Before She was Harriet
Lesa Cline-Ransome, author
James E. Ransome, illustrator
Holiday House
425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.holidayhouse.com
9780823420476, $17.95, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

A lush and lyrical picture book biography of Harriet Tubman for children ages 4 to 7 is written in storytelling verse by Lesa Cline-Ransome and elegantly illustrated by award-winning artist James E. Ransome. We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman she was a Union spy. As Moses she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. As Minty she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. An evocative poem and opulent watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life. "Before She was Harriet" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library American Biography picture book collections.

Maria Sibylla Merian
Sarah B. Pomeroy & Jeyaraney Kathirithamby
Harry N. Abrams
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsyoungreaders.com
9781947440012, $21.95, HC, 96pp, www.amazon.com

In 1660, at the age of thirteen, Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) began her study of butterfly metamorphosis -- years before any other scientist published an accurate description of the process. Later, Merian and her daughter ventured thousands of miles from their home in the Netherlands to the rainforests of South America seeking new and amazing insects to observe and illustrate. Years after her death, Merian's accurate and beautiful illustrations were used by scientists, including Carl Linnaeus, to classify species, and today her prints and paintings are prized by museums around the world. More than a dozen species of plants and animals are named after Merian. The first Merian biography written for children ages 8 to 12, "Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, Adventurer", young readers will be inspired by Merian's talent, curiosity, and grit as they become swept up in the story of her life, which was adventurous even by today's standards. With its lively text, beautiful illustrations, quotations from Merian's own study book, and fascinating sidebars on history, art, and science, "Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, Adventurer" is an extraordinary and very highly recommended addition to family, elementary school, and community library biography collections for children.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Lizard Lady: Saving a Forgotten Species
Jennifer Keats Curtis, author
Nicole F. Angeli, author
Veronica V. Jones, illustrator
Arbordale Publishing
612 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite A2, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arbordalepublishing.com
9781607180661, $17.95, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

Young readers ages 6 to 9 can join the Lizard Lady as she cuts her way through thick Caribbean forests searching for critically endangered St. Croix ground lizards. Hunted to extinction on the island of St. Croix by invasive species brought by colonizing farmers, these lizards are now only found on surrounding islands in the US Virgin Islands. Children will learn that a day in a life of a woman scientist can be anything but boring. Nicole F. Angeli is the Lizard Lady -- can she help save these animals? "The Lizard Lady: Saving a Forgotten Species" is work of narrative nonfiction includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 30-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. "The Lizard Lady" is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook (Kindle, $6.99) reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension. While especially and unreservedly recommended for elementary school and community library Pets/Wildlife picture book collections, it should be noted for families that "The Lizard Lady" is also available in a paperback edition (9781607180913, $9.95).

Paddle Perch Climb: Bird Feet Are Neat
Laurie Ellen Angus
Dawn Publications
12402 Bitney Way, Nevada City, CA 95959
www.dawnpub.com
9781584696131, $16.95, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com

In "Paddle Perch Climb: Bird Feet Are Neat" children ages 4 to 8 will meet the feet that help birds eat! Kids can learn a lot about a bird just by looking at its feet. The size, shape, and type give you important clues about where a bird lives, how it moves, and what it eats. Young readers will discover seven birds, each with a different type of foot, including a roadrunner with strong legs and feet running across the desert to snag a lizard for lunch, a cardinal with flexible toes perching on a branch to pick berries, and a heron with long legs and toes wading through a river to search for fish. Bright, bold full color artwork combined with a simple text by author and illustrator Laurie Ellen Angus invites children to guess what birds will be revealed on successive pages. But look out! Predators are lurking, and they're hungry, too! "Fun Foot Facts," food chains, bird watching tips, and more are presented in Explore More for Kids, Teachers, and Parents in the back of the book. While unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Pets/Wildlife picture book collections, it should be noted that "Paddle Perch Climb: Bird Feet Are Neat" is also available in a paperback edition (9781584696148, $8.95), and a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).

Sea Creatures from the Sky
Ricardo Cortes
Black Sheep
c/o Akashic Books
232 Third Street, #A115, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.akashicbooks.com
9781617756160, $16.95, HC, 48pp, www.amazon.com

"Sea Creatures from the Sky" is a simply memorable and beautifully illustrated children's picture book from the New York Times best-selling illustrator of "Seriously, Just Go to Sleep". Ricardo Cortes's stunning seascapes follow the adventures of a shark that has a story to share about creatures who live above the ocean. Our shark encounters strange-looking creatures who resemble nice, caring marine biologists. But after they release it back into the ocean, the shark cannot find one friend to believe its tale. Filled with humor and warmth, "Sea Creatures from the Sky" will charm and entertain children ages 1 to 7, making it unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Pets/Wildlife picture book collections. It should be noted that "Sea Creatures from the Sky" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.10).


The Christian Shelf

Who Is Jesus?
MaryAnn Diorio, author
Kim Sponaugle, illustrator
MaryAnn Diorio Enterprises, LLC
http://maryanndiorio.com
9780930037147, $19.95, HC, 50pp, www.amazon.com

Deftly written by MaryAnn Diorio and charmingly illustrated by Kim Sponaugle, "Who Is Jesus?" presents a biblical picture of the Savior in a way that will help young children recognize Him as Love Personified. Little children will come to know Jesus as the essence of all that is good, holy, and true. As parents read "Who Is Jesus?" with their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or students, the children will learn that Jesus Christ cares about them and loves them with a perfect love. While "Who Is Jesus?" is especially and unreservedly recommended to all Christian families and Sunday School collections, it should be noted that "Who Is Jesus?" is also available in a paperback edition (9780930037154, $16.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Where Are You Hiding, God?
Elisabeth Zarti
Westminster John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396
www.wjkbooks.com
9780664263522, $12.00, HC, 24pp, www.amazon.com

Where are you hiding, God? In the dresser between my pants and socks? In the bathtub under my little rubber duck? In the grass next to the flowers and the dragonflies? Deftly written and charmingly illustrated by Elisabeth Zarti, "Where Are You Hiding God?" is a colorful picture book for children ages 3 to 6 that tells the story of a little girl trying to find God. She searches in the house, in the bathroom, and in the garden, without any luck. But just as she gives up hope, she finds God. With beautiful illustrations that offer a treasure trove for exploring, recognizing, and naming, "Where Are You Hiding, God?" is touching story showing young children that God is always with them, making it a very highly recommended addition to family, Sunday School, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.

Francis of Assisi
Justine Lang
St. Anthony Messenger Press
Franciscan Media
http://info.franciscanmedia.org
9780867168969, $2.95, PB, 32pp, www.amazon.com

With its illustrated comic book format, "Francis of Assisi" by Justine Lang reveals new facts about a beloved Catholic saint with a colorful graphic presentation of the life and mission of the man known as Francis of Assisi. This engaging and entertaining biography follows Francis from his days as a rich young merchant through his founding of the Franciscan order to his death and eventual sainthood. All of the familiar stories Francis and the Crusades, Francis and the San Damiano Cross, Francis and the wolf are here, presented in a new and engaging way. Both children ages 9 to 12 (and adults of all ages) will enjoy fully enjoy this particular and very highly recommended presentation of the life and work of Francis of Assisi.


The Math Shelf

The Adventures of Finn and JJ: Equation Salvation
Collin Matthew Helein, author
McKenzie Thorpe, illustrator
http://cmhelein.com
Mascot Publishing
560 Herndon Parkway, #120, Herndon, VA 20170
http://mascotbooks.com
9781684010936, $14.95, HC, 38pp, www.amazon.com

Young children ages 4 to 7 can embark on a mathematical journey with adventurers Finn and JJ! When the chief of Viking Village calls for Finn and JJ to investigate missing crops, they spring into action. Young readers can help them discover why the village's crops are being burned, and use their math skills to help save the day! With charmingly colorful illustrations by McKenize Thorpe, "The Adventures of Finn and JJ: Equation Salvation" is an entertaining and informative picture book by Collin Matthew Helein is unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.


The Bilingual Shelf

Home for Chinese New Year
Wei Jie, author
Xu Can, illustrator
Yijin Wert, translator
Shanghai Press
c/o Better Link Press
9781602209992, $16.95, HC, 36pp, www.amazon.com

Jia Jun's Dad worked out of town all year around. Now it's time for him to come home. He took a train, bus, three-wheeled motorcycle, ferry-boat and even walked for many miles. He finally made it home and had a reunion dinner with his family on New Year's Eve. On his trip, as Jia Jun's Dad was rushing to get home, he lost his apple, water, gloves and scarf, but he took very good care of his gift for his son. During the holiday season, Jia Jun was extremely happy as he was with his Dad all the time. They set off firecrackers, put up couplets and even made snowmen. In a few days, Dad was ready to head back to work, but it was certain that Dad would be home again next year to celebrate the Chinese New Year with his family. Ably translated into English by Yijin Wert for children ages 4 to 8, "Home for Chinese New Year" is a simply charming picture book by the team of Wei Jie and Xu Can with an English/Chinese bilingual text. Unique and unfailingly entertaining, "Home for Chinese New Year: A Story Told in English and Chinese" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family, daycare center, preschool, and community library bilingual picture book collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Scholastic, Inc.
www.scholastic.com

Anne Sibley O'Brien's In the Shadow of the Sun (9780545905749, $17.99) offers a timely story of Mia's journey to North Korea - a country she knows little about, and not the first on her list for a family vacation. But her father is an aid worker, and the family has a rare opportunity to see the hermit nation. When her dad is arrested for spying, Mia is charged with saving him if she can perform an impressive feat well outside of her comfort level. This riveting novel of intrigue and cultural clashes will have young readers immersed in an exciting adventure surrounding a complicated country and situation. James Nicol's The Apprentice Witch (9781338118582, $16.99) tells of a girl who flunks her witch's assessment, who becomes an apprentice and is charged with living in disgrace and the possibility that she'll never become a full-fledged witch. The town she's banished to for her apprenticeship holds many surprises, however, because hexes and a mystery seem to require Arianwyn hone powers she'd never believed possible as she responds to not only the special challenges of being a real witch, but a deadly danger no other young apprentice has faced. Both are vivid reads highly recommended for young adult leisure audiences.

Disney/Hyperion
www.disneybooks.com

Two new leisure choices are recommended for young adults who look for something different in their stories. Emily Ecton's The Ambrose Deception (9781484788387, $16.99) tells of three middle school kids who are less than stellar classroom examples. So it's especially surprising when these three are chosen to compete for a ten-thousand-dollar scholarship, which involves solving clues that lead them across Chicago in a treasure hunt. Led to believe they are in competition, the three come to suspect something else is going on beyond the guise of a competition designed to divide them; and when they join forces, something special happens. Kim Purcell's This is Not a Love Letter (9781484798348, $17.99) tells of a young couple who decides to take a one-week break from their relationship before graduation, which is introducing some big decisions about the course of their lives. But when the week ends, Chris has vanished, and Jessie doesn't believe he's run away. Something else as happened surrounding his disappearance - something that may involve racism and danger. It's up to Jessie to reveal the details of his life and get to the bottom of his disappearance in this riveting story which is sobering and hard to put down.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Monsters Beware!
Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.firstsecondbooks.com
9781626721807 $14.99 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Monsters Beware! features the return of the intrepid would-be warrior girl Claudette, the aspiring chef and modestly talented magic-user Gaston, and the diplomatic young lady Marie, in an all-new graphic novel drawn in exuberant full color. In Monsters Beware!, Claudette manages to wrangle her friends into representing their town in the latest installment of the Warrior Games, but could one of the rival teams be... monsters? Then, other teams start to mysteriously disappear! Will Claudette even notice the impending mortal peril when she's focused on winning the games above all else? Monsters Beware! skirts the fine line between young adult fantasy and survival-horror, resulting in a death-defying adventure that readers of all ages will enjoy. Also highly recommended are the previous graphic novels in "The Chronicles of Claudette" series, "Giants Beware!" (9781596435827, $15.99) and "Dragons Beware!" (9781596438781, $14.99).


The Music CD Shelf

The Spaceship That Fell In My Backyard
Ruth and Emilia
www.ruthmakesmusic.com
www.emilialopezyanez.com
Privately Published
RuthandEmilia.com
$10.99 amazon.com

The Spaceship That Fell In My Backyard is a children's music album by a mother-daughter duo. When a spaceship appears in Emilia's backyard, she encounters the alien URR from planet Goopda, and their message of universal peace! The individual songs interlace into a positive message about working together to make the world a better place for everyone. An upbeat, positive-minded experience for the whole family, The Spaceship That Fell In My Backyard is highly recommended for both personal and public library children's music collections. The tracks are "The Spaceship That Fell In My Backyard", "Where Do I Live?", "We're Gonna Be Legendary", "This is the Way it Should Be", "Repair the World", "Everything is Better With Some Bubbles", "I'm Smart on Safety", "Can't Janet Come and Play?", "Dancing in our PJs", "Just Inside This Classroom", and "The Spaceship That Fell In My Backyard - Reprise".

The Land of Yangalele
Papa Siama with Auntie Dallas
SiamaMusic.com
Privately Published
$14.99 CD plus download

Congolese-American artist "Papa Siama" Matuzungidi and music educator "Auntie Dallas" Johnson present The Land of Yangalele, a children's album brimming with songs that celebrate African culture, rhythms and music. The songs use traditional African instruments and feature lyrics in English, Swahili, Lingala and Kikongo, and the physical CD is enhanced with album liner notes including lyrics, a glossary, a map, pictures of instruments, and an educational quiz. The lively tracks evoke the unparalleled joy of an all-ages sing-along. The Land of Yangalele is a choice pick for both personal and public library children's world music collections, highly recommended. The tracks are "Bakongo Chant (Welcome)", "Monkey Game", "It's So Easy to Make a Song", "Sweet Water", "ABCD", "Ko Yimbi Ko", "Auntie's Song (Yangalele)", "When We're Free", "Nalingi Bosembo (Peace Lullaby)", and "Bakongo Chant (Your Journey)".

The Starlighter
Shawn Colvin
www.shawncolvin.com
Privately Published
$12.99 CD / $9.99 MP3 amazon.com

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin presents The Starlighter, an album of songs adapted from the children's music book "Lullabies and Night Songs". The gentle, soothing melodies range from beloved traditional lullabies like "Hush Little Baby", to songs with lyrics by great poets such as "Minnie and Winnie" with prose by 19th century Poet Laureate of Great Britain Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and "Cradle Song" with lyrics by English poet William Blake. Beautiful, heartwarming, and relaxing, The Starlighter is perfect for unwinding as a family after a long day. Highly recommended. The tracks are "The Starlighter", "Raisins and Almonds", "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", "Minnie and Winnie", "Sleep, Baby, Sleep", "Many Millions Years Ago", "The Huntsman", "The Cuckoo Is A Pretty Bird", "Night", "The Journey", "Bobby Shaftoe", "The Nut Tree", "Hush, Little Baby", and "Cradle Song".

Wild is Everywhere
Sara Lovell
www.saralovell.com
Unbreakable Chord Music
$TBA

Award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Sara Lovell presents Wild is Everywhere, a family-friendly music album of 14 original songs overflowing with imagination, inspiration, and playful delight. Wild is Everywhere will appeal to all ages, drawing in parents as well as children with its catchy rhythms and whimsical lyrics. Highly recommended for personal and public library collections alike! The tracks are "Get Up", "Rhinoceros Under The Bed", "Raspberry Pickleberry Wormnut Pie", "Stand Together", "Bounce", "Pie In The Sky", "The Dark Side Of My Room", "All The Grownups Get To Stay Up Late", "What Color Is The Sunshine", "Where You Hiding All Day Long", "I Want It Now", "How To Love Yourself", "The Problem Song", and "Wild Is Everywhere".


The DVD Shelf

Stories for Women's History Month
Weston Woods
90 Old Sherman Turnpike, Danbury, CT 06816
www.scholastic.com/westonwoods
9781338232264 $TBA

Stories for Women's History Month is a DVD compilation adapting three children's picturebooks based on true-life stories of bold and courageous women. In "What to do About Alice?" by Barbara Kerley (8 min.), President Theodore Roosevelt's daughter Alice Lee Roosevelt longs for adventure and new experiences - activities that her father sternly calls "running riot"! In "That Book Woman" by Heather Henson (11 min.), young people get a glimpse of the Pack Horse Librarians who worked to bring books to rural children, through the eyes of a boy named Cal. In "Players in Pigtails" by Shana Corey (12 min.), Katie Casey adores the game of baseball, and pushes herself tirelessly to be a worthy player of the first-ever All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Bonus interviews with authors round out this choice pick for school library DVD collections and homeroom viewing. Also highly recommended is another excellent Weston Woods DVD compilation, "Fletcher's Seasons", featuring adaptations of the picturebooks "Fletcher and the Falling Leaves", "Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms", and "Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas", all written by Julia Rawlinson.


The Health Shelf

Yoga Frog
Nora Carpenter, author
Mark Chambers, illustrator
Running Press Kids/Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
9780762464678 $14.99 www.runningpress.com/rpkids

"Yoga Frog" is an inviting new guide to simple yoga poses adapted for kids in a gradual series planned for warmup of the body, higher energy poses, and then cool down poses. Yoga positions are demonstrated by whimsical poses of a green frog figure with human-like stick appendages. Poses are listed by names chosen for children's recognition, while the traditional name for the pose is written in parentheses following the "Yoga Frog" pose title. Narrative descriptions of the poses are clear, simple, and appealing. For example, "Hawk In Nest (balasana) Flapping your wings, fly down to your nest. Tuck your legs beneath you as you spread your wings over your nest and take five slow breaths. Resting helps your brain and body stay strong." At the end of the book there is a handy Note for Parents explaining the benefits of yoga for kids, and also a delightful Yoga Frog poster illustrating all fifteen poses. "Yoga Frog" is an excellent book to introduce kids to their own practice of yoga for benefits of clarity of mind, focus, improved health, and mindfulness.


The Multicultural Shelf

Cian From the Philippines
Mary Duda, author
SCOLA, photography
River Junction Press LLC
www.riverjunctionpress.com
9780998659800 $16.95 www.kidsaroundtheglobe.com

"Cian From the Philippines" is the second title in the Kids Around the Globe Book series. Written at grade level equivalent 4 or 5, "Cian From the Philippines" introduces students to a boy named Cian and his family, encountering many popular sights, features, foods, and pastimes in daily life in Quezon City, in the province of Manila, in the Philippines. 42 color photos taken by SCOLA show Cian with his family, classmates, friends, and community. Phrases and terms in Tagalog, the language of the Philippines, are integrated in the text. An example is one picture shows 6 year old Cian doing his homework, requesting the reader's help. The opposite page offers English and Tagalog terms for the seven days of the week, and five shapes, square, rectangle, triangle, circle, and oval. the student is invited to match terms and shape names with their counterparts. Readers see pictures of Cian going to the beach, to Chinatown, a historic Spanish fort, Fort Santiago, Art in Island museum, and a carnival celebration, plus a 3-D museum. Included is a world map plus a map of the Philippines, and a glossary, plus a list of follow-up activities. An associated website at www.kidsaroundtheglobe.com offers interactive games, maps to color, videos, and blog posts by Mary Duda. "Cian from the Philippines" is an excellent world geography and culture enrichment book for elementary school students.


Books in Series

Space Explorers: From Earth to Infinity
David Jeffers, author
Crabtree Publishing Company
PMB 59051, 350 Fifth Avenue, 59th Floor, New York, NY 10118
9780778735359 $27.60 www.crabtreebooks.com

"Space Explorers From Earth to Infinity" provides an exciting overview of space travel to date and possibilities for future space exploration. Topics of interest include rocket history, moon visitors, space exploration through telescopes, use of robotic space probes to explore deep space, journeys to Venus or Mars, possibilities of life on moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and the voyage of New Horizons past the Kuiper belt, exploring exoplanets, project Starshot, and spaceships of the far future. Detailed color photographs ornament each page and chapter of "Space Explorers, and clear narrative carefully delineates areas of question for an audience age 10 and up. A helpful glossary, list of related websites, and index completes "Space Explorers," a title in the innovative series, Our Future in Space. Additional titles for our Future in Space series that are also highly recommended include; "Space Tourists: Vacations Across the Universe (9780778735366)," "Space Workers: making Money Above the Earth (9780778735373)," and "Space Colonists: Living On New Worlds (9780778735342)," all by David Jeffers.

Leaving My Homeland series
Crabtree Publishers
www.crabtreebooks.com
$27.60 Each

Ages 8-11 will appreciate six new books in an existing series that supports the C3 Framework for Social Studies and covers refugee crises around the world. Each book is written from a child's viewpoint and describes a different refugee experience. Linda Barghoorn's A Refugee's Journey from Colombia (9780778736721) tells of Andres, whose family flees to Ecuador when rebels threaten them in a situation where his homeland has been fighting for over fifty years, and her Somalia (9780778736752) tells of Fatuma, whose family has lived with violence all of her life; Heather Hudak's Guatemala (9780778736738) tells of Martinez, who faces gangs in his neighborhood and is smuggled with his family to a camp in Mexico, and her Yemen (9780778736778) follows Sahar, whose home was bombed and her baby brother killed before her surviving family fled the country's civil war. Ellen Rodger's South Sudan (9780778736769) fells of Ataui, who leaves the family home one day never to return; while Rodger's Myamar (9780778736745) follows Seyd, who is part of the Rohingya minority group, and who flees with his father via boat and faces being alone when his father dies. All include contemporary color photos, maps, and details of the countries and their struggles.

Art in Different Places
Robin Johnson, author
Crabtree Publishing Company
PMB 59051, 350 Fifth Avenue, 59th Floor, New York, NY 10118
www.crabtreebooks.com
9780778736547 $23.29 24 pages

"Art in Different Places" is a fascinating glimpse of different examples of art found in daily life around the globe. Part of the elementary series Learning About our Global Community, "Art in different Places" explores some definitions of art, as anything that is made with creativity and skill, to add beauty and dimension to our lives. Some of the arts shown include visual arts, paintings, drawings, fabrics, crafts, sculptures, baskets, bowls, blankets, pots and clay objects and wall decorations. For the purposes of this book, art is defined as not including performances such as dance, music, theater, etc. Some of the exciting global art traditions chosen include, ceramic building tiles in Portugal, dream catchers in North America, basket weaving in Ghana, henna body painting in India, sand paintings in Tibet, and even ice sculptures in Poland, and many more. Indigenous Americans also made art from sticks and stones in the form of totem poles and stacked rocks, or inuksuk. Pottery, rugs, and holiday art are additional examples of global art forms. "Art in Different Places includes notes to educators, with activity suggestions, concepts, discussion prompts, and objectives, plus added resource lists in learning More. completed with a glossary and index, "Art in Different Places" is an excellent global arts overview text for elementary students K-5. Additional titles in this series that are also highly recommended include: "Toys and Games in Different Places (9780778736622)," "Sports in Different Places (9780778736561)," and "New Year Celebrations in Different Places (9780778736554)," all by Robin Johnson.

Animals of the Tundra
Greenhaven Press
c/o Cengage Learning
www.greenhavenpublishing.com
9781534522091, Trade $98.40 - School/Library $78.72, 4 Volumes

In physical geography, tundra is a type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine tundra, and Antarctic tundra. In tundra, the vegetation is composed of dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses, and lichens. Scattered trees grow in some tundra regions. The ecotone (or ecological boundary region) between the tundra and the forest is known as the tree line or timberline. "Animals of the Tundra" is a four volume series that showcases four particular species of animals that make the tundra their home. The individual volumes comprising this simply outstanding series include: Arctic Foxes of the Tundra; Arctic Wolves of the Tundra; Caribou of the Tundra; and Snowy Owls of the Tundra. Each individual book features clearly labeled photographs that guide early learns as they read; a text that enhanced science curriculum topics; and a unique focus on an extreme biome that will have special appeal for reluctant readers in grades K to 3. While very highly recommended for both elementary school and community library collections, it should be noted that each library bound book in the "Animals of the Tundra" series is available individually (Trade $24.60 - School/Library $19.68. Home schooling parents and librarians should know that the "Animals of the Tundra" is also available in a digital book format (eBook, Trade $24.60 - School/Library $19.68).

Global Viewpoints
Lucent Press
c/o Greenhaven Press / Cengage Learning
www.greenhavenpublishing.com
9781534501492, Trade $277.20 - School/Library $221.76, 6 Volumes

The six volume series "Global Viewpoints" from Lucent Press is specifically designed and highly recommended for high school students in grades 10-12. Each individual volume in this impressively informative series features a world map; guided reading questions to aid student comprehension; brief text sidebars; charts, graphs, editorial cartoons, and maps; discussion questions fostering critical thinking; an annotated list of organizations to contact; a periodical bibliography fo reach chapter; a bibliography; and a subject index. Also available individually (Library Bound: Trade $31.70 - School/Library $36.96; Paperback: Trade $31.70 - $25.36; eBook: Trade $46.20 - School/Library $36.96), the six titles launching this informative and thought-provoking new series include Extreme Weather Events; Hate Crimes; Honor Killings; Migrants and Refugees; Revisiting Nuclear Power; Tech Giants and Digital Domination.

Zoom In On Maps
Enslow Publishing LLC
101 West 23rd Street, Suite #240, New York, NY 10011
www.enslow.com
9780766092396, Trade $158.20 - School/Library $118.65, 7 Volumes

Maps are an ancient and effective information delivery system showing people how to get to where they want to go, presenting viewable data on everything from weather patterns to political patterns, to traffic patterns across a particular area. Drawing on both analogy and digital mapping, the seven volumes comprising this introduction to maps and mapping include Zoom in on Climate Maps; Zoom in on Physical Maps; Zoom in on Political Maps; Zoom in on Road Maps; Zoom in on Satellite and Street Maps; Zoom in on topographic Maps; Zoom in on Weather Maps. Each individual title features activity and research prompts to engage young readers in grade K-4 in learning the essential skill of map reading; full color photos of maps giving students a direct reference for learning; 'Words to Know' and 'Learn More' sections that enhance student vocabulary; how to use maps to solve problems, measure distance, recognize land features, interpret data, and plan trip routes. While especially and unreservedly recommended for elementary school and community library collections, it should be noted for parents that each title comprising the "Zoom In On Maps" series can be obtained individually: Trade $22.60 - School/Library $16.95.

Our Favorite Shapes
Gareth Stevens Publishing
111 East 14th Street, Suite 349, New York, NY 10003
www.garethstevens.com
9781538212868, Trade $135.60 - School/Library $101.70, 6 Volumes

Like the alphabet and basic numbers, shapes are a core and fundamental concept that preschool and kindergarten children must master. "Our Favorite Shapes" is a new series from Gareth Stevens Publishing that focuses specifically on seven basic shapes: We Love Circles!; We Love Diamonds!; We Love Ovals!; We Love Rectangles!; We Love Squares!; and We Love Triangles!. Each of this 24 page books are profusely illustrated with 'real world' photographs; have a reading level appropriate for and strengthening the vocabularies of beginning readers; emphasize shapes in a manner and context that is in full accord with the Common Core mathematics Standards. Of special note is that each title in this outstanding series has a final activity that will aid in assessing the students understanding of its particularly featured shape. Homeschooling families should note that each of the seven titles comprising "Our Favorite Shapes" is also available individually: Trade $22.60 - Schools/Libraries $16.95.

Influential First Ladies
The Child's World, Inc.
1980 Lookout Drive, Mankato, MN 56003
www.childsworld.com
9781503827004, Trade $342.00 - School/Library $239.40, 12 Volumes

The First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the informal but accepted title held by the wife of the President of the United States, concurrent with the president's term of office. Although the first lady's role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the nation. Since the early 20th century, the First Lady has been assisted by official staff, now known as the Office of the First Lady and headquartered in the East Wing of the White House. "Influential First Ladies" is a new library bound series from The Child's World that superbly showcases twelve 'First Ladies': Abigail Adams: Champion for Women; Barbara Bush: Literary Champion; Betty Ford: Women's Rights and Health Advocate; Claudia 'Lady Bird' Johnson: Environmental Protector; Dolley Madison: Hostess and Patriot; Eleanor Roosevelt: Progressive Reformer; Hillary Clinton: Ground-Breaking Politician; Jacqueline Kennedy: Cultural Icon; Martha Washington: Loyal Public Servant; Melania Trump: Champion for Youth; Michelle Obama: Health Advocate; Nancy Regan: Drug Crusade. Each 24 page library bound title has a Grade 3 reading level; a Grades 3-6 interest level; illustrated with color and B/W historical photographs; informative captions; a phonetic glossary; a primary-source text; a section of 'Fast Facts'; a listing of suggested web sites; a table of contents; and a 'Think-About-It' section to encourage critical thinking. While especially and unreservedly recommended for both elementary school and community library collections, it should be noted that each title in this outstanding series is also available individually: Trade $28.50 - School/Library $19.95.

Great Military Leaders
Cavendish Square
243 - 5th Avenue, Suite 136, New York, NY 10016
www.cavendishsq.com
9781502626858, Trade $365.12 - School/Library $255.60, 8 Volumes

Eight legendary military leaders are showcased in the Cavendish Square 'Great Military Leaders' series. These include Alexander the Great; Genghis Khan; George Washington; Hannibal; Joan of Arc; Montezuma II; Napoleon Bonaparte; and Sun Tzu. Each individual volume features maps to accompany the descriptions of military campaigns; biographies of famous (and infamous) world leaders; primary source information; and how the mythology of each leader has developed and changed over time. Ideal as supplemental readings for World History curriculums for grades 9 to 12, the 'Great Military Leaders' series is unreservedly recommended for both school and community library collections. It should be noted that each volume can be individually acquired (Trade $45.64 - School/Library $31.95).

The World of Pokemon
Buffy Silverman
The Lerner Publishing Group
241 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1607
www.lernerbooks.com
9781512483109, $30.65, Library Binding, 32pp, www.amazon.com

"The World of Pokemon" shows how to capture a Pokemon, tells the story of Satoshi Tajiri who was the man who turned his fascination with insects into one of the world's biggest video game franchises. "The World of Pokemon" is a compendium of information about Pokemon games, movies, and TV shows, and all about the culture surrounding them, including people who like to dress up as Pokemon! Young readers ages 7 to 10 will have more fun than Pikachu winning a battle as they learn about this global gaming phenomenon. While unreservedly recommended for both elementary school and community library gaming book collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The World of Pokemon" is also available in a paperback edition (9781541511996, $9.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99). Also very highly recommended in the Lerner Publishing Group's 'The World of Gaming' series by Buffy Silverman are "The World of Angry Birds"; "The World of Mario Bros."; and "The World of Minecraft".

Look At Me! / Mirame!
Rachel Fuller, author/illustrator
Child's Play (International) Ltd.
9781786281524 $4.99 www.childs-play.com

"Look At Me! / Mirame!" is a charming English /Spanish board book for toddlers about the experience of welcoming a new baby brother or sister. Illustrated with a family of brown skin tones, pictures and narrative focus on the two siblings, one younger, and one still a little baby, in everyday situations. The older child can go potty by himself, but baby must be helped and changed. Baby uses a much smaller scale and must be helped to swing and play on the playground. The older boy can feed himself, help get groceries, paint his own pictures, and play. All these activities are mirrored for the baby sibling, who participates with adult assistance. One game they can play together is Peek-a Boo! There are still plenty of cuddles and lots of love for both the older brother and the baby from both parents. From the New Baby board book series, "Look At Me / Mirame!" is an encouraging reading experience for older toddler siblings who are adjusting to the birth of a new member of the family. Other titles in the "New Baby" series that are also highly recommended include: "Waiting for Baby / Esperando al bebe (9781786281500)," "My New Baby / Mi nuevo bebe (9781786281517)," and "You and Me/ Tu y yo (9781786281531)," all written and illustrated by Rachel Fuller.

Pina Publishing
1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2200, Seattle, WA 98101
www.pinapublishing.com

Little does an adorable puppy named Lindie Lou know of the adventures that await her in Jeanne Bender's "Lindie Lou: Flying High" (9781943493005, $12.00, PB, 126pp); "Lindie Lou: Up In Space" (9781943493180, $12.00, PB, 172pp); and "Lindie Lou: Harvest Time" (9781943493142, $12.00, PB, 236pp). Young children will enjoy joining Lindie Lou as she flies on an airplane for the very first time, visits the Space Needle, or celebrates on an organic farm. Original, entertaining, and thoroughly 'kid friendly' in tone, storytelling style, and illustrated presentation, the Lindie Lou adventure series is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library collections for young readers.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design