Reviews
School Library Journal - Miep and the Most Famous Diary: The Woman Who Rescued Anne Frank’s Diary.
This book somberly and beautifully depicts what life was like for the Franks and others who fell inside the Nazi sphere of influence during World War II. A truly valuable resource. View »
Kirkus reviews - Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon
This retelling of a Chinese legend explains why people light firecrackers, wear red, and give food offerings to celebrate Chinese New Year. In Loh-Hagan’s account, a fierce dragon named Nian ruled the land until a magical warrior’s spell forced him underground. But each spring, the spell’s… View »
School Library Journal - One Red Sock
A purple hippo puts on a red sock, but has difficulty finding a matching one in this amusing picture book. After realizing the red sock is missing, the hippo searches her sock drawer, finding several other socks of different colors, but none of them match hers. Finally, she pulls out a… View »
Kirkus Reviews - Common Threads: Adam's Day at the Market
In this nearly wordless picture book, young Adam wanders away from his parents at the busy outdoor market, but diverse strangers help him find them again.Brown-skinned Adam wanders through Eastern Market with his mom, a dark-skinned woman wearing a blue hijab and long tunic, and his dad, a… View »
Kirkus Reviews - Someplace to Call Home
The year 1933 is a rough time for three kids to be on their own, but the Turners prove themselves capable. The rest of their family has passed away or disappeared, and 12-year-old Hallie, 16-year-old Tom, and 6-year-old Benny are driving west looking for work when their car breaks down on… View »
Publisher's Weekly - A Boy Like You
Excerpt: The story is directed squarely at boys, but Harren’s illustrations show representations of all kinds of kids and families. Being a boy can mean many things, Murphy suggests, but being “a smart boy, a brave boy, a kind boy” are the first important steps toward manhood. View »
Kirkus Reviews Starred Review - Miep and the Most Famous Diary
When the Nazis came for Anne Frank’s family and the other Jewish friends who had been hidden in the secret annex, Anne left behind the diary that would be read and cherished around the world.It was Miep Gies, with help from her husband and a few others, who hid and cared for them for two… View »
Kirkus Reviews - Invisible Lizard in Love
The forest is richly colored, and the chameleons change suit to match, with their independently rotating eyeballs taking everything in. Josephine even turns into a starry night to mimic their evening under the sky.Love conquers all, including a pair of initially snippy chameleons. View »
Kirkus Reviews - Can U Save the Day?
The vowels raise havoc when they quit the farm after being insulted by the consonants. There are five vowels (well, sometimes six or seven) while there are 21 consonants (well, sometimes 19 or 20). B seems to think that makes consonants better and more important. “The letter B stuck out his… ”/reviews/406">View »
Kirkus Reviews - A Boy Like You
The title answers a question: What does the world need?In simple, aphorism-laced language, Murphy offers a positive vision of masculinity that focuses on what he dubs " ‘inside’ strength"—the sort that privileges kindness, respect for self and for others, knowing when to ask for help, and… View »