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Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS



Children's and Teen: 6 - 8 years old

Cover art for PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 31, 2012
PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS
by Diane Zahler
"A pleasant magical outing. (Fairy tale/fantasy. 8-12)"
In her third fairy-tale novelization, Zahler (The Thirteenth Princess, 2010, and A True Princess, 2011) dips into Hans Christian Andersen's "The Wild Swans" and mixes in a bit of Celtic folklore. Read full book review >
Cover art for ANOTHER BROTHER
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 31, 2012
Kirkus Star ANOTHER BROTHER
by Matthew Cordell, illustrated by Matthew Cordell
"This is not just another new-baby book: Cordell's humorous text and mischievously silly, expressive cartoon art will have readers bleating to read it again and again. (Picture book. 4-8)"
Davy, a little sheep, has trouble adjusting to the arrival of not one but 12 baby brothers in this humorous twist on the tried and true new sibling theme. Read full book review >
Cover art for DUMPLING DAYS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 2, 2012
DUMPLING DAYS
by Grace Lin, illustrated by Grace Lin
"Deftly weaving together historical anecdotes and simple line illustrations, Lin once again touches the heart of growing up in a multicultural family. (Fiction. 8-12)"
Pacy and her family travel to Taiwan for one month to celebrate her grandmother's 60th birthday, giving this Chinese-American girl another lens through which she can examine her identity. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE YIPPY, YAPPY YORKIE IN THE GREEN DOGGY SWEATER
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 1, 2012
THE YIPPY, YAPPY YORKIE IN THE GREEN DOGGY SWEATER
by Debbie Macomber, illustrated by Sally Anne Lambert, by Mary Lou Carney
"This yippy, yappy Yorkie is just another tired puppy in search of a plot. (Picture book. 4-7)"
Macomber and Carney team up for their second entry in the Blossom Street Kids series, this time focusing on an unwanted move to a new neighborhood for a girl named Ellen and her Yorkshire terrier named Baxter. Read full book review >
Cover art for A NEW YEAR'S REUNION
CHILDREN'S
Released: Dec. 27, 2011
A NEW YEAR'S REUNION
by Yu Li-Qiong, illustrated by Zhu Chen-Liang
"Sensitive, restrained--but festive too…with a closing note that China has over 100 million migrant workers, many separated from their families except during the holiday. (Picture book. 6-8)"
Chinese New Year brings a young family joyously but all-too-briefly back together in this poignant import. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE NEW KID
CHILDREN'S
Released: Dec. 13, 2011
THE NEW KID
by Mavis Jukes
"Quiet humor with dashes of goofiness may offset its problems, but Carson's tale will still work better as a read-aloud than as an independent read. (Fiction. 7-10)"
Being the "new kid" in the middle of a school year means all sorts of new experiences for 8-year-old Carson Blum. Read full book review >