""Historical Game Changers" doesn't have the teasing selling power of "Heartthrobs," but it may nail John Wilkes Booth more squarely. (Nonfiction. 12 & up)"
A hit-or-miss selection of notable personalities who made a dent in history.
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"Cat lovers will be sorry to see Anton and Cecil suffer indifference and outright abuse from sailors and pirates, as well as facing other dangers, but they're still not likely to care overmuch about the eventual resolution. (Fantasy. 9-12)"
This collaboration by a respected author of literary fiction and her niece, an educator and writer of poetry for children, is an odd mix of talking cats, oceangoing adventure and mystical events.
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"Young ones will want to join in on this monster romp again and again, since it is all so silly, comforting and familiar. (Picture book. 2-4)"
The menagerie of monsters from Yolen and Murphy's previous pairing (Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters, 2011) returns for an adventure at the playground.
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Peck returns to the parallel mouse society he introduced in the effervescent Secrets at Sea (2011) for a rodent's-eye view of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
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"The attempt to present science in a humorous way is a well-meaning one, but the effect seems rather lame for today's visually sophisticated kids and might work better as an app than a book. (Picture book/poetry. 6-10)"
For kids who love bugs! Gruesome but fascinating photomicrographs of 14 different bugs are the focus of this unusual science book that combines poetry, line drawings and scientific facts to bring bugs alive for curious children.
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"Though the title and cover are promising, the writing is muddled with too many conveniently trumped-up figures. Stick with any of John Bellairs' books for a skillful gothic tale. (Fantasy. 8-12)"
What is behind the bookcase? A black tunnel that is a secret portal to an adventure for a girl and her younger brother.
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"By turns poignant and downright scary, this is a solid addition for stouthearted middle-grade readers. (Short stories/horror. 8-12)"
As the title indicates, within this collection readers will find some ten haunted abodes, including a fun house that is not so much fun, a dollhouse, a Japanese tea house and a doghouse, among others.
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"This story is complete in itself, but the ending promises more adventure to come. (Guide to People, Places, and Things) (Adventure. 7-10)"
When his Aunt Phil flies to the western Sudan to recapture an escaped basilisk, she takes Nathaniel Fludd along, reassuring him that he is only to "watch and learn."
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"Older brothers and sisters will easily identify with this jaunty heroine and profit from her realizations—an excellent choice for a new older sibling. (Picture book. 3-6)"
"Straightforward sentences, chronological narrative, short chapters and Murphy's plentiful black-and-white illustrations make this appropriate for middle-grade readers looking for a series to grow with. (Fantasy. 8-12)"
When his parents are declared lost at sea in 1928, ten-year-old Nate is sent to live with a cousin, who whisks him off to Arabia to watch the fiery death and rebirth of a phoenix.
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"An adequate addition to library collections that don't have Lee Bennett Hopkins's My Mane Catches the Wind (1979) or other better volumes. (Picture book/poetry. 5-9)"
"Gallop-o-gallop-o-gallop along / singing-o-singing-o-singing a song / swift over hills, carry me there / the wind on my face / the sky in my hair."
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"Using acrylic, watercolor and gel medium, Murphy creates simple, angular figures and soft, rich backgrounds, a combination that perfectly accentuates the folksy charisma of Bateman's story. (Picture book. 5-9)"
Like her Leprechaun Gold (1998), Bateman's latest exudes Irish flair.
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"In time, both families forget how much trouble their babies were, which, Myers notes, "is usually how it goes"—a point worth making to readers with new sibs of their own. (Picture book. 6-8)"
An evil witch outsmarts herself in this warm-hearted twist on the "changeling child" motif.
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"A little kookaburra bird appears on most pages, and Matilda is tucked into bed with her toy bear—a koala bear, of course. (Picture book. 3-8)"
Matilda is an exuberant little kangaroo who dances all day long, from the moment she hops out of bed straight through to bedtime, and even into the night in her dreams.
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