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WHEN I GROW UP

From the Who's That? series

A pleasant introduction to the concept of careers.

Little ones explore the different jobs they may aspire to.

In this lift-the-flap book, little readers are asked "Who's that?" and then given a few clues to who could be under the flap. Upon lifting the flap, readers are presented with an image of an adult and that person’s profession. These jobs are quite varied, ranging from teachers to construction workers to doctors. The book's final double-page spread describes the importance of all the jobs and how they all come together to make a community work. The clues are basic enough that even very young readers will be able to make a solid guess. For example, "He is brave, wears a special suit, and drives a big red truck" can really only point to a “firefighter.” The flaps are large and sturdy and add to the illustrations when lifted. These illustrations have a cubist flair and off-primary color palette that set them apart from typical board books. Skin tones are not always realistic, but they are varied, and there is careful gender distribution among the professions.

A pleasant introduction to the concept of careers. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4549-1228-6

Page Count: 16

Publisher: Sterling

Review Posted Online: Sept. 20, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016

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THE HANNAH CHRONICLES

THE ADVENTURES OF HANNAH HADLEY, GIRL SPY: THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR

A familiar story skillfully reimagined for today’s gadget-savvy youth.

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Hannah Hadley is a young special agent who must thwart a clear and present danger to the United States in Hoover’s “smart is cool” young adult novel.

Hannah Hadley might seem like most 13-year-old girls. She enjoys painting, playing with her MP3 player and spending time with friends. But that’s where the similarities end. Hadley doubles as Agent 10-1, among the youngest spies drafted into the CIA’s Div Y department. She’s joined in her missions by her 10-pound Shih Tzu, Kiwi (with whom she communicates telepathically), and her best friend Tommie Claire, a blind girl with heightened senses. When duty calls, the group sneaks to a hidden command center located under the floor of Hadley’s art studio. Her current mission, aptly named “Operation Farmer Jones,” takes her to a secluded farmhouse in Canada. There, al-Qaida terrorists have gathered the necessary ingredients for a particularly devastating nuclear warhead that they intend to fire into America. The villains are joined by the Mad Madam of Mayhem, a physicist for hire whom the terrorists force to complete the weapon of mass destruction. With Charlie Higson’s Young James Bond series and the ongoing 39 Clues novellas, covert missions and secret plans are the plots of choice in much of today’s fiction for young readers, and references to the famed 007 stories abound in Hoover’s tale. But while the plot feels familiar, Hoover’s use of modern slang—albeit strained at times—and gadgets such as the iTouch appeal to today’s youth. Placing girls in adult situations has been a mainstay since Mildred Wirt Benson first introduced readers to Nancy Drew in The Secret of the Old Clock, but Hannah Hadley is like Nancy Drew on steroids. Both are athletic, score well in their studies and have a measure of popularity. Hadley, however, displays a genius-level intellect and near superhuman abilities in her efforts to roust the terrorists—handy skills for a young teen spy who just so happens to get the best grades in school.

A familiar story skillfully reimagined for today’s gadget-savvy youth.

Pub Date: Nov. 15, 2010

ISBN: 978-0615419688

Page Count: 239

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2011

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NEW YORK BABY

Pretentious.

These babies are too posh for their own good.

In this smug review of daily life in the Big Apple, including its tourist attractions, the developmental mark is missed entirely. A little girl holds her mother's hand as they stroll through the art museum: “We say MoMA when we really mean Mama.” Less obscurely, a four-panel spread depicts a babe in stroller through changing seasons; the snow piles high and a scarf covers the child's face during the blustery winter. The food-cart experience is represented by a bagel, pizza and pretzel, glossed with a gush: “And we have fun learning our shapes!” In a nod to the city's diversity, youngsters greet each other in a host of languages. Busy pops of bold colors emphasize the hustle and bustle. A darkened cityscape seems to promise rest, but one cry ("Waaaa!") lights up the sky. “New York is the city that never sleeps, but New York babies do…sometimes.” Two concluding pages of suggested parent-child activities overwhelm in their attempt to educate.

Pretentious. (Board book. 2-3)

Pub Date: April 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-9838121-4-2

Page Count: 22

Publisher: Duo Press

Review Posted Online: June 13, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012

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