Latest news, reviews, and honors:

Kirkus Reviews awards Karen Lynn Williams' A Beach Tail with a starred review in its February 15, 2010 issue:

"While Greg and his dad enjoy a beach day, Dad sets two rules: "Don't go in the water / and don't leave Sandy," a lion Greg has drawn in the sand. As the little boy continues drawing the lion's tail, he discovers myriad items along the shore. Williams's rhythmic, onomatopoeic Swish-swoosh of the waves and the clear, descriptive text transport readers into Greg's experiences, which range from spotting a "gooey purple jellyfish" to watching a "tiny ghost crab / scurry sideways into his dark, round hole." Cooper's mastery with pastels results in a grainy, sun-washed effect that conjures a hot seaside day. Most stunning are the endearing, intimate close-ups of Greg immersed in artistic play. Children will relate to his adventure, which pivots on the moment he realizes he has lost sight of his dad. But a winning combination of good memory and self-reliance lead to a most satisfactory ending. Scoop up this tale for its strength as a unique beach story and for its warm portrayal of an African-American son and father enjoying the outdoors."

Kirkus Reviews awards Vicki Wittenstein's Planet Hunter with a starred review in its January 15, 2010 issue:

"Colorfully illustrated with photographs, diagrams and artists' renderings, this description of a scientist's work concentrates on this relatively new branch of astronomy. Debut author Wittenstein includes chapters on Marcy's background and preparation, the techniques he and others use and the history of extrasolar planet discovery. Sidebars and full-page explanations, set off by a differently colored background, introduce other scientists in this field and define and explain important concepts and parallel investigations. The author's explanations are clear, well organized and interestingly written with plenty of quotations from the scientists, but the material is not simple. An extensive bibliography provides books and websites for middle- and high-school readers as well as their teachers."

David Levy, discoverer of 22 comets, has this to say about Croswell's The Lives of Stars:

“A terrific book. I am enjoying The Lives of Stars immensely. It is very well written, aimed with precision at young readers, and is filled with inspiration to get these readers to enjoy the stars. I would not be surprised if a whole generation gets inspired to study astronomy after reading this wonderful book.”

The August 15, 2009 issue of Kirkus Reviews features a review of Margriet Ruurs' My School In The Rain Forest.

Accessible and inspiring, the depictions of these 13 schools are impressive in scope, and the sheer number of similarities and differences between the schools makes for a fascinating read. An excellent choice for the classroom and a strong introduction to such topics as global diversity and the importance of education.

The September 15, 2009 issue of Booklist features a review of Nancy White Carlstrom's Mama, Will It Snow Tonight?

Anyone familiar with young children will recognize their tendency to ask the same question over and over again, which can be either annoying or endearing. In this case, it’s the latter … the text’s quiet tone complements perfectly the images of a snug farm, a deep blue wintry sky, and the three sets of loving mothers and children going about their business. This simple, beautiful portrayal of anticipation answers young children’s desire for reassurance as well as information.

The October 1, 2009 issue of School Library Journal features a review of Yong Chen's A Gift.

Chen's text is spare, but, combined with his luscious watercolors, evokes a vivid portrait of rural Chinese culture. Children will find much to notice and discuss in the illustrations, both in the pictures of Amy's home ... and those of China. This is an uncomplicated introduction to the holiday and a lovely addition to most collections.

The August 1, 2009 issue of Kirkus Reviews features a review of Ken Croswell's The Lives of Stars.

“A veteran stargazer pairs a meaty disquisition on stellar types and life cycles to page-filling photos and artistic visions of stars and nebulae. . . . A stellar picture of what we know or guess about those distant lights.”