"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."

"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."

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

“[A] unique way to present counting. ... This title is perfect for interactive one-on-one reading or storytimes. A delightful addition to any counting-book collection.”

“[S]triking graphic design. Kids will love the goggle-eyed bugs and the irresistible pictures. Great potential for story times with sound effects and large pages.”

"Brilliantly sharp, close-up photos portray one season in the life of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds and their babies. The striking cover of a male in midair bringing a worm to his mate is irresistible, and the inside photos are equally engaging. ... Kirby, photographing from a blind in her own backyard, has done for the Bluebird what Nic Bishop did for The Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic, 1999). Pair the two to inspire young naturalists and photographers."

"The story itself is a carefully constructed and sweetly iced literary confection, but there’s plenty of information for non-Muslims embedded in the text, illustrations, and author’s note, and plenty of encouragement and comfort in the message for children celebrating Ramadan among those of other (or no) faiths."

"Children who have ever created anything out of a box will identify with the trio’s ingenuity. The colored pencil-and-gouache illustrations add warmth and humor to the story. Bloom’s whimsical word choice will further draw children into the story and have them rooting for the friends’ success."

“This welcome introduction to the habits of eastern bluebirds features crisp photographs of a mated pair's courtship, nesting and rearing of five babies to fledging and beyond. ... Both enlightening and invigorating.”

"Digitally created jewel-tone illustrations are airy and uncluttered against a pure white background. Shadows on the white space as [Katy] makes her highest hop above the anthill give a spread a wonderfully three-dimensional appearance. Sound effects mimic Katy’s hops, ever advancing the story, and the insect’s simplified face with round, googly eyes is especially expressive. This bright, bouncy story will be a favorite with youngsters."

“Any child who has ever built a blanket fort or played inside a box should be able to relate to these anthropomorphic animals. ... [T]his is a fun selection.”