Posts by Janie Cheaney
A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky by John A. Read
A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky provides young stargazers with a handy and accessible primer.
Read MoreBIG Words for Little Astronauts by Lisa M. Gerry
BIG Words for Little Astronauts provides an introductory vocabulary for younger readers, from Astrophysics to EXtraterrestrial.
Read More*One Long Line by Loree Griffin Burns
One Long Line illustrates the scientific method through the simple observance of one species of caterpillars.
Read MoreYou’re the Boss by Brian Weisfeld and Bonnie Bader
You’re the Boss is a quick but comprehensive guide to for entrepreneurial kids interested in starting a business.
Read MoreAnswers to Dog by Pete Hautman
In Answers to Dog, an abused border collie finds a home and a boy finds a friend–multiple friends.
Read MoreArt All around Us by Xiao Situ
Art All Around Us introduces young readers to the nearly infinite variety of art and its meaning in ordinary life.
Read More*The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo
In The Hotel Balzaar, Kate DiCamillo continues her magical Norendy Tales series with intriguing hints of further connections.
Read MoreTwo Cozy Chapter Books: Beti and the Little Round House and Stella & Marigold
Two new Chapter Books about Beti, Stella, and Marigold celebrate the simple joys of seasons and siblings.
Read MoreImpossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Impossible Creatures takes readers on an unforgettable quest to re-enchant an imaginary world—that may not be as imaginary as it seems.
Read MoreThe Found Boys by S. D. Smith
The “Found Boys” find trouble in their West Virginia small town, but also deepen their understanding of grace and forgiveness.
Read MoreChronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness
Zeke, a “Lizard Nobody” in his own opinion (as well as an actual lizard) learns to stand up for himself in this hilarious and heartfelt tale.
Read MoreBetween Flowers and Bones by Carolyn Leiloglou
Between Flowers and Bones continues The Restorationists adventure series, in which members of a family are gifted with the ability to travel through works of art.
Read MoreHistory Picture Books: The Soldier’s Friend, The Painter and the President, and Star and the Maestro
Three outstanding picture books introduce young readers to Walt Whitman, Gilbert Stuart, and Mozart.
Read MoreSpirit Sleuths by Gail Jarrow
Spirit Sleuths wraps ghosts, mediums, seances, scams, and Houdini in a fascinating true tale.
Read MoreRosa by Starlight by Hilary McKay
Rosa by Starlight is a sweet story of an orphan finding her way home, with the help of a host of sympathetic cats.
Read More*The Mythmakers by John Hendrix
In The Mythmakers, John Hendrix explores an extraordinarily fruitful friendship and its roots in myth and legend.
Read More*Evangelical Heroes by Joel Beeke and Douglas Bond
Evangelical Heroes presents famous and lesser-known Christian role models throughout the modern era.
Read MoreOut of My Dreams by Sharon Draper
Melody Brooks, a 13-year-old with cerebral palsy, concludes her trilogy by stepping onto a global stage in Out of My Dreams.
Read MoreRadar and the Raft by Jeff Lantos
Radar and the Raft traces the invention of Radar through the harrowing story of a missionary family torpedoed and rescued during World War II.
Read MoreThe Best This World Can Do: Thoughts about “Not Nothing” by Gayle Forman
Christian book reviewers face certain challenges. We could review only Christian books and be reasonably assured that we won’t run into glaring content problems like profanity, sex, abuse, or LGBTQIA themes. But many such “safe” novels aren’t particularly good when it comes to character development, skillful plotting, or literary excellence. We’re looking for truth, goodness,…
Read More3 Picture Books about “How”: The Dictionary Story, The Shape of Things, and How to Make a Picture Book
Three new picture books give readers insight into words, maps, and stories.
Read MoreThe Sherlock Society by James Ponti
The Sherlock Society kicks off a fun mystery series by popular MG author James Ponti.
Read MoreThe Science of Friendship by Tanita S. Davis
In The Science of Friendship, an 8th-grade girl takes an analytical approach to keeping friends and discovers some important truths about herself.
Read MoreGrowing Up under a Red Flag by Ying Chang Compestine
Growing Up under a Red Flag introduces China’s Cultural Revolution in a way picture-book readers can understand.
Read MoreJupiter Rising by Gary Schmidt
Gary Schmidt brings a sad story (Orbiting Jupiter) to a hopeful conclusion with Jupiter Rising.
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat with William Boekestein
Back Porch Book Chat: a casual conversation about books and writing. Today we’re visiting with William Boekestein. Bill is an author best known around here for his histories of major Reformed confessions (such as the Westminster Confession of Faith), written for middle graders. He’s also a pastor, husband and father, and author most recently of…
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat: Kristyn Getty (Singer, Hymn Writer, and Author)
Kristyn is the founder, along with her husband Keith, of Getty Music. She is an award-winning hymn writer and the author of Sing! and a brand-new children’s biography of Joni Eareckson Tada (read our starred review!). Kristyn and Keith live in Nashville with their four children. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk…
Read More*Joni Eareckson Tada by Kristyn Getty
A new biography of Joni Eareckson Tada for kids demonstrates how anyone can honor God no matter the circumstances.
Read MoreFinding My Vocation by William Boekestein
Finding My Vocation offers a concise yet comprehensive guide for Christian teens considering their first steps into adulthood.
Read MoreMama’s Chicken and Dumplings by Dionna L. Mann
Mama’s Chicken and Dumplings features a winsome protagonist trying her hand at parental matchmaking.
Read More2 Books about Bikes: Birth of the Bicycle and The Running Machine
Two recent picture books about the development of the bicycle entertaining introduces kids to history they can relate to.
Read MoreLittle Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi
Little Shrew is the dutiful hero of his ordinary life in this understated chapter book.
Read MoreThe Legend of the Last Library by Frank L. Cole
The Legend of the Last Library pictures a dystopian future without books or paper, and one intrepid reader who holds the key to restoration.
Read More*Ben Washington Is the Newbie on the Block by Jasmine Mullen
Young Ben Washington, the star of this new middle-grade series, is funny, flawed, and fully relatable.
Read MoreFaker by Gordon Korman
In Faker, a boy faces critical ethical questions involving his own immediate family.
Read MoreMajestica by Sarah Tolcser
Majestica takes readers on a thrill ride through a wildlife park filled with magical creatures.
Read MoreUprising by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Uprising is the story of a Polish girl’s experience of World War II, based on the experiences of a real-life teenage resistance fighter.
Read MoreCelebrity Picture Books that Aren’t Bad, by B.J. Novak, Julie Andrews, Emma Thompson, and Spike Lee
“Legitimate children’s book authors”—that is, those who won a publishing contract through finely-honed craft and dogged persistence—have nothing but scorn for picture books with celebrity names on them. It’s a scorn tinged with envy, because all the celebs had to do (we imagine) is scribble a few pages of text and stick their name on…
Read MoreNew Chapter Book Series: Bibsy Cross and Detective Sweet Pea
Bibsy Cross, an irrepressible third-grader, and Sweet Pea, a hound with a nose for mystery, are the loveable protagonists of two new series for early readers.
Read MoreWander Lost by Laura Martin
Wander Lost features hidden worlds within a variety of board games, and twin brothers launched on a desperate rescue mission.
Read MoreAnd Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps
And Then, Boom! features a winsome protagonist who suddenly finds himself abandoned.
Read MoreWith Just One Wing by Brenda Woods
An adopted boy comes to identify with an orphaned mockingbird With Just One Wing.
Read MoreBorn Naughty by Jin Wang
Born Naughty introduces us to Jin Wang, a lively little girl growing up in Inner Mongolia.
Read MoreWho Are You? by Christina Fox
Who Are You? explores the roots of identity in a way accessible to preschoolers.
Read MoreLife After Whale by Lynn Brunelle and Jason Chin
Life after Whale pictures the phenomenon of “Whale Fall”: how the earth’s largest living creature supports thriving ecosystems for decades after death.
Read MoreThe Kid by Jeff Schill
The Kid is an old-west legend about old-west legends, featuring an 13-year-old tale-spinner, a New York tenderfoot, and a vicious desperado.
Read MoreTwo Picture Books about Dads and Kids: Up High and Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing
Up High and Big Bear and Little Bear capture some of the everyday moments in father-son relationships.
Read MoreLight and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell
Light and Air follows its 11-year-old protagonist through a rocky path of tuberculosis and family upheaval.
Read MoreMagnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
Magnolia Wu finds adventure in her own neighborhood while chasing down the owners of orphan socks. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller. Philomel, 2024, 145 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 as a read-aloud, ages 7-11 independent readers Magnolia Wu is looking forward to turning 10, “because the…
Read More*Wang Mingdao by Simonetta Carr
The latest volume of the Christian Biographies series introduces Wang Mingdao, a father of the Chinese evangelical church, to young readers.
Read MoreOrris and Timble by Kate DiCamillo
Orris and Timble are the title characters of a new chapter-book series by Kate DiCamillo about a rat, an owl, and their unlikely friendship.
Read MoreThe Misunderstandings of Charity Brown by Elizabeth Laird
Charity Brown, raised in a strict fundamentalist Christian sect, is beginning to ponder the meaning of life and God.
Read MorePicture Books about Making a Difference in Print: Amazing Abe and Holding Her Own
Two recent picture books show how trailblazing newspaper writers gave a voice to racial and ethnic minorities in America.
Read MoreTree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry
Newbery author Lois Lowry poignantly depicts a cross-generational friendship in Tree. Table. Book. Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry. Clarion (HarperCollins), 2024, 194 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-14 Sophia Henry Winslow knows she doesn’t fit in with the rest of her class, as the things she likes aren’t cool.…
Read MoreThe Selkie’s Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan
The Selkie’s Daughter presents its protagonist with a profound choice between two natures.
Read MoreMaking Sense of Dog Senses by Stephanie Gibeault
Making Sense of Dog Senses is a fascinating introduction to the way dogs experience their world.
Read MoreThis Day in History for Kids by Dan Bova
This Day in History for Kids is a year-long tour through historical events political and cultural, trivial and profound.
Read MoreAnimal Picture Books by Sy Montgomery: Brave Baby Hummingbird, Inky’s Amazing Escape, and The Seagull and the Sea Captain
Sy Montgomery goes the distance to report on wonders of the animal world.
Read MoreThe Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The Night War is the WWII story of a Jewish girl in Paris choosing to be brave when Nazis take everything from her.
Read MoreOperation: Happy by Jenni L. Walsh
Operation: Happy is the story of a girl and her dog experiencing the attack on Pearl Harbor and challenges that followed. Operation: Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond by Jenni L. Walsh. Zonderkidz, 2024, 223 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 for independent…
Read MoreFour New Picture Books by Caldecott-winning Illustrators
Four new books by Chris Raschka, Micha Archer, Elisha Cooper, and Sophie Blackall celebrate the variety of life on earth and the power of imagination.
Read MoreAnimal Albums from A to Z by CeCe Bell
Animal Albums from A to Z is an alliterative avalanche of amusing, applause-winning auditory adumbrations from the zoological zeitgeist.
Read MoreOn All Other Nights, edited by Chris Baron, Joshua Levy, and Naomi Milliner
On All Other Nights uses the perspective of 14 authors to detail every step of the Seder Meal observed by Jewish families during Passover (recipes included). On All Other Nights: A Passover Celebration in 14 Stories, edited by Chris Baron, Joshua S. Levy, and Naomi Milliner. Amulet, 2024, 278 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages…
Read MoreOlivetti by Allie Millington
Olivetti features an uncommon protagonist—a manual typewriter—with the keys to unravel a mystery.
Read MorePoetry Comics by Grant Snider
Poetry Comics offers budding poets a lot of ideas to think about in an appealing visual format.
Read MoreMaple’s Theory of Fun by Kate McMillan and Ruthie Prillaman
Maple, an analytical (and anal) 6th-grader, applies the scientific method to becoming a fun person.
Read MoreThe Wild River and the Great Dam by Simon Boughton
Follow the construction of the Depression era’s greatest building project in The Wild River and the Great Dam.
Read More*One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome
One Big Open Sky fills a history gap with the story of black settlers heading west in wagon trains.
Read More*Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
Ferris, the latest novel by two-time Newbery author Kate DiCamillo, embraces a world full of sorrow but ruled by love.
Read MoreA Few Beautiful Minutes by Kate Allen Fox
A Few Beautiful Minutes is a beautiful way to prepare for the April 8 solar eclipse.
Read MoreFinding Normal by Stephanie Faris
In Finding Normal, a 12-year-old girl must learn to make a new life when her home is made uninhabitable by a flood.
Read MoreMax in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz
Max in the House of Spies begins the story of an 11-year-old German boy who believes he has what it takes to be a secret agent for the allies.
Read MoreJuana and Lucas by Juana Medina
The Juana and Lucas chapter-book series offers entertaining glimpses into the daily life of an exuberant Colombian 8-year-old.
Read More*Houses with a Story by Seiji Yoshida
Houses with a Story offers both a fascinating tour of storybook dwellings and a springboard to imagination.
Read MorePicture Books about Latin America: Martin de Porres, A Flicker of Hope, and Water Day
Latin Americans are Americans too! Three picture books from past and present that shed light on our neighbors to the south.
Read MoreThe Observologist by Giselle Clarkson
The Observologist is a fun and fascinating introduction to wonders of creation available for viewing in your own back yard.
Read MoreAcross so Many Seas by Ruth Behar
Across So Many Seas tracks the destiny of a Jewish family exiled from Spain in 1492.
Read MoreTen Little Rabbits by Maurice Sendak
Ten Little Rabbits, published ten years after the author’s death, doesn’t detract from the Sendak legacy.
Read MoreYours from the Tower by Sally Nichols
In Yours from the Tower, three young ladies overcome obstacles and find true love in late 19th-century England.
Read More2024 Caldecott Honor Books Roundup
Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Aida Salazar, illustrated by Molly Mendoza. Scholastic, 2023, 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Recommended for: ages 8-12 Most Norte Americanos know little Mexican history, but it’s as colorful and turbulent as our own. Jovita Valdovinas, born in 1911, participated in an especially…
Read MoreEagle Drums by Nasugraq Raney Hopson
The Newbery Honor novel Eagle Drums portrays the mythical origin of a cherished tradition of the Iñupiat people.
Read MoreBetween Two Brothers by Crystal Allen
In Between Two Brothers, a boy struggles for forgiveness and reconciliation after his older brother is seriously injured in a traffic accident.
Read MoreBible Board Books: Tiny Hands and For the Bible Tells Me So
Starred reviews for new Bible board books from Crossway and P&R
Read MoreNewbery Gold: The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
The Eyes and the Impossible wins this year’s top prize for Children’s Literature.
Read MoreThe Boy, the Cloud, and the Very Tall Tale by Heather Smith
A 12-year-old works through grief in The Boy, the Cloud, and the Very Tall Tale.
Read MoreNewbery Roundup 2: Mexikid, The Swifts, and Shira and Esther’s Double-Dream Debut
This is second of our roundup series of possible Newbery contenders for 2024.
Read MoreNewbery Roundup 1: Jawbreaker, When Sea Becomes Sky, Duel
These well-reviewed novels are possible contenders for the 2024 Newbery award.
Read MoreAttacked! by Marc Favreau
Attacked! is an engaging, accessible account of the “day that shall live in infamy,” seen through the eyes of individuals on both sides.
Read MoreWho’s Got Mail? by Linda Barrett Osborne
Who’s Got Mail? is a friendly introduction to the long history of an everyday convenience.
Read MoreFamily Style by Thien Pham
In Family Style, cartoonist Thien Pham recalls his escape from Vietnam and growing up in America through a series of meals.
Read MoreWhat It’s Like to Be a Bird by David Allen Sibley
What It’s Like to Be a Bird is an endlessly browsable resource for budding birdwatchers by a well-known authority in the field.
Read MoreBack to the Bright Before by Katherin Nolte
Back to the Bright Before is a touching tale that mixes medieval imagery with a contemporary story of guilt and redemption.
Read MoreRemember Us by Jacqueline Woodson
Remember Us is a quiet novel that ponders the conundrum of change and permanence.
Read MoreTwo Picture Books on Words and Storytelling: Sholem’s Treasure and The Language of Angels
The Language of Angels and Sholem’s Treasure illustrate how great an influence word and history has had on Jewish culture.
Read MoreTomfoolery! by Michelle Markel
Tomfoolery! tells the story of Randolph Caldecott, the iconoclastic illustrator who lent his name to the prestigious award.
Read More*Saving H’Non: Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyen
Saving H’Non beautifully employs a graphic-novel format to tell the true story of an animal rescue and faithful human stewardship.
Read MoreJanie’s Favorite Books, Old and New
Janie shares her favorite books, many of which are featured in our Winter Book Fair.
Read MoreAll of a Kind Family Hanukkah by Emily Jenkins and Paul O. Zelinsky
All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah is a fun way to introduce this Jewish holiday to young children.
Read MoreThe Winterton Deception 1: Final Word by Janet Sumner Johnson
Final Word introduces the Winterton family, dictionary magnates with lots of money and plenty of secrets to hide.
Read MoreHidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust by Loic Dauvillier
Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust is a suitable introduction for grades 2-4 to this terrible chapter in history.
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