Posts by Janie Cheaney
The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
“Green Magic” lurks in an ivy-covered house, in this delightful MG fantasy.
Read MorePB Roundup: Your Place in the Universe, If You Came to Earth, and I Talk Like a River
Three critically-acclaimed picture books tackle big subjects like the size of the universe, the scope of humanity, and the power of words
Read More*Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
In this one-of-a-kind, richly evocative memoir, “Everything Sad” disguises an otherworldly joy
Read MoreRaising Lumie by Joan Bauer
In Raising Lumie, a grieving girl gets a new family and a dog-owning dream fulfilled.
Read MoreThe Nerviest Girl in the World by Melissa Wiley
Ranch girl Pearl discovers the brand-new technology of moving pictures in this fun read for early middle-graders.
Read MoreFighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley: a Discussion
Fighting Words takes on a difficult topic with a feisty, flawed, brave protagonist.
Read MorePippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun
Pippa Park tries to “raise her game” at an exclusive private school, in this middle-grade retelling of Great Expectations.
Read MoreThe Magic in Changing Your Stars by Leah Henderson
An aspiring dancer has a chance to “change the stars” for his grandfather when he is transported back to 1930s Harlem.
Read MoreIsaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn’s life has been trending downward, but the power of words and the discipline of work may pull him back up.
Read MoreComics: Easy as ABC! by Ivan Brunetti
Comics: Easy as ABC! is an accessible introduction to drawing for young artists, but the content includes one big misstep.
Read MoreSuperman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang
This latest iteration of the Superman legend by Gene Luen Yang includes familiar faces, social commentary, and historical context–also one big misstep.
Read MoreThe Turnover by Mike Lupica
The Turnover uses basketball as the background for a boy’s crisis of faith in his grandfather
Read MoreBeast by Watt Key
Beast: Face-to-Face with the Florida Bigfoot is a chilling, gripping tale of survival in the unknown.
Read MoreRunning Wild: Awesome Animals in Motion by Galadriel Watson
Running Wild gives readers ages 6-10 new appreciation for the immense variety and careful design evidenced in animal motion.
Read MoreCubs in the Tub by Candace Fleming
Cubs in the Tub is a warm-hearted true story that will be irresistible to baby animal lovers
Read MoreOrphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko
Orphan Eleven combines historical events and a timeless theme to craft an engrossing story of orphans running away to join the circus!
Read MoreShakespeare at the Movies
Almost all of Shakespeare’s plays have been filmed at one time or another. Here’s a list of wide-release features.
Read MoreBox by Carole Boston Weatherford
Box is the remarkable true story of one man’s bold plan to free himself from slavery.
Read MoreNot All Stories Are Created Equal
The “Power of Story” is an article of faith among authors, librarians, and other bookish people. But beware its limitations.
Read MoreShirley & Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz
Shirley & Jamila are an odd couple who learn a lot about friendship while solving neighborhood crimes.
Read MoreHow to Be a Person by Catherine Newman
How to Be a Person humorously introduces middle-graders to life skills both practical and thoughtful.
Read MoreA Ceiling Made of Eggshells by Gail Carson Levine
A Ceiling Made of Eggshells is popular author Gail Carson Levine’s tribute to her own Sephardic-Jewish heritage
Read MoreDaring Darleen, Queen of the Screen by Anne Nesbet
Daring Darleen, heroine of Saturday serials, stumbles into a real-life adventure in this clever saga from the early days of photoplays.
Read MoreMy Name Is Tani by Tanitoluwa Adewumi
My Name is Tani is the hopeful (and true) story of a young boy who finds a place and a passion in America.
Read More*When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohammed
The new graphic novel When Stars Are Scattered brings the refugee experience into sharp yet sympathetic focus
Read MoreThe Asterix Series, American-style
The now-classic Asterix comic series receives an American gloss in a new edition published by Papercutz
Read MoreWink by Rob Harrell
Wink, a highly-praised novel for middle-graders, offers a realistic yet engaging look at coping with cancer.
Read MoreA World of Discovery by James Brown and Richard Platt
A World of Discovery introduces pre-teens to the basics of technology and invention.
Read MoreEverybody Counts by Kristin Roskifte
Everybody Counts is more than a counting book: it includes big numbers and big thoughts.
Read MoreThe One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
The One and Only Bob stars the cynical, lovable mutt from Katherine Applegate’s 2012 Newbery-award-winning novel.
Read MoreStand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim
Yumi Chung faces the classic teen dilemma: honor your parents or follow your dream?
Read MoreDragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
Dragon Hoops turns a high-school basketball championship season into a close-up look at life’s changes and choices.
Read MoreAmerican Lives: a Picture Book Roundup
For Spacious Skies, Most Wanted, and Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word feature the promise of the American experiment
Read MoreThe Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman
The Blackbird Girls takes readers to the shadow of Chernobyl and the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
Read MoreGold Rush Girl by Avi
An independent-minded young teen seeks adventure and finds maturity in Gold Rush Girl.
Read MoreThe Littlest Voyageur by Margi Preus
A Canadian red squirrel takes to the river in The Littlest Voyageur, a charming animal story by a Newbery honor author.
Read MoreMy Fourth of July by Jerry Spinelli
My Fourth of July by Jerry Spinelli, illustration by Larry Day. Holiday House, 2019, 38 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 3-7 What’s the best day of summer—maybe even the best day of the whole year? For our nameless protagonist, it’s the Fourth. Banners waving, kids marching, horns blowing—all of it…
Read MoreA Ben of All Trades by Michael J. Rosen
A Ben of All Trades: the Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin by Michael J. Rosen, illustrated by Matt Tavares. Candlewick, 2020, 30 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 5-10 Ben likes books because they are all different. He does not like candlemaking because they are all the same. But candlemaking…
Read MoreWe Could Be Heroes by Margaret Finnegan
We Could Be Heroes puts together two “neurodiverse” youngsters in a misguided quest that results in real friendship.
Read MoreStamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Stamped, a young-reader version of Ibram Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning, is an engaging but one-sided picture of racism in America’s past.
Read MoreShow Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
Show Me a Sign explores a little-known chapter of American history from the perspective of a Deaf protagonist.
Read MoreThe Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd
Growing dragons in Grandad’s garden leads to predictable hijinks in this light-hearted series opener.
Read MoreWays to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
Ryan Hart, a next-generation Ramona Quimby, makes sunshine out of challenges in this warm-hearted series opener.
Read MoreHey, Water! by Antoinette Portis
Hey, Water! pictures the gift of water in all its forms, providing an accessible explanation of the water cycle for preschoolers.
Read MorePrairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
Prairie Lotus, by Newbery author Linda Sue Park, offers a hopeful look at overcoming racism in the 19th-century American west.
Read MorePirates by David Harrison and Dan Burr
In Pirates, a collection of poems by David Harrison, adventure on the high seas was only a small part of life. The rest was boredom, bullets, and brutality.
Read MoreTwo Years before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
Published 180 years ago, Two Years before the Mast remains a vivid portrait of 19th-century seafaring in early America.
Read MoreDear Class of 2020
What opportunities are opening up for graduating seniors in a pandemic world?
Read MoreLongitude by Dava Sobel
Longitude, a recommended book for our “Hope on the Horizon” summer reading challenge, is a classic true tale of persistence rewarded.
Read MoreRetro Reads: The Velveteen Rabbit and *Edward Tulane
The classic story of the Velveteen Rabbit and more recent story of Edward Tulane demonstrate the nature of true love.
Read MoreWhen Is It Okay to Mess with the Classics?
An upcoming retelling of Jane Eyre seems, at the very least, ill-advised. But why? Just because of our prejudices?
Read MoreMañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Mañanaland presents a dreamlike Latin-American landscape and a young boy taking a giant step toward adulthood.
Read MoreHere in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker
“The Real World” poses a creative challenge to a pair of enterprising middle-graders with conflicting motives.
Read MoreWhy Is Writing So Hard to Teach?
How I didn’t know what I didn’t know Back in the early years of the 1980s, I took up the challenge offered by Dr. James Dobson and his personal homeschool guru, Dr. Raymond Moore. Reading Dr. Moore’s book, Home Grown Kids, convicted me as no words outside of the Bible ever have: I needed to…
Read MoreVillage of Scoundrels by Margi Preus
Village of Scoundrels fictionalizes a true tale of heroism from World War II.
Read MoreThings Seen from Above by Shelley Pearsall
For much needed perspective in middle-school, try looking at “Things seen from above.”
Read More*Epic by Tim Challies
Epic takes readers around the globe tracking down fascinating artifacts of Church history.
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Heart of Gold Bible
NIV Heart of Gold Bible. Zondervan, 2019, 1088 pages (9 point font) Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Though “girls” is not in the title, this edition is clearly aimed at girls, from the gold-hearty cover to the back-cover heading: “Calling all daughters of the King!” And all the pink-tinted pages…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Ultimate Bible for Girls
NIV Ultimate Bible for Girls. Zonderban, 2019, 1504 pages (9 point font) Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-12 The Ultimate Bible for Girls is actually a re-packaging of the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, and the content hasn’t changed much, if at all. In-text features include “Treasure This” (key verses), “Dream Girl” (imagining…
Read MoreBible Review: NIV Artisan Collection Bible for Girls
NIV Artisan Collection Bible for Girls. Zondervan, 2019, 1600 pages (9.9 point font) Reading level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-up The title is a little suspect—I don’t see anything especially artisan-y about it—but it makes an attractive “gift Bible” or “journaling Bible.” There are no in-text features or unique study materials, just…
Read MoreBible Review: NIrV Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids
NIrV Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids. Zondervan, 2019, 1632 pages (8 point font) Reading Level: 3rd grade Recommended for: Ages 4-8 This new edition of the NIrV is marketed as a transition Bible from storybooks to the actual text, and that seems about right. Almost 750 full-color illustrations of varying sizes draw attention to familiar…
Read MoreBible Review: CSB Seven Arrows
CSB Seven Arrows: the How-to-Study Bible for Students. B&H Kids, 2019, 1350 pages (9.5-point font) Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 13-18 “Seven Arrows” is an approach to Bible study developed mainly (I think) by Matt Rogers, of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. From that angle, this Bible is well-titled. All in-text features are…
Read MoreCSB Heart of God Study Bible for Teens
CSB Heart of God Teen Study Bible. Baker, 2019, 1712 pages (9-point font) Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-18 The theme of this teen Bible comes through loud and clear: the Bible is a book about God, and rather than starting with our feelings and responses to it, the place to begin…
Read MoreExploring the Bible Together by David Murray
Exploring the Bible Together launches families on a year-long journey through Scripture in a way that’s both practical and effective.
Read MoreA Family Easter
What were you doing last February? Possibly, after Valentine’s Day passed and stores cleared their shelves for St. Patrick’s, you were seeing some Easter chicks and ducks, lilies and daffodils peeking out from the green. You might have started working on your church’s annual Easter cantata, or (if you’re a traditionalist) thinking about for new…
Read More*Jesus Rose for Me by Jared Kennedy
Jesus Rose for Me expands on The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible to help young children rejoice in the Resurrection
Read MoreFacts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex
Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots offers an accessible introduction to a controversial subject.
Read More*Honeybee by Candace Fleming
The brief but complex life of a honeybee literally unfolds in these gorgeously illustrated pages.
Read More*The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming
From hero to pariah: the life of Charles Lindbergh is a fascinating study.
Read MoreTapping into the Library
The library is closed–time to kick in to Overdrive!
Read MoreScary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian Heidicker
Scary Stories for Young Foxes, a 2020 Newbery Honor Book, may be more disturbing than encouraging.
Read MoreAggie Morton, Mystery Queen by Marthe Jocelyn
The Aggie Morton series introduces young readers to a young Agatha Christie, already solving crimes in her seaside home town.
Read MoreThe Unteachables by Gordon Korman
The Unteachables rounds up a class full of misfits and molds them into a prize-winning team.
Read MoreOrdinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes: a Discussion
Betsy and Janie discuss the tough truths of Ordinary Hazards: a Memoir.
Read MoreSunnyside Plaza by Scott Simon
The mentally-challenged adults of Sunnyside Plaza step out of their comfort zone to solve a mystery.
Read MoreTwo Graphic Novel Memoirs: Cub and Best Friends
Shannon Hale continues her middle-grade memoir with Best Friends; Cynthia Copeland tells how she became a writer in Cub.
Read MoreIn the Hall With the Knife by Dana Peterfreund
In the Hall With the Knife kicks off a mystery series for teens based on the venerable board game, Clue.
Read MoreFrom the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Zoe Washington’s peaceful life is disturbed by word from her incarcerated father–who may be innocent. From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks. HarperCollins (Katherine Tegen), 2020, 291 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Zoe’s big ambition is to win a spot on the Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge,…
Read MoreLeaving Lymon by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Leaving Lymon is the heartfelt story of a child who feels abandoned by irresponsible parents.
Read MoreChina through Time by DK Publishing
China through Time offers a unique perspective of social life over centuries
Read MoreEverything Awesome about Dinosaurs by Mike Lowery
A factual and tongue-in-cheek resource for dinosaur fans, with a distinct evolutionary slant.
Read MoreTrees: a Rooted History by Socha and Grazhowski
Trees: a Rooted History explores the wonderful variety of tree life in a lavishly illustrated compendium.
Read MoreAlaska Adventures
The newest movie version of The Call of the Wild opens today. Here’s a roundup of books we’ve reviewed about the Alaska Gold Rush and the “last frontier.”
Read MoreBy and By: Charles Albert Tindley by Carole Boston Weatherford
Charles Albert Tindley rose from abject poverty to preach to thousands and write the anthem of the Civil Rights movement.
Read MoreThe Oldest Student by Rita Lorraine Hubbard
“The Oldest Student” tells the inspiring story of a centenarian who finally found the time to learn
Read MoreAll in a Drop by Lori Alexander
All in a Drop communicates the wonder and excitement of the Scientific Revolution in this engaging biography of the inventor of the microscope.
Read MoreGirl Under a Red Moon by Da Chen
Girl under a Red Moon depicts life under the worst totalitarian government in modern history.
Read MoreIt Rained Warm Bread by Moishe Moskowitz
The recollections of a 13-year-old Holocaust survivor find poetic expression in It Rained Warm Bread
Read MoreAll the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey
A foster child with a troubled past dares to hope for “Impossible Things” to change her course.
Read MoreAllies by Alan Gratz
Allies is a fast, riveting read that communicates the urgency, complexity, and drama of D-Day, the turning point of World War II.
Read MoreGenesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
Genesis, a black girl, struggles with self-image, much of which is fostered by her own family.
Read MoreSomeplace to Call Home by Sandra Dallas
Three motherless siblings seek “someplace to call home” in Depression-era Kansas
Read MoreFront Row Seat at the ALA Youth Media Awards
The 2020 Youth Media Awards honored some great books for kids.
Read More2020 Newbery Buzz #5: Look Both Ways
Janie and Betsy conclude our Newbery disccusion series with Look Both Ways, this year’s title from prolific author Jason Reynolds.
Read More2020 Newbery Buzz #4: My Jasper June and Pay Attention, Carter Jones
Janie and Gina Dalfonzo discuss two more contenders for this year’s Newbery Award
Read MoreNewbery Roundup #2: All the Greys, This Was Our Pact, A Good Kind of Trouble, To Night Owl from Dogfish
Continuing our survey of possible contenders for this year’s Newbery award.
Read More2020 Newbery Buzz #1: Beverly, Right Here and Coyote Sunrise
Janie and Pamela discuss two middle-grade novels about girls on the run–and both in the running for this year’s Newbery Medal.
Read MoreNewbery Roundup #1: The Line Tender, Tristan Strong, and 1919
First in a series of roundup posts featuring contenders for this year’s Newbery gold.
Read MoreSong for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Song for a Whale takes us into the world of a Deaf girl on a life-defining mission.
Read MoreTorpedoed by Deborah Heligman
Torpedoed is a gripping saga of disaster, heartbreak, and heroism on the open sea.
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