Posts by Janie Cheaney
Animal 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.
Read More*Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by Richard Adams, James Sturm, and Joe Sutphin
The graphic-novel version of Watership Down combines the dramatic force of the original story with winning art.
Read MoreTraditional Christmas Picture Books: A Roundup
The Chimney Problem, the decorating dilemma, a pesky pigeon, and a reformed Grinch take center stage in four new Christmas picture books.
Read MoreChildren of Israel: Our Book List of Jewish Life, History, and Culture
Books to increase children’s understanding of the Jews’ unique history, culture, and relevance.
Read MoreNothing Else but Miracles by Kate Albus
Nothing Else but Miracles features a spunky and imaginative protagonist making the most of hardships on the WWII home front.
Read MoreA Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes and Jerry Pinkney
A Walk in the Woods features Jerry Pinkney’s last illustrations in a sensitive portrayal of childhood grief.
Read More*Enemies in the Orchard by Dana VanderLugt
In Enemies in the Orchard, an American girl and a German POW discover a shared humanity among the tragedy of war.
Read More*The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman
The Miracle Seed tells the amazing story of how a tree extinct for a millennium came back to life.
Read MoreThings in the Basement by Ben Hatke
Ben Hatke’s graphic novel Things in the Basement takes an intrepid protagonist through centuries of art and symbolism.
Read More*The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo
The Puppets of Spelhorst is a bittersweet fairy tale with engaging characters and an enthralling conclusion.
Read MoreThe Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day
The Mona Lisa Vanishes tells of an astonishing theft while tracing the background of the world’s most famous painting.
Read More*The Vanderbeekers Ever After by Karina Yan Glaser
The Vanderbeeker family faces their greatest challenge yet in this last volume of a beloved series.
Read MoreChinese Menu by Grace Lin
Chinese Menu traces the origin of everybody’s favorite Chinese dishes, from wonton soup to rice fortune cookies.
Read MoreImpossible Escape by Steve Sheinkin
Impossible Escape tells the story of one determined teenager who survived Auschwitz and became one of the first to reveal details of the Holocaust.
Read MoreThe Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish
The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall series imagines the mystery-ridden education of a classic mystery writer.
Read MoreMaps, by Eleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski
Maps is an oversize and endlessly browseable collection of hand-drawn maps of most of the world. Maps by Eleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski. Candlewick, 2013, 107 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 You like maps? We’ve got maps! After a view of the whole world, followed by a political map of Europe, the fun…
Read MoreGod, You Are by William R. Osborne
God, You Are introduces young children to God’s character and attributes in a warm devotional setting.
Read MoreThe Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
The Lost Library is thin on theme, but warm hearted and family-friendly.
Read MoreDust by Dusti Bowling
Dust is the story of an asthma sufferer challenged to “use her breath” to fight a wrong.
Read MoreSmART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain by Amy E. Herman
SmART, a young-reader version of the best-seller Visual Intelligence, employs art as a way of teaching observation and interpretation.
Read MoreThe Switch by Roland Smith
A 13-year-old boy must help his large family survive an ElectroMagnetic Pulse in The Switch.
Read MoreSparrow Being Sparrow by Gail Donovan
Sparrow Being Sparrow introduces a likeable heroine with some impulsive ways that are open to correction.
Read MoreStuff Kids Should Know by Clark and Bryant
Stuff Kids Should Know draws from a popular podcast to detail the fascinating histories behind some everyday realities.
Read MoreThe Story of Gumluck the Wizard by Adam Rex
Gumluck the Wizard is a charming chapter-book character with some humorous misapprehensions
Read MoreNonfiction Picture Books: We Are Starlings, Great Carrier Reef, The Book of Turtles
We Are Starlings: Inside the Mesmerizing Magic of a Murmuration by Robert Furrow & Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Marc Martin. Random House Studio, 2023, 30 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 0-4 Recommended for: ages 3-8 “We are starlings. This morning is chilly. We are restless to leave this cold place.” They start with…
Read MoreUltraviolet by R. J. Anderson
A first-person psychological thriller inside one young woman’s remarkable consciousness. Ultraviolet, by R. J. Anderson. Carolrhoda Lab, 2011, 303 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, Ages 14-upRecommended For: Ages 14-up When Alison Jeffries wakes up in an unfamiliar place with a head full of screaming memories and arms scarred with angry welts, it takes a while to…
Read MoreStarboard by Nicola Skinner
Starboard takes a young reality-TV star on an involuntary voyage of self-discovery.
Read MorePortraits of Faith: *Pilipinto and God’s Servant Ruth
A missionary daughter in the 20th century and a pagan-born woman of ancient Israel offer two inspiring examples of faithfulness in difficult circumstances.
Read MoreTeaching the Faith: *The Illustrated Westminster Shorter Catechism
A new edition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism uses cartoon illustrations as an aid to understanding and discussion.
Read MoreHow to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd
In How to Stay Invisible, an abandoned boy attempts to make it on his own and discovers he needs other people.
Read MoreGinny Off the Map by Caroline Hickey
In Ginny off the Map, a geography-obsessed sixth-grader learns to meet people where they are and find “true north” in her own family.
Read MoreThe McNifficents by Amy Mckechnie
The McNifficents are a family of rambunctious kids corralled by a perceptive and conscientious Schnauzer.
Read MoreIn the Tunnel by Julie Lee
In the Tunnel takes readers into the savagery and family upheaval of the Korean War .
Read MoreRace against Death by Deborah Hopkinson
Race against Death surveys the fall of the Philippines during WWII, the fate of American prisoners left there, and the bold plan to rescue them near the war’s end.
Read MoreComics: Whys, Hows, and Wherefores
One for teens, one for middle-graders on what “comics” are all about.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on Re-issues: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Some re-issues actually improve on the original. Others, not so much . . .
Read MoreSummer Fun Ahead: a Picture Book Tour
An eclectic collection of picture and travel books for summer fun.
Read MoreAlternative Physics: Larklight
The Larklight series is a rollicking ride through a steampunk solar system.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on Starred Reviews
Did you ever wonder how your local librarian chooses books for the children’s collection?
Read MoreTalking About Money
What better time to talk about value, budgeting, and a summer job?
Read MoreGladys Hunt on Personal Libraries
How many books should a child own?
Read More*Land of Hope by Wilfred McClay
Land of Hope offers a balanced, positive, and often inspiring view of American history.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on Stellar Historical Fiction
There’s plenty of appropriate historical fiction for middle-graders, but sometimes you have to dig below the surface recommendations.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on Pop-up Books
Besides giving one to a two-year-old, what should you consider before purchasing a pop-up?
Read MoreWhen Clouds Touch Us by Thanhhà Lai
When Clouds Touch Us follows up the award-winning Inside Out and Back Again with the further adventures of a Vietnamese refugee family in the 1970s.
Read MoreBuffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt
Buffalo Flats takes readers to the Northwest Territory of Canada, for an unforgettable story of spiritual growth and romance.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on the Magical Tool of Language
Stop and think for a minute about the immense power you wield every day.
Read More*Nearer My Freedom by Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge
Nearer My Freedom uses the actual text of an 18th-century memoir to create a poetic account of an extraordinary life story.
Read More*Arthur, the Always King by Kevin Crossley-Holland
The lavishly-illustrated Arthur the Always King communicates the doomed majesty of the Arthurian legend.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on an Exaggerated Demise
Back in 2009, experts were predicting physical books and libraries would soon be outdated. Gladys Hunt begged to differ . . .
Read MoreEnter the Body by Joy McCullough
Enter the Body engages three tragic heroines of Shakespeare in a discussion of love, oppression, and what they might have done differently.
Read MoreThe Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson
Noting one important consideration, The Firefly Summer is an enjoyable light read with a theme of family solidarity.
Read MoreSongs of America by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw
Songs of America takes an interesting approach to American history—tracing our story through popular tunes and lyrics.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on Diversity
Does multicultural reading require multicultural authors?
Read MoreBig Tree by Brian Selznick
Big Tree, by best-selling author-illustrator Brian Selznick, attempts to capture the wonder of creation without a Creator.
Read MoreGladys Hunt on Disappearing Mothers
Could a fictional mother send the protagonist off to fight the dragon–without his overcoat?
Read More*The Labors of Hercles Beal by Gary Schmidt
The title character of The Labors of Hercules Beal works through his grief by duplicating, in contemporary terms, the 12 “labors” of his mythical namesake.
Read MorePicture Books to Make You Think: Twenty Questions, Bucket of Questions, Wants vs. Needs vs. Robots, and The Tree and the River
Four new picture books raised questions and stimulate discussion for readers ages 3-12.
Read MoreSunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Sunshine is the true story of a young man finding joy amid sorrow at a summer camp for seriously-ill children.
Read MoreGladys Hunt: In Praise of Mothers
For all you mothers out there . . .
Read More*Make Way by Angel Burke Kunkel
Make Way tells the story of a very famous family of ducks, the man who made them famous and the woman who made them a landmark.
Read MoreAbandon Ship by Michael J. Tougias
Abandon Ship! tells the little-known story of a World War II sea disaster with a surprising twist.
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