Reviews
Vladmir Putin: Russia's Autocratic Ruler - Kirkus
A quick account of the rise and (perhaps) beginning of the fall of Russia’s current bête noire. View →
The Unprovoked War: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine - Kirkus
An overview of the causes and (until mid-2022) course of the 21st-century’s largest European war to date. View →
SLJ Review of Facing Your Fears
Things that make children’s hearts race with that tinge of heightened anxiety are explained in detail for a younger audience. There is a normalization without any shame for the specific fears addressed and then they are dispelled in a way that does not dismiss children’s feelings. Each… View →
Mythology Matchups - School Library Journal
This exciting series will appeal to mythology fans and those who fancy the idea of superheroes duking it out—figuratively. Its clever premise stimulates critical thinking and sparks conversations and debates. Students must read the lively, fact-packed, well-written narratives in each… View →
SLJ Review of Thinking Critically
This series provides well-reasoned arguments for and against hot topics in America today. Each title begins with a detailed table of contents that will direct readers to their section of choice. The chapters provide an overview of the discussion followed by the arguments. Students are… View →
Booklist Review of Animal Battles
The popular Animal Battles series continues to grow with these provoking new pairings. Based on animals’ abilities to punch the same class rather than a likelihood of their actually fighting each other in the wild, the theoretical battles are inarguably entertaining. Each… View →
Puerto Rico - Booklist
Puerto Rico is an island full of color, a vibrant energy, and people who love their heritage and tropical home. This attractive entry in the Core Library of US States series (52 titles) is ideal for those seeking to educate themselves on this island, from its geography and climate to its View →
SLJ Review of Animal Battles
From insects to fish to reptiles, “Animal Battles” envisions what would happen if two predators went head to head. Before the battle, an overview is provided of the competitors, including their physical characteristics, “secret weapon” adaptations and features, and common attack moves.… View →
SLJ Review of Women Warriors of World War II
Female heroes of World War II have their stories related in these four graphic biographies. Sophie Scholl was a young German woman who, disillusioned with Hitler, endangered her life by campaigning against the Nazis. Army and Navy nurses bravely take care of wounded soldiers in the… View →
SLJ Review of Behind the Scenes Biographies
Celebrities in the field of music and sports are featured in these volumes. Facts and photographs are the primary attractions to this series’s mix of these singers and athletes. Readers will learn interesting tidbits such as Demi Lovato’s dogs once stopped a robbery, Simone Biles’s… View →
Booklist Review of Sports Illustrated Kids Stars of Sports
These additions to the Stars of Sports series focus on talented athletes whom both kids and adults can look up to. Featuring colorful images as well as deep dives into the careers of these stars, these engaging biographies divide their content into short chapters with fact boxes and… View →
Too Cute! - School Library Journal
Close-up photos of baby animals highlight this set. Simple text describes the animals’ behavior in the early stages of life, with one or two sentences per page. Large fonts and double-spaced text are aimed at early readers. So is the simple text: “Fawns nurse. They drink milk from mom” ( View →