Reviews written by Karen Yingling, Staff Reviewer

A child is having trouble falling asleep because of restless thoughts, and hears the stars beckoning through a cut work window to come outside so that they can take the child to a happy place. Traveling through the dark world, past the river and up the hills to the woods,...

Nonfiction science activity books have come a long way from when I was young and tried to talk my mother into letting me salt a string on top of an ice cube so it would melt and stick to the ice! Brimming with suitable rainbow colors and lots of activities,...

Having made a friend in the retired dancer and actress Madame Badobedah (Ba DOO beh dah) who lives in the Mermaid Hotel her parents manage, Mabel now has a comfortable routine with her new friend. The hotel is filled with all manner of quirky characters, and Mabel takes it upon...

The Earth addresses the young reader, and gives a good introduction to the wonders that it holds, from the mountains to the forests to the sea. It promises to take care of the reader, but inquires as to whether or not the reader will take care of the Earth. Earth...

A young crocodile lets its parent know that the positive messages about believing in oneself have been heeded but repeating them back. The crocodile is small, but imagines being bigger and stronger while also trying to do its best. Things may look grim, but that doesn't mean one can give...

Every new day is a new opportunity to have a fabulous experience, and Today is For You! celebrates this with upbeat, boisterous proclamations of this. On every page, there's a new pronouncement of how things will be glorious. There are lots of questions about what the reader will do, whom...

Born in 1912, Viola had older sisters who formed the Smith Sisters Orchestra. The only instrument not already take was the drums. Viola didn't do too well with them at first, but learned quickly, and was soon playing jazz in her father's ballroom. In the 1920s, they traveled and performed...

Cantalope has a beautiful new seafoam green beach cruiser bike, and shows it off to Honeydo. It has tassles on the handlebars, a bell, and a wicker basket. The only problem? Cantaloupe doesn't know how to ride it. Since he doesn't, Honeydo tries, but fails miserably at even sitting on...

Rex and two children decide to play a game of "go and get". A letter is suggested, and the three have to go and get something with that letter. For "F", Jack, brings something that ribbits (a frog), Jill brings a fish, and Rex brings back something that quacks. Does...

A young girl and her mother move to a new apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's cozy, and the girl is happy playing by herself while her mother works. When the two venture out to the market and storytime at the library, the girl is very uncomfortable meeting other people, crying...

A little girl, her father, and their dog are out in the woods, preparing to make a fire. They gather rocks and tinder, find some sticks, and get everything ready. A match sets things in motion, and they watch the fire, imagining seeing a phoenix and a fox in...

Maria has an accident with her older brother Robbie's favorite books, and many of the pages get torn out. He is upset when he finds this out, and Maria is worried that he won't read to her again. She goes to Ms. Bea (perhaps a sitter?) for comfort, Ms. Bea...

In this companion to Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle (A Science Pals Book), we follow Drops' friend Puff on his adventures through the atmosphere. He and the other bits of wind protect that planet, and regulate the temperature. Puff keeps the air circulating, and can even carry his...

Margot and her grandfather are waiting for Margot's mother to get home from working on a boat. They are thinking about the yummy dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches they will make, and have all of the ingredients ready to go. The weather is bad, and as they...

A father owl gives his child a wooden star (like the one included in the cover of the book), and tells how proud he is of all of the child's accomplishments, like sharing toys. He outlines all of the things that the star should remind them of, and how the...