Publications about books for children and young adults
The books recommended below were all published within the last several years and reviewed by The Horn Book Magazine. Grade levels are only suggestions; the individual child is the real criterion. Preschool Suggested grade level for each entry: PS Lots of Spots by Lois Ehlert (Simon/Beach Lane) Frequently funny poems, rhymes, and the occasional [...]
Deadly!: The Truth About the Most Dangerous Creatures on Earth by Nicola Davies; illus. by Neal Layton Primary, Intermediate Candlewick 64 pp. 3/13 978-0-7636-6231-8 $14.99 Readers with a taste for the grisly realism of nature will revel in the latest Davies and Layton collaboration, featuring the ways in which animals cause lasting harm or death [...]
Spring is here, and love is in the air (be sure to catch What Makes a Good YA Love Story? by Katrina Hedeen and Rachel L. Smith in the upcoming May/June 2013 issue of the Horn Book Magazine). Here are four more books that will make teens contemplate love in all its forms. The main [...]
It’s a simple formula. Boy meets girl (or, more often, girl meets boy. Or, less frequently, boy meets boy or girl meets girl). Boy and girl fall in love. One loses the other, or some other conflict arises. Then comes the happy ending. This plot, or some variation of it, is one we’ve read over [...]
Five questions for Marilyn Singer Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse written by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Josée Masse, Dutton, 5–8 years. Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems written by Marilyn Singer, illus. by Josée Masse, Dial, 5–8 years. A Strange Place to Call Home: The World’s Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call [...]
The truth is often stranger than fiction when it comes to animal behavior. Four recent nonfiction books introduce young readers to marvels of the animal world. Nic Bishop returns with his always-amazing photographs in Nic Bishop Snakes. The text describes snake behavior, physiology, and eating habits. Seemingly impossible-to-get shots of the sinuous, scaly animals feature [...]
Two girls, a boy, and a whole bunch of princes and princesses embark on captivating adventures. These four new fantasy stories for middle graders and middle schoolers feature compelling characters careening through wondrous worlds. They vanquished a nasty witch and saved their various realms in The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. Now princes Liam, [...]
*from The House at Pooh Corner Poetry can be used to examine and celebrate the world we live in and the worlds we invent. A great way to observe National Poetry Month is to share the following exemplary poetry books for young children featuring the calming rhythms of lullaby, the humorous juxtaposition of portmanteaux, the [...]
Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems by Marilyn Singer; illus. by Josée Masse Primary Dial 32 pp. 2/13 978-0-8037-3769-3 $16.99 g “It’s not easy,” warns Singer in a note about the “reverso,” a verse form she created and first used in Mirror Mirror (rev. 3/10); and the first poem (“Fairy Tales”) in this companion [...]
Considering that a favorite board book is likely to be read again and again, and may well be tragically lost and then joyfully rediscovered under the bed, in the toy box or at the bottom of the diaper bag, it makes sense to spend a little time selecting just the right book for the child [...]
