(3) K-3 Illustrated by Huynh Kim Liên & Phùng Nguyên Quang. Composed mostly of questions, this picture-book biography traces Jeremy Lin's uphill battle as the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the NBA. Moving from his youth to his breakout 2012 game with the New York Knicks, the book shows how faith, diligence, and tenacity helped Lin weather taunts, setbacks, privation, and an agonizing NBA draft wait. The digital illustrations employ spot art to depict Lin's off-court life, while full bleeds portray on-court action and the media craze ("linsanity") surrounding his meteoric rise from obscurity. Ho prompts children to reflect on their own experiences contending with naysayers, find role models who look like them, embrace who they are, and defy stereotypes. Back matter fleshes out Lin's life story and includes an author's note and bibliography.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat. Barton explores glitter, a source of fascination (and frustration), diving into the science, history, and entrepreneurship that created the material we know today. He doesn't shy away from the drawbacks, from everyday irritations to the serious environmental impact of microplastics to the exploitation of child labor in the mining industry. But he also explores the joys of glitter, including why people have always been attracted to things that shine and sparkle. From the early days of using mica and beetle shells to create something shiny to new innovations intended to make glitter more ecologically friendly, Prabhat's colorful, layered, collage-style digital illustrations capture its messy allure. Many spreads are flecked with small shapes, evoking glitter's ubiquitous quality. Whether they love the stuff or loathe it, readers will find something here to pique their curiosity. Back matter includes an author's note on Barton's research process, an illustrator's note, sources, and suggestions for further reading.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Renato Alarcão. Seu Joao lives on an island off the coast of Brazil. When an oil-soaked Magellanic penguin washes ashore, Seu Joao takes him home, cleans him with dish soap, and names him Dindim (a grandson's attempt to pronounce the Portuguese word for penguin). As Dindim rehabilitates, the pair forms an attachment, though Seu Joao, respectful of the needs of wild animals, repeatedly tries to send Dindim back to the sea. Dindim does not leave--until one day, months later, he does. Earle's account of this true story is skillfully restrained, describing only the two characters' actions, and leaving readers to infer what human and animal feel for each other. "Seu Joao sat and drank his coffee. His lap was empty. But he remembered Dindim's silky feathers and the beat of his heart." Four months later, when Dindim amazingly returns, "the penguin waddled as fast as his little legs could carry him, right into Seu Joao's arms." Alarcao's pastel-colored illustrations capture the appeal of the people, animals, and beaches of Praia Proveta. In addition to a brief glossary, appended notes provide additional information about Seu Joao and Dindim, facts about penguins and threats to their survival, and steps that readers can take to help protect threatened species.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) PS Whose Is THAT? series. Illustrated by Kelsey Oseid. Lunde and Oseid's third collaboration stays true to their successful formula, turning this nonfiction picture book into a guessing game that uses eggs to explore different species and teach larger lessons about the natural world. Spreads follow a pattern that young children will quickly grasp: the first spread asks a question ("Whose egg is that?"), the second shows a close-up of the egg, the third pans out and identifies the parent animal, and the fourth gives a few additional facts about the species. Oseid's delicately rendered gouache illustrations provide visual hints. Each page-turn builds in details that reward the alert observer and teach much about the animals' habitats and behaviors. Many young readers will be surprised and delighted to find that eggs come in an array of colors and sizes. Others will enjoy learning how not just birds, but also animals such as platypuses and leatherback sea turtles come from eggs. Pair this crowd pleaser with Aston and Long's An Egg Is Quiet to foster children's curiosity and observation of the world around them.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Laura González. In this picture book, Martínez seamlessly blends legend and science to expand readers' understanding of axolotls. She starts with the creature's life cycle, placing it in its natural habitat, and then recounts the myth of the creation of the axolotl--morphed from and named after "the Aztec god of monstrous things." The axolotl, Martínez asserts, is "Not a Monster" but rather an important part of a fragile ecosystem. Elders agree: "When...the creatures are gone, it will be the end of paradise." Subtle details in González's hazy mixed-media illustrations complement the blend of cultural and scientific information (e.g., Aztec-inspired patterns populate the water and plants when the legend is introduced and linger after). The text naturally weaves in Spanish words, and Spanish names for colors are printed in those colors, allowing readers to learn their meanings with help from the illustrations (all Spanish words used are eventually defined in a glossary). "A couple of amigos row their chalupa morada along the water" to search for the elusive Not a Monster. After the friends help to clear trash from the canal, they follow a trail of heart-shaped lily pads to a cluster of axolotl eggs. The young conservationists--and readers--are rewarded with a final illustration of the hatched axolotls, as well as photos of Martínez's pet axolotls in her author's note.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Elizabeth Goss. Rusch's thought-provoking text begins: "Nothing is the space around and between everything." The presence of nothing, cued by plain white areas in the cut-paper illustrations, appears first as physical space: the gap where a tooth once sat, the expanse between stars in the sky, the space for a missing puzzle piece. Important, too, is nothing as temporal space: the moment before a leap of faith or a bit of spare time in one's day. Even in music, room for nothing fosters beauty: "For what is a song without some silence?" There can be, of course, too much or too little of nothing. On these spreads in particular, Goss's use of color and space makes a strong emotional impact: a queasy-green child sandwiched between tightly packed adults in a crowd finds "too little" of nothing, while a blue-hued child sulks surrounded by "too much" of nothing amid a stark white double-page spread. Wherever nothing is found, there is space for something to unfurl. Goss's intricate illustrations visually articulate the importance of nothing, or negative space, as discussed in the back matter. A striking call for young children and aspiring artists alike, the story sets out to prove that "nothing" matters, after all.

Reviewer: Grace McKinney | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kaja Kajfež. This idiosyncratic biography of women who defied gender-normative clothing (for reasons strategic, practical, personal, etc.) is full of tantalizing historical details and a curious tone that acknowledges historical records are often imprecise, incomplete, or misleading. Twenty subjects, from ancient history (Amazon warrior Hypsicratea, first century BCE) through the twentieth century (African American pro baseball player "Toni" Stone), are profiled in surprising depth in each six- to eight-page chapter. The entertaining narratives are supplemented with archival images and quirky sidebar anecdotes, as well as full-page illustrated portraits. Meticulous source notes, an extensive bibliography, and an index (unseen) are appended.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ariel Landy. Jillian already has two grandmothers, and though she's happy with her new stepdad, the new bubbe who joins the family along with him takes some getting used to. Bubbe smothers her in lipstick kisses, uses Yiddish terms Jillian doesn't understand, and claims her matzo ball soup is "the best soup in the universe"--and therein lies the real problem. Welcoming Bubbe in feels like disloyalty to Noni (and her meatball soup) and Gram (and her gazpacho). The lively third-person narration ("She had no choice. In the name of grandmas, it was time for a protest!") sticks closely with Jillian and her strong but evolving feelings, with details in the cartoonish illustrations adding humor (keep an eye on the pets). The conclusion is, unsurprisingly, delicious, with plenty of family warmth and a hint of a new member to come. Back matter includes three soup recipes as well as resources for adults on blended and interfaith families.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 The occupants of seven houses in the same neighborhood have never met when this story begins. Their false assumptions and fears about one another have kept them from interacting and becoming friends. For instance, fox Mr. Martínez--a lawyer by day--wishes he had an audience for his juggling but doesn't think the huge dragon next door would appreciate it. The dragon, however, is really a mouse who wears a disguise to scare away his cat neighbor (who is actually a vegan). They do not become a community until owl Mrs. Paquita has to go outside to fix her internet (she usually stays up all night web surfing), and robot-inventor pig Matilda, surprised to see someone next door, offers help. One by one the residents venture out of their homes and comfort zones to approach others or lend a hand and end up all the happier for it. This quirky Spanish import reads like folklore (complete with a superhero-loving bookworm ogre and "Once upon a time"); the straightforward moral is understated and heartwarming. Bonilla's playful story and pastel illustrations accentuate the characters' personalities with small details readers will relish revisiting (such as bleary-eyed chicken Camila overpouring her coffee as her ten chicks cause chaos in the kitchen).

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz. This clear and engaging book documents the painstaking work of relocating a hive of honeybees that has outgrown its hive box. In Burns's conversational text, readers are introduced to Mr. Connery, who owns a "ramshackle barn" where he's discovered a colony of honeybees. He calls on the services of Mr. Nelson, a bee-rescue expert. Harasimowicz's eye-catching photographs document the entire relocation process, showing each step required to carefully move thirty-five thousand bees to a safer spot. Nelson uses a lot of patience, specially designed tools (e.g., his bee-vac: a modified vacuum connected to a traveling case), and ­Connery's assistance to gently collect the bees, disassemble their hive, and move the colony to a larger hive box on Connery's property. Details about honeybee life and behavior are smoothly woven into the discussion. An illuminating interview with Nelson explains why rescuing honeybees is important and how he's able to do his work without protective equipment. Back matter includes a glossary, a source list, further reading, and an author's note. A book that will inspire ­further curiosity about this important pollinator.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nicole Wong. In a follow-up to the pair's Flying Deep (rev. 7/18), Cusolito and Wong enumerate the various ways people explore the ocean. Readers learn about the methods (e.g., snorkel, free dive, scuba) and machines (deep-sea submersibles, underwater research lab materials) humans utilize to conquer the challenges of underwater observation (these being extreme pressure and the need for breathable air). The clear expository prose of the main text is accompanied by detailed sidebars that provide extensive descriptions and facts. Double-page spreads allow Wong's digital art to set the explorers, equipment, and sea life in various ocean habitats. Cusolito centers humanity's sense of wonder and desire to learn more, focusing on the "diving we do to expand scientific knowledge, research, and communication." Extensive back matter includes a helpful (though not-to-scale) spread incorporating all the diving methods and machines found throughout the book, shown in various ocean depths. A glossary, author's note, and list of resources are also included. Curious readers will dive right in.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Garry, Sr. Meeches. "Many Americans call it a day of thanksgiving. Many of our people call it a day of mourning.”" A team of Native creators provides an illuminating look at what the Wampanoag called Keepunumuk, or "the time of harvest," highlighting that the Pilgrims' survival was largely due to the assistance offered by the ­Indigenous people who lived on the land. In the framing narrative, an elder speaks to children about their ancestors, and how Weeâchumun, the seed of corn and one of the Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash), witnessed the struggles of the newcomers. Using an earth-tone palette, the impressionistic illustrations beautifully convey their settings. Front and back matter include a glossary, a recipe, and more information about Wampanoag traditions, storytelling, and ­contemporary life.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) PS Illustrated by Barbara Chotiner. A seed grows into a dandelion and becomes a ball of seeds that scatter. In a book that relies on typographical creativity to relate information, text placement mimics what's happening in the story. On the opening spread, for instance, "a million silver raindrops... / falling, falling, falling... / hitting the sidewalk with a splash" takes the form of an active rainstorm. On the subsequent spread, the text about the post-storm rainbow is set in an arc shape, each line a different color. A sprout pops up in the city sidewalk, revealing the buttery-yellow petals of a dandelion. Soon, it's "a feathery / white ball of / seeds," which then sail on the wind and land far away in a green field. One dandelion survives to spread its seeds again. The book's playful visual imagery, which also includes various font colors, makes for an engaging read; the text not only forms concrete shapes but also conveys movement (the title's "moving words") and successfully communicates the scientific elements of the story (e.g., lines of text shaped like roots in the soil). Back matter provides more facts about these "tough" flowers and their life cycle.

Reviewer: Julie Danielson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) 4-6 How does a family live with recurring cancer? Would you want to know if you had that same cancer gene? These questions anchor a powerful verse novel in which twelve-year-old Cass copes with her dad's serious illness and her mom's relentless positivity, and counts on best friend Jayla's steady support. Weaving together genetic research, homeschooling particularities, Christian religious beliefs, and baseball fundamentals, Hill's portrayal of Cass's daily life is full of detail. Her inner monologue drives the story forward; free-verse poetry in a variety of forms relies on Cass's clear first-person voice and creative spacing for effect. Cass grapples with the decision of whether to be tested for the gene. Does she want to know the worst (or best) or does she want to live her life in fear and worry about the unknown? Her situation raises existential questions in ways that are palpable and relevant. Hill delicately balances deep sadness with genuine hopefulness in this distinctive and compelling novel.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Kris Easler. It's Hanukkah, and the Menashe family is stuck at home during a blizzard in this picture-book reissue, with new illustrations and an updated text. The family is out of apples, and their potatoes are buried under the snow. As the snow keeps falling throughout the holiday and the lack of food becomes more serious, a cat and then a dog arrive in need of help--and ultimately lead the family to discoveries that feel miraculous...and are definitely delicious. The tale of generosity rewarded draws readers (and listeners) in with a storyteller's cadence, and the mixed-media illustrations show deep-blue winter nights and warm, glowing family scenes. Back matter gives more information about various elements of Hanukkah.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(1) 4-6 "Evolution is a journey, not a destination." The paths and branches of human evolution, from our primate ancestors to Homo sapiens, are thoroughly covered over seven chapters (with titles like "We Get Swelled Heads" and "We Invent ­Barbecue"). The book shows how physical traits, social behaviors, intelligence and empathy, and the ability to teach and talk afforded advantages to various hominid species. Turner (Crow Smarts, rev. 11/16) is a consummate storyteller: her steady pace through millions of years of the human evolutionary line is buoyed by an amused stance, joke-filled footnotes, well-timed shifts into second person, and modern-day analogies attuned to a middle-grade audience. At the same time, she is meticulous in emphasizing the main underlying concepts of evolutionary science: her terms are precise, her representations of scientific knowledge clearly differentiate between hypothesis and established fact, and she confronts misconceptions head on (see especially a powerful statement about the unscientific construct of race: "race is a cultural construct, not a biological reality"). The main text includes numerous diagrams and maps; photographs of landscapes, fossils, artifacts, and modern animals; and artistic interpretations of long-extinct species. It's followed by another fifty pages of notes and resources, timelines, and a glossary.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(2) PS Illustrated by Gina Maldonado. Isabella is lonely; she sits indoors, looking out the window at the gray sky and bare trees, anxiously awaiting the day in January when school will begin so she can make friends. Newly emigrated with her mother from Colombia, she also misses Papa, who'd remained behind "waiting for permission to travel." When her first day at school is canceled due to snow, Isabella cries in disappointment, but then joins a girl playing outside. Together they build a snowman, which Isabella adorns with her ruana and a sombrero vueltiao, a poncho and hat distinctive to the Andes region, which are reminders of home and her father. (The ruana's texture and pattern also adorn the endpapers.) Spanish is incorporated organically and may encourage those who are unfamiliar with the language to glean meaning through context clues; a glossary provides definitive translations. Friendly looking, digitally colored, textured illustrations track the transformation of Isabella's mood from sad to hopeful while conveying the subtle comforts of a steamy mug of taza de café or an ever-present cat, as well as the distinction between cozy indoor and brisk outdoor spaces. This seemingly simple story expresses sophisticated feelings of grief over parental separation and yearning for social connection, and presents a nuanced view of loneliness, with just a single friendly overture making one feel more at home.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) PS Illustrated by Elissambura. "Now don't make a peep... / The baby's finally asleep," begins this lighthearted and enjoyable story. After putting Baby down, big sibling and Mama tiptoe away from the crib. "Creak! Creak! Creak!" goes the floor, but, phew, they make it. What's that noise from the kitchen? It's Daddy's "loud belly," which "wants PB and jelly...Grumble! Grumble! Grumble! 'Shhh! The baby's asleep!'" The older child goes around the house shushing people--handkerchief-holding "Pop Pop's red nose / just needs some good blows"; hairdryer-and-comb-wielding "Shae's hair is still wet / her curls haven't set." Finally everyone, including a lawn-mowing neighbor, knows to keep it down. But dogs will be dogs, and with a spread-spanning cry, the baby awakens. Fortunately, there’s one more trick up our protagonist's sleeve: a book. Elissambura's digitally painted mixed-media illustrations, featuring textures galore and variations in family members' skin tones, are lively, colorful, and personality-filled. The story, with its predictable pattern, highly relatable situations, and enjoyable sound effects, has good read-aloud potential--but quietly.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(2) YA Ever since Collin's mother died in a car accident, he has worked hard on instructions for what to do in a variety of disastrous situations. His orange notebook is filled with tips, such as these for surviving being buried in an avalanche: "Note where gravity carries your saliva. Dig in the opposite direction." He misses his mother's "morning smooch attacks" as well as the way she kept his brilliant mathematician father's hoarding tendencies under control: "Without someone to keep / Dad's collections in check, / layers accumulate / like...sedimentary rock formations." As the condition of the house deteriorates, it becomes harder for Collin to keep himself clean and to find food. Fortunately, he has two close friends in Liam and Georgia, who don't know about his father's mental illness but are unfailingly supportive and help him feel normal. The verse novel pinpoints Collin's grief over his mother's death, his resulting anxiety, and how he copes with a father he loves but cannot rely on, using short, authentic phrases that home in on his feelings: "I can't decide / if I should laugh / or barf." The inclusion of several concrete poems adds impact, one of the most impressive being a poem in the shape of a house crammed to the brim with words. It's a touching and believable story of getting through to the other side of a terrible time, with Collin's practical survival advice sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(2) PS Striking cut-paper-collage illustrations of some of the hardy creatures that live in Antarctica are the standouts in this one-to-ten counting book. One leopard seal, two emperor penguins, three elephant seals, and more pop off striking blue-and-white backgrounds of icebergs and ocean waves. With seven flying squid, the scene shifts, plunging viewers into water that gets deeper and darker while Antarctic krill drift along and blackfin icefish swim by in the depths. Paper collage gives texture and depth to the limited color palette. Court's buoyant text uses a repeating pattern of internal rhyme and alliteration. That language pattern sometimes leads to winsome wordplay ("three lumbersome, cumbersome southern elephant seals") but does sometimes fall flat ("ten crimson, vermilion sea stars creeping about on twinkle toes"). Back matter introduces viewers to the animals' harsh habitat, where the average temperature in winter is –81 degrees Fahrenheit and winds can reach two hundred miles an hour. The three Antarctic poles (ceremonial, geographic, and magnetic) are also introduced, and additional information is given for each of the ten animals counted.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig