Timeless Topics: Home and Spring

A double-shot of 7 Imp this time around: in 'A NEW HOME,' we see 'the common humanity in two cultures on two different spots in the map'; and in BLOOM BOOM! we celebrate the flowering, if you will, of spring!
by David McGee
 

 
 

American Tales

Two very American tales in JULES's spotlight: GITTEL'S JOURNEY: AN ELLIS ISLAND STORY, and HANDS UP, an affirmation of self-worth, an energizing, empowering celebration of family and community
by David McGee
 

 

 

Speaking of Family and Cultural Identity

An exclusive JULES interview with award winning illustrator JUANA MARTINEZ NEAL, whose new picture book, ALMA AND HOW SHE GOT HER NAME, celebrates cultural identity.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The O’Hara Sisters’ ‘Dark Fairy Tale’ by Jules

Featuring HORTENSE AND THE SHADOW, 'a dark fairy tale' by NATALIE and LAUREN O'HARA, a writer-and-illustrator sister team with a new book inspired by stories told on snowy nights by their Polish grandmother.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Christian Robinson: A Child’s Eye-View of Birthdays

A pre-publication look at WHERE'S MY BIRTHDAY, by poet JULIE FOGLIANO with illustrations by CHRISTIAN ROBINSON. This picture bookcelebrates the thrill children get when anticipating a birthday and all that comes with it.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Poverty and Child Labor in 28 pages

in I LIKE, I DON'T LIKE, author ANNA BACCELLIERE, with illustrators ALE+ALE, offers young readers a thought provoking look at how child labor destroys childhood.
by David McGee
 

 

 

My Beautiful Birds

In MY BEAUTIFUL BIRDS author SUZANNE DEL RIZZO addresses young readers with an instructive, very human tale about the plight of Syrian refugees, told from a young refugee's point of view.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Secret Project

How do you explain the atomic bomb to children? JULES says a new book, THE SECRET PROJECT, by JONAH WINTER and JEANETTE WINTER, is 'a compelling introduction to this topic.' The first review is here.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Wind of the Book

Marking her tenth year of blogging, JULES offers informed insights into ANNE HERBAUT's award winning (in the author's native France) WHAT COLOR IS THE WIND?
by David McGee
 

 
 

Harold’s Hungry Eyes

KEVIN WALDRON's new picture book, HAROLD'S HUNGRY EYES, is as funny and instructive as his drawings are evocative. Illustrations abound and JULES offers her critical perspective to boot.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Featuring Frank Morrison

Illustrator FRANK MORRISON catches JULES's attention this month with his work in PAT ZEITLOW MILLER's THE QUICKEST KID IN CLARKSVILLE, in which Olympic great WILMA RUDOLPH makes a cameo and the story makes a point.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Revisiting Dire Lullabies to Great Effect with Linda Ashman and Simona Mulazzani

LINDA ASHMAN's ROCK-A-BYE ROMP, with illustrations by SIMONA MUJAZZANI, is an early 2016 treat. Jules's review of same is another early 2016 treat.
by David McGee