Reviewed by Laura Lemanski You thought you knew the story: rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, paper beats rock. But, oh no! In The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, it is much more exciting in Drew Daywalt’s and Adam Rex’s take on the exciting legend that starts in “the Kingdom of Backyard.” Dewalt and Rex introduce…
Reviewed by Nick Kleese Her Right Foot begins where you’d expect an expository text about the Statue of Liberty to begin—a history of her origins abroad and journey to America. All is straightforward until halfway through the text when the narrator wonders why Lady Liberty’s right foot is raised. “Where is she going?” the narrator wonders. “Is…
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Review by Lori Laster Katherine Applegate’s Newbery Medal winning animal fantasy novel, The One and Only Ivan is told through the perspective of its titular hero, Ivan, a 300-pound Silverback gorilla. Ivan is one of the main attractions at Exit 8 Big Top mall and video arcade,…
Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman By: Kelcy Niccum and Kim Alexander Toad Rage took a creative take on advocating for animal, specifically toad, rights by following a young cane toad’s quest for the truth about why humans seem to hate toads. Toad Rage is a very interesting book told from the point of view of…
“Dad is the the dreamer and Mom is a maker. I’ve been thinking, maybe I can be both.” Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes is a contemporary novel and verse with a gentle, imaginative young protagonist- Gabrielle( named after the angel Gabriel because,” he was so fierce people fainted at the very sight of him”). …
Children's Literature at UMN 