As a general rule, kids are intrigued by dragons—both the scary kind populating many myths and the friendlier, more helpful sort. The latter description fits Ollie, the subject of Diane Smiley’s poetic book of stories. A grandmother... Read More

“Squircle” is a such a delightfully silly word that children will love simply to hear it and repeat it. Author and artist Andrea Skyberg offers this and a few more smiles in her new children’s picture book by the same name. A story... Read More

Originally from China, the zhi ji, or ring-necked pheasant, was named for the white feather “necklace” the male of the species wears. In 1908, neighboring farmers A.E. Cooper and E.L. Ebbert successfully introduced the birds into... Read More

What kid doesn’t love pretending to be a pirate? Certainly not Captain No Beard (also known as Alexander), the hero of Carole P. Roman’s simple and delightful children’s book, "Captain No Beard". The tale is Roman’s first entry... Read More

“The man stood, as if dazed, his expression one of puzzlement. He looked down at his clothes, then at his surroundings.” The elderly man, James, is lost in the woods, trying to find his wife and his way home. It appears as though he... Read More

This fourth installment in an award-winning series follows young Anton through his day in St. Petersburg. He awakens to the strains of “Swan Lake” being played on the piano, visits the Hermitage Museum on a school trip, and practices... Read More

Cutout silhouettes of animals and vivid patterns in contrasting colors anchor a series of rhyming questions and answers about farm life. For example, “Mooing Cow, for whom do you wait?” opens onto “This maid stepping with a very... Read More

Perhaps the only thing cuter than a chipmunk is a baby chipmunk. Kathy M. Miller’s Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden proves that assumption. After proud Papa Chippy waits one cycle of the moon for his babies to be born and another... Read More