UNTOLD, THE LYNBURN LEGACY, BOOK TWO by Sarah Rees Brennan

Brennan, Sarah Rees, Untold, The Lynburn Legacy, Book Two. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-0375870422 $14.68 YA Novel- fiction. 

Sarah Rees Brennan takes her readers back to the Sorry-In-The-Vale town. Untold, Brennan’s sequel to her Gothic work Unspoken, takes place a few days after Kami Glass, the story’s heroine, and her friends clashed against Rob Lynnburn, a man who lusts after power and control. In Untold, we, the readers, see the aftermath of the battle that took place at the end of Unspoken. Revealed as the series’ antagonist, Rob wishes to rule the town through fear, manipulation, and destruction. Seeking power and protection from Rob’s reign, members of the town with magic of their own have started to join him. Not willing to go down without a fight, Kami, Jared, their friends Angela, Holly, and Rusty, and the rest of the Lynnburn family join together to find allies of their own and search for a way to combat Rob’s vast number of followers. Further, in the devastating aftermath of her last battle Kami’s link with Jared severed. For the first time since their connection, Jared and Kami find themselves feeling isolated and vulnerable. Additionally, the two learn to find ways to cope with their mental separation and reconnect with each other in physical ways. Kami discovers she can now choose who to love without Jared’s overpowering influence and bond. But is her love for Jared real or is it the aftermath of their bond? To discover herself and fight against her enemies, Kami will need to burrow her way through Sorry-In-The-Vale’s secrets and, to her own shock, her own family’s secrets as well. What she discovers in the dark vault of secrets will test her in ways she never thought possible. Untold proves to be another stunning  and compelling work by Brennan. The witty and sarcastic humor is still there, elements of love and passion are further shown, and death continues to be a dark element to the story. Unlike Book One, Brennan draws out more of her characters by adding their voices throughout the book, exposing the reader to the character’s strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, without their bond, Brennan makes Jared and Kami appear a bit needy, shown as constantly pining for each other and worrying about each other’s thoughts rather than their own. Overall though, the story was nicely done and leaves the reader hanging at the end- a sudden pause of breath for whatever comes next in Brennan’s Book Three!

Jacquelyne Yawn

UNSPOKEN, THE LYNBURN LEGACY, BOOK ONE by Sarah Rees Brennan

Brennan, Sarah Rees. Unspoken, The Lynburg Legacy, Book One. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012. ISBN13: 9780375870415 $14.63 YA Novel- fiction.

Ever had an imaginary friend growing up? Well what if that imaginary friend you talked to as a child was real? 

Meet Kami Glass, a teenager living in the English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Kami is like most girls, she likes to dress in style, has a best friend and two crazy brothers, and is even in love with a boy- Jared, whom she has known all her life. However, no one knows about Jared except her due to the fact that he seems to exist only in her mind. Despite that odd quality, life is normal for Kami until the Lynburns move back to their manor in town. The Lynburns are a family that has a dark past and even darker secrets. The two teenagers, cousins, arrive at school and Kami quickly encounters the shock of her life. Jared is real. Now our protagonist needs to uncover not only the mystery of the Lynburn’s, but also her feelings about Jared. Through their mind link, the two are aware of their feelings and thoughts, but can Kami still trust him? And will Kami uncover the mystery behind the brutal animal sacrifices and nurder happening in her secretive town? Sarah Rees Brennan does a fantastic job creating a strong and compelling story in Unspoken. The author shows her ability to bring Gothic romance to a new and modern age with her independent heroine and the boy that needs to be saved. Brennan provides for her readers a strong cast of characters full of complexities and a dash of quirkiness. Throughout the story we see characters using witty humor in their dialogues that helps to lighten the atmosphere of a dark and suspenseful story. Even with grisly deaths, the reader can laugh as they read lines like: “Your soul like the souls of a thousand monkeys on crack, all smushed together.” Overall, the book is very entertaining to plow through and leaves the reader hungry for more.

Jacquelyne Yawn

DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS (CENTAURIAD #1) by Kate Klimo

Klimo, Kate. Daughter of the Centaurs. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012. ISBN 13: 9780375869754 $14.57 YA Novel- fiction. 

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Kate Klimo brings a fresh new view of this setting. Instead of zombies, vampires, and the occasional werewolf (or both) we get centaurs. Daughter of the Centaurs centers around a young girl, Malora, who dreams of following her father’s footsteps to become a horse leader of the People, a small band of the world’s remaining humans. However, tragedy strikes when her People are massacred by a group of bat-like beings called Leatherwings. Left as the sole survivor, Malora finds herself alone with only Sky, her father’s stallion, as her companion and a herd of wild horses. Three years later, Malora and her herd are captured by a group of Centaurs, her People’s ancient enemy. To her surprise and astonishment, Malora finds companionship and a place to call home in the Centaurs’ society. Despite finding friends among the Centaurs, there are those who still fear and despise the foreign human. Will Malora ever truly feel welcome in her newfound community? The story is a great coming of age novel for young teens. Throughout the novel the reader comes across themes about belonging, those who feel ostracized, and society as a whole. As a first novel, Daughter of the Centaurs is a promising start for the trilogy. The story is entertaining, a great range of characters, and light-hearted. Yet, the book displays a few flaws that include lack of character development, not enough plot buildup, and a simplistic writing style. Overall though, the book is a fantastic read and recommended for any teen interested in a good fantasy.

Jacquelyne Yawn

THE BUNNY'S NIGHT LIGHT by Geoffrey Hayes

Hayes, Geoffrey. The Bunny’s Night-Light: A Glow-in-the-Dark Search. New York: Random House, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-375-86926-6. $11.99.

In this sweet story, Bunny can’t go to sleep because “There’s too much dark at night.” Papa is determined to find the right night-light that is especially for Bunny, so the two set off on a walk through the woods and town on a quest for the perfect illuminating source. With options that are too bright, too twinkly, too busy, too small, or too tall, will Bunny ever find that special light? The rich illustrations are timeless and beautiful, and the attention to detail and glow-in-the-dark accents make Bunny and Papa’s cozy little world come to life. This tale will certainly appeal to any reader who is, or has been, afraid of the dark, and the pages are a work of art that will be cherished by both youngsters and parents. Comforting and reassuring, The Bunny’s Night-Light will surely become a classic bedtime story.

Jenny Weisenborn

TOSS OF A LEMON by Padma Viswanathan

Viswanathan, Padma. The Toss of a Lemon. Canada: Random House Canada, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-15-101533-7.

To begin, I would not necessarily consider The Toss of a Lemon a young adult novel. I don’t believe that was the author’s intention, nor would it be appropriate for most high school students. As a former teacher, I can think of a select few girls who would absolutely love it, and many more for whom it would be obtuse, irrelevant, and difficult to engage.

The third-person-omniscient narrative style initially seems detached, as if I, the reader, am too far away, too far removed, from the action. The book is 640 pages, so if the action is slow to start, I suppose I can forgive! By the end, I felt like the characters were part of my own family, and I certainly stopped feeling so far away from the action on the pages.

At heart, the story is a generational saga. Sivikami, a young Brahmin girl, is married at 10, widowed at 18, and spends the rest of her life as an orthodox Brahmin widow: wearing only two white saris, shaving her head, and not appearing in public from dawn to dusk. She raises her two children, then her daughter’s brood of six children, who bear their own children by the end of the novel. Born in 1896, Sivikami deals with the problem of changing times in India, particularly Indian independence and the end of Brahmin social prominence.

The Toss of a Lemon will disappoint those looking for fast-paced narration, a quick-moving story, or suspense. But for readers looking for an experience, a way to immerse themselves in a different culture, The Toss of a Lemon is an excellent read. The meandering narrative, rich in cultural information, characterization, and description, is easy to put down, but just as easy to pick up again. It’s an ideal bedtime read.

Reviewed by Marisa Behan

ABE LINCOLN AT LAST! by Mary Pope Osborne

Osborne, Mary Pope. Illus. Sal Murdoca. Abe Lincoln at Last! Random House Children’s Books, 2011. ISBN-13: 9780375868252. $12.99.

Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.


Abe Lincoln At Last! is part of the Magic Tree House series, in which a tree house time machine takes two kids to different historical eras. I think Abe Lincoln at Last! was really fantastic because it had two stories in one, and it was really interesting! The first half of the book was really about saving Penny the penguin, who was turned into a stone statue, and the other half was about getting a feather from Abraham Lincoln. The Feather of Hope had two important purposes. The first purpose was for writing a letter of hope to Abraham Lincoln to not give up freeing the slaves. The second was for saving Penny. The Feather of Hope, along with the emerald rose and the buttercup from other books in this series, is needed to turn Penny back into a penguin.

The story was interesting because it went back in the past, and you can tell it was hard to live a long time ago. I would have a hard time doing chores like cutting the wood, getting water from a stream, and milking the cows! These were all jobs that kids had to do each day.

I really like this story, and I would like to read the next story in the series to find out about the emerald rose and the buttercup. I like the ideas that the author put in the story, and I would recommend it to my friends.

Review by Finnegan McCool, 5th grade

AMOS DARAGON, THE MASK WEARER by Bryan Perro

Perro, Bryan. Amos Daragon, The Mask Wearer. Random House Children’s Books, 2012. ISBN-13: 9780375859762. $6.99.


Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.

Amos Daragon, The Mask Wearer is an amazing novel that promises to fascinate readers of many ages. This action-packed mystery is an adventure to read and a pleasure to share. Bryan Perro has created an epic tale that should be required reading material for grades 4 and up. Well, I guess it was required reading for me. When my teacher introduced this book to the class, I was hooked.

This novel is about an adventurous boy named Amos Daragon. Amos is sent on a quest by the “Queen of the Sea.” Along the way, Amos befriends a mysterious boy named Beorf and an elusive young girl named Medusa. Can these young figures be trusted? What will Amos discover next?

Amos’ intelligence and creativity will make you laugh out loud as you read this fantastic book, which is a perfect blend of mythology and fantasy. When you finish it, you will see the world differently.

Review by Mackie Cates, 5th grade 

THE STONE CHILD by Dan Poblocki

Poblocki, Dan. The Stone Child. Random House Children’s Books, 2010. ISBN-13: 9780375842559. $7.99.

Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.


The Stone Child is a supernatural horror story. I picked this book out because my friend suggested it to me. She handed me the book and I locked into the thoughts of reading it when I saw the milky white stone child, surrounded by a dark forest, gazing down upon her thick stone book.

The main characters in the book are three young kids, Eddie, Harris, and Maggie. Eddie is very inquisitive and is determined to complete his mission. Harris is the silver-tongued yet warm-hearted character. Maggie is the brainy person who demands education. I relate to Eddie the most because when something strange happens I demand answers just like he does.

The three kids try to unravel the mystery of the author Nathaniel Olmsted’s disappearance. A very important and terrifying event in the story is the discovery of The Woman in Black. I felt pity for these kids because I thought the end was near for them. I have read the book by Susan Hill and the title character spares no one.

I connect to this book because just like Nathaniel I love to study symbology and mythology. My favorite part of this book is the details the author uses to describe the town of Gatesweed where the story takes place, such as, “Out the window, Eddie watched as they passed a crooked iron fence on the left side of the road. Dead vines were wrapped around the rusty spikes, as if the woods were trying to drag the fence down into the dirt”(12).

Throughout this book the feeling is dark. I’ll never forget when Eddie is walking through the town and he sees the big words spray painted on the back of the book store, “THE WOMAN IS WATCHING.” This book does not fail to deliver a thrill to those seeking it.

Reviewed by Malcolm Young, 5th grade

THE GIRL BEHIND THE GLASS by Jane Kelley

Kelley, Jane. The Girl Behind The Glass. Random House Children’s Books, 2011. ISBN-13: 9780375862205. $16.99.


Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.

The Girl Behind The Glass by Jane Kelley is a book that is abundant with mystery. This book attracted me to it because the front cover looked mysterious and sinister. It seemed like the perfect one! I took it home and read it immediately. The main characters in the book are 11-year-old twins Hannah and Anna, along with a peculiar creature. Hannah is a curious and clever girl who loves to read. She can also hear a voice that others can’t. Anna is a smart and likable girl who also loves books. The creature is a lonely and determined soul. I can relate to Hannah and Anna because I absolutely adore books! I am like the creature because it cares for others and has a light temper. The overall plot of the book is to get back at a lady named Mildred because she really mistreated the creature when they were young. One of the important events in the book is when Selena, the twins' sister, senses that something is lurking in her closet. Another critical event is when someone’s life is in serious danger and Anna finally hears the voice that Hannah has been hearing. This book definitely made me feel curious and sometimes worried. I love getting that nervous feeling when something spooky is about to happen!

I had a lot of favorite parts, but, overall I enjoyed the part when the twins planned to scare Selena. They terrify her and she becomes completely freaked out! I connected to the book because I have a sister and we like to play pranks on each other just like Hannah and Anna do to Selena. This book made me realize that it is important to do the right thing. It doesn’t matter who it is or what it is, it just always feels good to be nice, even if you really dislike that person.

The Girl Behind the Glass starts out kind of slow, really picks up in the middle and in the end leaves you hoping that there will be a second book! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys spooky stories with a cheerful twist. When you pick up this book, prepare yourself for a great read!

Review by Sydney Korovec, 5th grade

TURTLE IN PARADISE by Jennifer S. Holm

Holm, Jennifer S. Turtle in Paradise. Random House Children’s Books, 2011. ISBN-13: 9780375836909. $6.99. Newbery Honor Book.

Special Feature: Review by an elementary school student.

Turtle is an angry 11-year-old girl. She got her name from her mother, who said “You have a hard shell but a soft belly.” Turtle doesn’t believe that! Turtle thinks she is a tough girl because she hangs out with the Diaper Gang. The Diaper Gang is very funny. They have a lot of adventures with babies who have diaper rashes. Bean has a secret formula that is called cornstarch, but nobody knows what it is. As a reader, I was surprised that they went around taking care of babies, but it was very funny.

It's the year 1935, and Turtle moves to Florida to stay with relatives. Turtle meets many relatives whom she didn’t know about. The first relatives she meets are Aunt Minnie, Uncle Vernon, and four cousins. She then meets Nana Philly, the grandmother she thought was dead. Turtle also meets a man named Slow Poke, who becomes a good friend. I found out at the end of the story something very special about Slow Poke, and that was also very surprising.

There is an exciting and scary adventure in this book. Turtle finds the map of Captain Caesar’s treasure. She and the Diaper Gang go on a boat to an island where they find a huge rock that the treasure is buried under. I really enjoyed this adventure because I would like to go hunting for treasure with them, and I was excited about what it might be. The Diaper Gang got into a lot of trouble during this adventure, and I was hoping they all would be safe.

The ending of the story was both sad and happy. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to my friends. They would enjoy the ending also!

Review by Finnegan McCool, 5th grade

THE HUNGRY GHOST OF RUE ORLEANS by Mary Quattlebaum

Quattlebaum, Mary. The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans. Illus. Patricia Castelao. New York: Random House, 2011. $15.99 US $17.99 CAN. ISBN: 978-0-375-86207-6. 

Fred loves his dilapidated house on fictitious Rue Orleans. He loves the dusty air and shares its nightly creaks and moans. There could not be a better house for a ghost in all of The Big Easy. But Fred’s good times are interrupted when Pierre and his daughter Marie burst in and transform his old haunt into a jazzy Cajun restaurant.

This book is a delightful look at the difficulty in dealing with change. It offers readers a great representation of the nostalgia invested in familiar things and the difficulty of letting them go. For a city still reeling from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans offers a positive perspective toward building great things out of ruin.

Patricia Castelao’s colorful illustrations capture the charming ambiance of New Orleans, depicting in shadows the surrounding neighborhood reminiscent of the infamous French Quarter. Other pictures stretch across the pages in throngs of diverse faces dining over white bowls of richly hued gumbo. All the while, the ghostly presence of Fred still remains in focus in opaque creams and blues amidst the vividness of the surrounding colors. It is truly a respective nod toward the charm and ambiance of The Big Easy.

Jaimee Pease

HUSH, LITTLE HORSIE by Jane Yolen

Yolen, Jane. Illust. Ruth Sanderson. Hush, Little Horsie. New York: Random House, 2010.
ISBN: 978-0-375-85853-6. $16.99 US

Hush, Little Horsie is a rhyming story about different foals and their mothers, who watch over them everywhere they go. Throughout the book, the refrain "And when you are tired/ She'll watch as you sleep" frames each scene of the foal and mare's experiences. A piebald mare watches her foal as it sleeps, runs, and leaps on the farm. A strawberry roan mare with a blaze down her face shades her foal from sunshine and rain on the plain. A little palomino guards her foal by the sea so its dreams can run free, and it can frolic and leap. The light bay on the moor stays close as its foal sleeps, plays, and jumps. And the blue roan watches her foal prance, then sleep in the stall. At the end of the book, however, there is a change and the final pages show a mommy reading a bedtime story to a little girl. The little girl cuddles her horsie and falls asleep to dreams of horsies while her mommy faithfully watches her sleep.

Sweet as the rhyming lines are, if it weren't for Ruth Sanderson's illustrations Hush, Little Horsie might not stand out from the traditional bed-time storybook. As it is, however, Sanderson's exquisitely detailed drawings made me check and double-check to assure myself what I was looking at weren't photos. Whether it is the other animals and scenery of the farm, or the detailed grass and wheat of the plain against the backdrop of blue mountains, I wanted to touch the places I was seeing. The palomino mare and foal frolicking in the sea weren't quite as life-like, but the view still made me smile. This is a lovely book, and the soothing words and pictures invite the listener to fall asleep--just like the little girl who clutches her pony at the end of the book.

Stephanie Ashley

PERFECT SOUP by Lisa Moser

Moser, Lisa. Perfect Soup. Illustrated by Ben Mantle. New York, NY: Random House, 2010. ISBN 978-0-375-86014-0. $16.99. Ages 4-7.

Perfect Soup is about Murray the Mouse’s quest to obtain a carrot, which is the only ingredient he is missing from his recipe to make Perfect Soup. Murray really wants his soup to be perfect, so he runs out and asked Farmer for a carrot. Farmer makes a deal with Murray that if he hauls logs of wood for him, he will give him a carrot. Murray can’t actually do it,  so he goes to Horse for help, but Horse wants Murray to get him some jingle bells for his help. Murray goes on and on asking various people for help with all the tasks he agreed to do until he can’t take it anymore. Everyone wants another favor. All the while he is running he keeps passing by Snowman, who tries to get his attention, but Murray keeps ignoring him. Finally, when Murray is at his wits’ end, Snowman comes to help Murray without asking for anything in return. Murray is finally able to make his soup, but it not a carrot that makes it perfect; it is Snowman’s friendship and company.

Perfect Soup is a lovely story that details what friendship is all about. Asking and receiving favors from others is fine and has its place, but nothing beats a gift, where nothing is asked for or expected in return. Murray is so busy arranging favors for everyone that he almost misses out on the simple help and friendship Snowman has to offer. The story contains a lot of back and forth dialogue as Murray keeps having to reiterate the chain of favors he must arrange; this repetition makes the text cyclical, pleasurable, and easy to follow for children. The illustrations depict a beautiful and whimsical winter wonderland full of people and anthropomorphized creatures. It is an outstanding winter book to enjoy.

Joyce Myers

TRAPPED ON THE D.C. TRAIN by Ron Roy

Roy, Ron. Trapped on the D.C. Train. New York: Random House, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-375-85926-7. $4.99 US/$5.99 CAN. Ages 7-12

Ron Roy’s Capital Mystery series contains thirteen beginning reader chapter books, all set in the nation’s capital, starring K.C. Corcoran, the President’s stepdaughter, and her friend Marshall Li. Their adventures land them in various scrapes, requiring them to figure out the clues to the mystery.

The stories are written in typical Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys style, but with simplistic language and texts for young chapter book readers. The clues unfold throughout the first 2/3 of the story, reach a suspenseful climax in which the two kids are in “danger,” then resolve, with a full explanation of how all the clues fit together. The context clues all seemed very obvious to me, but for an elementary reader, would probably be appropriately suspenseful.

The book also has full-page pencil illustrations every chapter to help young readers visualize the action. Online resources include a trivia game and printable coloring pages from the in-text illustrations.

All in all, Roy has created a kid-friendly presidential intrigue: I’d pick this for “silent reading time”!

Marisa Behan

Review: MOO, MOO, BROWN COW, HAVE YOU ANY MILK? by Phillis Gershator

Gershator, Phillis. Moo, Moo, Brown Cow, Have You Any Milk? Illus. Giselle Potter. New York: Random House, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-375-86744-6. $16.99.

Phillis Gershator’s wonderful retelling of “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” nursery rhyme expands this classic into an adorable bedtime tale. The soft, colorful illustrations depict a little boy on a farm asking each of his barnyard friends about the benefits of their gifts. The black sheep, the gray goose, the red hen, the yellow bee, and the brow cow all give the rhyming “yes sir, yes sir…” response to the child’s questions before we follow each of them to their beds, and get a peek into their dreams. Fun surprises like the sheep knitting a blanket and the hen wearing an apron will bring joy to you and your little reader as you revisit this beloved nursery rhyme again and again.

Emily Moore

Review: JIM HENSON, THE GUY WHO PLAYED WITH PUPPETS by Kathleen Krull

Krull, Kathleen. Jim Henson, The Guy Who Played with Puppets. Illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. NY: Random House, 2011. ISBN 0-375-85721-8. $16.99.

When the power went out in San Diego County on Sept. 8, I picked a book to read while the sun was going down. Krull’s warm biography of the remarkable Jim Henson did not disappoint. It’s the story of a person who knew exactly what he wanted to do, did it, and pleased the world with his genius for puppetry.

Henson was very successful with the Muppets early on; by the time he’d left college, he’d had a local TV show for years and had performed in multiple venues. Thus, when he got the call from the visionary Sesame Street producer Joan Ganz Cooney, after giving it some thought he was ready to go. The rest, as they say, is history. Kermit (named after a childhood friend of Henson) the Frog, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie appeared on TV in late 1969 and have been on air ever since. The first episode of Saturday Night Live was begun with the Muppets, and a year later The Muppets Show became “the most popular puppets in history”…. watched by “as many as 235 million people each week” (32). The Dark Crystal and The Labyrinth remain movie cult classics.

Henson was 53 when he died, and as one fan who remembers the shock and sadness of that, and both my sons' sheer enjoyment of Sesame Street, I am glad such a fine biography for young readers has been published. Johnson and Fancher each illustrates a highlight of Henson’s life, showing him roller blading with his family or doing Kermit in front of a mirror. The final painting, of the huge crowd at Henson’s funeral and the jazz band that played, is a perfectly-chosen closing image.

Alida Allison

Review: GIGI IN THE BIG CITY by Charise Mericle Harper

Harper, Charise Mericle. Gigi in the Big City. New York: Robin Corey Books, 2010. ISBN 978-0-375-84235-1. $12.99 US.

This is a darling but superficial interactive book with lots of little details about the “big city,” presumably New York. Gigi leads the reader through the book into different places she explores. The first two pages – an inside-cover spread – find Gigi arriving in a taxi, which is a flap you can pull down to see the inside of the taxi and Gigi and the cabbie within. In this introductory spread alone there are 14 flaps to open to see the tenants in a skyscraper, the poses in a yoga studio, hats and dresses in stores, and students taking art classes, among other things.

Each page follows this conceit, offering flaps to lift to see the inside of stores and museums along with wheels to spin to see different varieties of gemstones, hairstyles, and expressions. You could spend an hour just changing Gigi's outfit in one segment. The many details crammed into just a few pages echoes the experience of a city – so many people, so much artwork, so many activities going on all at once in a relatively small space.

The interactive aspects of the book are delightful and intricate, and I can see young girls enjoying this book for its fun-and-flash factor, but the message of the book is shallow. While there are some educational details in the museum spreads and a few people of different ethnicities, Gigi in the Big City is largely materialistic. Gigi’s explorations take her out on a town seen by privileged kids with money to burn. She goes shopping; she looks at shoes; she reads frilly magazines; she gets her hair done. The book could have gone beyond fluff by including more details about the people, neighborhoods, and jobs that make up a big city.

Jill Coste

Review: PUPPIES, KITTENS, AND OTHER POP-UP PETS by Matthew Reinhart

Reinhart, Matthew. Puppies, Kittens, and Other Pop-Up Pets. NY: Random House, 2011. ISBN 0-375-87174-0. $6.99 PB.

Reinhart’s many awesome pop-up books top any list of engineered and imaginative marvels. I like Puppies, Kittens, and Other Pop-Up Pets because of its beautiful paper-cut precision art and because his presentation of possible pets captures their natures so well.

But I especially like it because it’s inexpensive. The $6.99 price means many people can enjoy this admittedly small-sized, but no less enjoyable for that, pop-up. I am especially fond of the rabbit. In fact, this is a good first pop-up book before you buy Reinhart’s more intricate, more amazing, and more expensive books.

Alida Allison