Janice Floyd Durante

“African folktales always invite us to talk about how characters behave,” writes acclaimed author Beverley Naidoo in the foreword to her latest title, a patchy collection of stories hailing from ni

“energetic interplay of art and poetry . . .”

“a magical journey.”

With their rich symbolism; pleasing repetition of words, phrases and themes; and their stark revelation of human fears and fantasies, the vibrant folktales collected and edited by the Brothers Grim

“As with their previous work, Winter Bees hums with a glorious trio of lyrical poetry, vibrant artwork, and natural science explained in crisp prose.”

“The illustrator, making her American debut, shows a deft touch with pacing, as the tender story moves from morning to night.”

“Young readers will most likely anticipate further adventures celebrating this wildly unlikely pair.”

“With its understated title and placid cover image of a rosy-cheeked lion with a small gray bird on his shoulder, The Lion and the Bird is clearly not where the wild things are.

Winston & George highlights a surprising friendship between a crocodile and a crocodile bird and, at the same time, an unlikely publication, capping a creative

The cheerful sparrow Emma, whom readers met during her early days in Emma’s Journey, rises to the challenge of creating a new, adventurous life for herself in Paris.

“. . . a picture book rich with possibilities.”

“. . . will no doubt get passed along from one preteen girl to many another.”

“. . . a refreshing and humorous angle on the importance of accepting others as they are.”

A dreamlike sense of wonder suffuses the singular picture book Jemmy Button as it unearths an odd social experiment conducted in the early 1800s.

In her pleasant picture book biography, Jan Pinborough’s debut highlights a woman who transformed libraries from hushed rooms designed for polite adults to vibrant environments that include childre

“While Edward Lear’s Alphabet of Nonsense might not look bright or tidy, it’s nice insidy—and as close as most of us can get to honoring a baby with an original book.”

“Kadir Nelson has created a beautiful, heartfelt tribute to an icon of social justice.”

“There is no future without forgiveness,”Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a 1984 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has said.

“. . . an uplifting tale of compassion and triumph. . . . a humble hero worthy of admiration.”

“Julia Child (1912–2004) no doubt would have chuckled upon reading this charming biography.”

“Children will relate to this dazzling little book in their own ways, while adults will likely marvel that the author and illustrator have expressed so much joy with so few words.”

“Resplendent with the vivid hues of its characters’ hopes and sorrows, The Humming Room gives young readers a compelling tale that does justice to its evergreen inspiration.”

“While some purists might object to the many liberties Ms. Coombs takes in her retelling, most readers will rejoice at this lilting transformation of a too-grim tale.”

“To the Mountaintop speaks to the power of the press in both accelerating and deepening public awareness of inequality, as journalists such as Ms.

“With his story of a chant that transforms a decrepit man, Mr. Rodari grants us the possibility that words can also alter a world gone awry—at least in fairy tales.”

“Ms. Warren’s crisp, energetic prose is enhanced with a multitude of photos, drawings, and paintings that reveal the Victorian age Dickens examines in his novels. . . .

“While it has practical uses, Gifts from the Gods does not represent the author’s most compelling writing.

". . . a gripping story few children today."

“Enhanced with Ms. McGuire’s frosty, atmospheric illustrations, Breadcrumbs intersperses elements of fairy tales and fantasies with the contemporary conflicts of the two friends.

“In living color and with a multitude of young voices, Children of the World testifies to the power of art in making our lives meaningful, in both personal and public ways.”

“For oinkers with large yellow eyes—or readers with more mundane irises—Maurice Sendak has delivered an unexpected treat that’s simply divine.”

“This story offers elementary-school educators a lovely opportunity to share an uplifting story set in Kenya. . . .

“Hamilton presents readers with a precious gift: a collection of content not quite like anything we’ve heard or seen before.

“A Full Moon Is Rising gives readers ample cause for celebration, regardless of the night sky’s performance.”

The unlikely romance that crowned The Chicken Thief (2010) keeps shining in this wordless sequel. Ms.

Upon first sight of Ladder to the Moon, the debut picture book by Maya Soetoro-Ng, one feels compelled to pick up and embrace the curvy cover image of a loving grandmother and her granddau